Florence + the Machine - BB&T Center, Sunrise - September 26

Photo by Marta Xochilt Perez

Florence and the Machine
with the Maccabees
BB&T Center, Sunrise
September 26, 2012

Better than: Casting spells in a graveyard.

"Turn to everyone around you. Kiss them. Hug them. Shake their hands. Get to know them. Make friends. Now you don't have to be shy with them," Florence Welch said halfway through Wednesday night's electrifying performance. Like the good musical devotees that they were, the fans at the packed BB&T Center followed their queen's directions, embracing fellow crowd members as the fiery songstress belted out some of her most powerful hits.

See also:
- Slideshow: Florence and the Machine at BB&T Center
- Calvin Harris' "Sweet Nothing" Video Featuring Florence Welch

The stage went dark, illuminated only by a crystalline structure at the back of the stage. A feminine silhouette appeared against the glass. And the audience screamed as though the apocalypse were upon us.

Marta Xochilt Perez

Clothed in a red and black floral dress that clung to her body like a mermaid's tail, the barefoot songstress made her way down the steps toward the front of the stage, where she was greeted by adoring fans. Flowery crowns, T-shirts, and glowing balls of color flew onto the stage -- not in a violent manner; they were merely gifts of love from Welch's loyal following. Glowing and smiling, Welch raised her hands above her head, kicking things off with "Only If for a Night." Followed by entrancing renditions of "Drumming Song" and "Cosmic Love," Welch began to unfold her catalog of celebrated ballads.

"Good evening. I'm gonna need you to stand up and get higher. We wanna see people on shoulders. Up. Up. Get higher. One, two, three... I see more. Seven, eight, nine. Higher. Higher."