ACL Review: Florence + the Machine

Barefoot. Florence Welch took to the stage sans shoes Sunday night to close out the final weekend of ACL Fest. The crowd, many of whom ditched other shows to post up near the front of her stage, cheered as white light carried opening song “What the Water Gave Me” into the sea of hot, sticky people.

Though she opened with a track from Florence + the Machine’s sophomore album, 2011’s Ceremonials, both her Ziggy Stardust-era pantsuit and set list suggested that the ethereal Welch has undergone a transformation. Leaving goth (mostly) behind, her big band focused heavily on new songs from How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, the title track of which she confessed was written here in the States, as well as their first and hugely successful album, Lungs.

Like any drama kid worth their black clothing, Welch never once failed at playing to a very adoring crowd. Before starting in on “Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up),” she called out a command: “Get as high as you can! I want to see some people in the sky!” Welch asked the audience for nonstop participation and gave it back tenfold.

Double that if you’re the guy she made out with.

With so much contagious energy, even songs as overplayed as “Dog Days Are Over” were given new life. As the tide of bodies tossed clothing and glow sticks into the air, the scene became euphoric. So much so that Welch tore her own top off and ran about the stage like a rock music nymph.

Keeping the dramatics high and the crowd enthralled for 90 minutes at the end of a hot weekend is no small feat. Unfazed, the singer shared stories about South by Southwest and her Austin ink by Black Cat Tattoo’s “Animal.” Welch vacillated between rock star and the offbeat girl next door.

Florence + the Machine ended the night loudly with latest single “What Kind of Man,” followed by “Drumming Song.” The crowd never stopped singing along.