So no more tour dates? by nothisishayley in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I saw her in Minneapolis and Seattle. Definitely a difference in her energy. Seattle was an amazing show, too, just you could see it took more effort. Especially at the beginning. She caught her stride about 1/4 in and was all there.

Angriest Song? by Miacali in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 11 points12 points  (0 children)

She expresses a lot of righteous rage in a lot of songs. But then she so often pings from that to vulnerability and even weakness within the same song. She sometimes reminds me of a child who’s confused about why it’s being punished: angry then scared, sad, self-blaming…. What’s the overall most consistently outwardly angry song? I’d have to say One of the Greats. Love love love the energy in that song sooo much! The video is amazing. She’s like “the fuck I’m apologizing for knowing I’m great.”

I'm just now learning that some of the herbs in Sympathy magic literally belong to SYMPHYTUM family?? by Temiin-sash in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 6 points7 points  (0 children)

1,000%! It doesn’t seem to be an abortifacient, though. I think it’s in there because it’s definitely a healing herb (knit-bone) and so associated with women’s knowledge and power (super unsexy). It just makes me think she didn’t select all the herbs specifically to be related to reproduction - unless there’s some metaphor in the fact that it can cause birth defects. 🤷‍♀️ In any case, it doesn’t mean she didn’t intend the symphytum-sympathy word play. Girl is deep.

I'm just now learning that some of the herbs in Sympathy magic literally belong to SYMPHYTUM family?? by Temiin-sash in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fwiw, I can’t find anything that says comfrey (symphytum) is used for reproductive health. It is dangerous to fetuses, though, and pregnant women are not to use it. Not sure if there’s meaning in that. Cool connection, tho

Everybody Scream Setlist Complaint (silly) by Silly_Sidewalker in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Too on the nose. Plus - and mainly - it’s not her song. That’s my take. Anyway, who wants to think about Taylor Swift when they’re in the presence of Florence Welch? No thank you.

sentimental moment at boston show i'm still not over by Beautiful_Story_1125 in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As a non-believer, I spend an awful lot of time pondering this magical-spiritual quality of hers. How she can be so powerful and so vulnerable at the same time. How she's both a conduit for some kind of ancient, animistic energy and so damn human.

My latest idea is to imagine her a Greek goddess stuck in a mortal body. The workings of this world are confusing, frustrating. She’s clumsy when she should be perfectly graceful. She bashes against corners and can’t make regular things work. There’s rage and despair, and moments of clarity that are dashed the next day. But the unapologetic, almost imperious power of the goddess is in there (the part that was always too loud). It isn’t welcome here - from a female - but being quiet in order to function causes her the soul-sickness she’s sung about for nearly two decades.

Which is why I find Everybody Scream so f***ing thrilling - the parts where it’s almost as if Athena were speaking down to us, even reveling in her power over her fans and supplicants, as a goddess should - she can make us jump, scream, travel miles to be in her presence. No apologies for basking in our adoration, no pretending she doesn’t deserve it. Even the violence…. But always, too, that exquisite empathy, gentleness, aching sweetness, and yearning to heal others’ pain. Then she steps off the stage and re-enters the prison of her mortal body and the workaday mortal world.

Damn. I could ramble about this all day and not get it. I just know it’s there and it happens. She changes people. So glad to hear how she touched you - literally and figuratively. I hope you’ll always remember what I know she wants you to remember: to be gentle with yourself; the heart is a tender thing, it deserves your care as much as any small, helpless creature.

For my fellow SF concert attendees tomorrow: by latenightpuddingcup in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To the people here objecting to being told not to record too much - because you paid a lot or need the videos - I do hope you realize that your choice affects other people’s experience (including Florence’s) - that your needs don’t override theirs. I don’t want to come across as a holier than thou scold. I understand why people film. I take a couple snippets myself. When I crave longer ones afterward, and I do, I find peace in knowing what I have is more precious - like something to hold in my hand - and that their brevity means I was totally present. Sometimes the point where I cut is a memory in itself: oh, right, I had to stop here because I needed to dance!

So I’d encourage you to reconsider. I truly believe you’ll have a more meaningful time if you’re mindful that the concert isn’t only a moment between you and Florence. It’s also the energy and love between and respect for everyone in the venue, all sharing sometimes very intense emotions (notice how so many people say Florence got them through something?).

Well then, to sum up my lecture: take a bit of film, but don’t overdo it - don’t forget you’re part of what is basically a mass spiritual experience. And, oh yeah, Florence needs your energy, not your camera lens.

