“We need human sacrifices!”
So says Florence Welch, lead singer of Florence + the Machine, getting as many people as possible up on shoulders before launching into Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up) at the Reading Festival in 2012. If you watch a lot of Florence + the Machine live shows, you’ll find she’s a pretty consistent advocate of questionable behavior – dangerous actions, doing things you’ll regret later…
With the backdrop of ominous weather at Reading 2012, and Florence’s enjoyment of it, this whole set was pretty special. As the show goes later, the rain falls harder, and Florence keeps upping the energy, with rain and mascara running down her face. But this song is where it all kicks off, starting with her shoes. Someone as theatrical as Florence Welch couldn’t be more in their element – check out the shot at 5:01 for example. And then you have to love the security guard trying to keep up with her as she runs off stage, sprints away from him, and fires up the crowd while he does his absolute best to protect her from some unseen threat. Beautiful stuff.