Tune In, Turn On
Turns out, not only are sports fans from the Philadelphia/South Jersey area happy the Philadelphia Flyers have made the National Hockey League playoffs for the first time since 2020; music fans are, too!
The reason: Alternative rockers Florence + The Machine will now perform at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall Saturday, April 25, due to the Flyers home playoff game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins taking place the same night at Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philadelphia.
Florence + The Machine are a British indie/rock art pop band known for its dramatic sound, poetic lyrics and the powerful vocals of Florence Welch, whose voice – often described as soaring and soulful – defines the group’s identity. “The Machine” refers to the collective of musicians and producers who collaborate with her, rather than a fixed band lineup.
Florence + The Machine had their big break in 2009 with the release of their debut album, “Lungs,” which featured hits such as “Dog Days Are Over” and “You’ve Got the Love.” The album blended indie rock with baroque pop and a kind of mystical, almost gothic atmosphere.
The group’s sound has evolved over time. Their album “Ceremonials” (2011) was praised for its grand and cathedral-like production. The band’s 2015 release, “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” added more rock and emotional storytelling.
“High as Hope” (2018) was a more stripped-down and introspective release. “Dance Fever” (2022) explored themes of anxiety, performance and dance. It was a sonic departure for F+TM, but a compelling album nonetheless.
Florence Welch grew up in London in a literary, artistic environment. Her mother is a professor of Renaissance studies, which partly explains why her lyrics are packed with references to mythology, religion and classic literature.
Early on, she struggled with anxiety and substance use. Those experiences show up in her songwriting – especially in later albums where things get more personal and less abstract.
“I always felt that I was uncomfortable in my skin as a kid,” Welch told NPR in an interview last fall after the release of the band’s album, “Everybody Scream.”
“And then I would step on stage and it was always like, I am free from the body. I am free from the chattering in my head. I am free from the kind of expectations of me offstage.
“Here, I can kind of be anything. I’m a sort of vulnerable person in lots of ways. I’m really open and sensitive. And yet, there is this part of me that is so tough when it comes to performance, and it is that something that takes over my physical body.”
Welch told NPR that she sought professional help while coping with the emotional toll of trying to get pregnant. A trauma specialist advised her not to rush the process, warning that many people “try and fix it by trying again really fast,” as if they can undo what happened.
Instead, the guidance was to move forward only “when you feel like yourself again,” a mindset Welch says shaped her recent work. She added that making the record and returning to tour helped restore that sense of self.
“I think part of putting this record together and doing a tour is because it is the place that I feel the most myself,” she said.
See Florence + The Machine with Special Guest Sofia Isella, at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall 8 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Tickets/Info: boardwalkhall.com.
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com