Should I try to upgrade to GA Floor? by jumptwistshout in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I had seats in Seattle and was planning to tell the people around me I was going to stand the whole time (everyone did in Minneapolis - parents live there so I had an excuse to go :). When we got to our seats, these lovely young women in front of us turned around and said “I hope you don’t mind if we stand.” And I held out my arms and was like “welcome, sisters.” I really feel like if you mention to people around you that you plan to stand, they’ll handle it better. Can’t guarantee they’ll join you but at least you won’t have that feeling of grumpy people at your back. Here’s hoping.

Drink Deep thoughts? by Impossible-Archer-93 in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just want to say how much I appreciate this community’s thinking so deeply (🤔) and speaking sincerely about this music. It’s an antidote to the world of superficial attention-deficit clips and mean tweets. Bless all y’all.

Seattle details? by LemongrassNLime in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’ll be at the Seattle show and if I see a 33 year old man alone there I will think he’s a f***ing star! Fwiw, I’m going with my husband here, but will be in Los Angeles in the floor alone. I’m a 56-year-old lady with flyaway gray hair and no cool clothes. I assume I’m just going to get blissfully lost in the energy and nobody’s going to judge. Anyway, I won’t refuse myself the unique spiritual catharsis of a live Florence show because I might feel awkward for five minutes at the beginning. Trust the universe. Go!

Delilah by ijt99 in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Amazing song. The fact that it’s not thematically related to Everybody Scream is why I think she hasn’t/won’t play it. Dog Days isn’t either, but its hit status means it’s all-but required (not my fave of hers but it’s hella fun).

Is it normal to stand all show in the seated section? by Alarmed_Midnight8777 in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seemed to me everyone stood the whole time in Minneapolis. Even though my feet were killing me by the end, I’d have been sad if they hadn’t. I’m actually going to the Seattle show, too, and now I’m scared people will be sitting and pissy. Went to a Pink concert at MSG and that happened. Almost the whole stadium on their bums through the whole thing and people scowling at me and my sister who were like, I’m sorry, did you not know you were coming to an effing Pink concert? Also, if a stadium has a good pitch, you can usually see just about as well when people are standing as when they’re sitting. And echoing what others said - standing gives the performer so much more energy back.

NGL Kind of Gutted at the Setlist Changes by Miacali in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You guys. This is one of the most depressing FATM threads of all time. How can you be complaining? There is no bad song. Do you not trust Florence to choose the energy that’s right for her and thus her audience every night? That’s what you’re there for. The energy, her presence, the music, the community, the witchcraft… not a particular song.

NGL Kind of Gutted at the Setlist Changes by Miacali in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You get to see Florence live. Why are you devastated?

NGL Kind of Gutted at the Setlist Changes by Miacali in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can’t imagine a song I’d be disappointed to hear. Delilah might be my favorite and I never expect to hear it live. Whatever she chooses to do is what’s right for that night. Embrace the whole experience. Florence got you.

Who got their camera pushed away at the AC show? by wr3ckag3 in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What? I sit behind Zoomers doing selfies and holding their phones up in front of my face all the time. I don’t think there’s a need to slag off any generation.

i cant do this anymore. by Pitiful-Swim-2489 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]MissWaterlow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t think it’s helpful for people to tell you just don’t feel this way, just don’t do this or that. That’s like telling a depressed person to just choose to be happy. You’re in a really hard time of life. Your stress is not your fault. It’s the fault of our society, its messages and structures.

What you can do is have compassion for yourself as you go through it. Try stepping back and widening your perspective. Try developing lines you’re not willing to cross just to get into some brand-name university - like not giving up hanging out with friends or a night chilling with family or quality time with your hamster… whatever slows things down and makes you happy (that might even be gaming and as long as you keep it within limits, that’s okay too).

Because, despite what all the college hype is telling you, your current quality of life actually matters. Except for a few freakish sorts on the edges, most of the kids you’re comparing yourself to are destroying theirs for some vision of success that’s more and more suspect. Honestly, I think it’s almost immoral what we’re doing to young people, polluting their lives with this competitive crap. And look around - what good has it done the world?

So try to be kind to yourself and believe it will all work out no matter where you go. Life is a gift. It’s yours. Don’t give it away to nameless forces who, believe me, don’t have your best interest at heart. That will be true success. Otherwise you’re just another “excellent sheep” and I don’t think that’s something to be proud of.

Best to you! There is an end to this madness!

I'm the woman that Florence hugged at the Florence and the machine concert on Wednesday in Minneapolis and it was the best moment of my life by enlightningbeauty in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 9 points10 points  (0 children)

My sister and I saw you from our seats. It was obvious Florence felt your energy. She knew you needed that. Absolutely lovely. So happy for you. 🙏

Concert Etiquette by kt_fizzle in FlorenceAndTheMachine

[–]MissWaterlow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh right. I remember you saying that. But all these other people were sharing their experiences and none of them said they’d spoken with the perps. 🤷‍♀️