Having the chance to see Florence + The Machine perform live is equivalent to witnessing some form of miraculous event. At least, that was my eager assumption, and I was not disappointed for even one second. Atlanta’s Fabulous Fox Theater seemed like an appropriate venue; grand and gorgeous, just like the singer the enormous crowd was there to see. The stage was a colorful mini-wonderland. The theme; birds, trees, bright flowers. There was even a quaint birdcage in one corner. The colors were all blues, greens, reds, and yellows. It was like a glance inside a fairytale book. None of it was coincidental, which became clear when Florence herself stepped on stage. Beautifully pale and slender with bright red hair, barefoot, and wearing a layered aqua dress. In other words, she fit in perfectly as the faerie minx on the verge of causing some healthy mischief.

As soon as she broke into song, everyone was out of their seats, and she was literally leaping all around the stage, while still managing to hold every note perfectly and with ease. By the time she started on “Howl”, she’d caused quite a stir with her showmanship. She was slinking, sashaying, and twirling like she was in the middle of an empty field having a good ol’ time all by herself, as opposed to standing in-front of hundreds of people, who could not seem to help but go crazy at the beginning and end of almost every single song. The band backing her was just as flawless as her voice, and shone without overpowering her vocals.

Florence talked to the crowd every chance she got. Even speaking, her voice was pure silk. You could barely hear her praise the remarkable beauty of the Fox Theater for all the cheering, and when she made a joke about her and the band not getting tricked into getting tattoos yet, well, it was official, the audience was in love. At some point, the energy calmed, and the harpist set the tone for “I”m Not Calling You A Liar”. It was pure and delicate at first, just her voice and the gentle strums. The peace and quiet died immediately when she held a note for a good 12 seconds. Madness! Then she announced that the next song was one they haven’t yet performed on tour, and launched into a unique cover of Cold War Kids’ “Hospital Beds”, making it completely her own.

Then, an even bigger treat; a brand new and unreleased song from her upcoming album. “What Water Gave Me” turned out to be classic Florence; magical, deeply moving, and with lovely lyrics. The harp took a break on that one, while the drums and guitars claimed center stage. Florence’s voice moved up and down from powerhouse to soothing. Suddenly the lights died down, and barely a tune was played before the shrieking from the audience began for “Cosmic Love”. Again, Florence didn’t remain still for too long, and she didn’t sing with stillness either. Like a talker who constantly uses their hands, she included gestures and fluid sweeps with her arms for almost every word out of her mouth. Then, it was more twirls and spins, more proof that she might just be some mystical woodland creature with a killer voice.

In a syrupy sweet voice, she dedicated her next song, “You’ve Got The Love” to a number of people, including, Waka Flocka Flame (don’t ask!). The harp returned, a perfect backdrop for Florence’s tender lyrics. But close to the end, the rest of the band picked up the pace, and she was on the move again, flying from one end of the stage to another, her dazzling dress gliding behind her. “Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)” was another highlight, and clearly a favorite amongst the fans gathered.