Wild On Wednesday 5/9

I’ll tell you who I’m wild about at the moment: Florence + The Machine.

I love “Dog Days Are Over” – it was one of my 2010 anthems – but I wasn’t really that into Florence until recently. Then I started hearing songs from Ceremonials everywhere, downloaded the album, and basically became a superfan overnight. Florence Welch has the melodrama of Dolores O’Riordan of the Cranberries, infused with the spirit and courage of Eowyn from Lord of the Rings (who, as we all know, is my hero). Her songs are equally full of heartbreak and hope, mystical references and rallying cries. This is Gryffindor music, people.

I braved Beale Street Music Fest last Friday night to see Florence (and Needtobreathe, who played before her!). I remembered pretty quickly why I don’t go to Music Fest anymore – I’m too short to see much, I feel claustrophobic and icky when hundreds of strangers are touching me, etc. But the show was totally worth it. Florence was a spitfire on stage, and the instrumentation was amazing. I mean, how many popular acts tour with a harp?

I can’t embed any of the official videos, but my current favorite tracks are “Rabbit Heart,” “Shake It Out” and “No Light, No Light.” It’s hard to choose though. I think I’ll go listen to them now!