Awash in red lighting and showered in applause, Florence Welch began the encore of her performance Friday night with one simple request: that her loyal audience put down their phones and scream along to the lyrics of her 2008 megahit “Dog Days Are Over,” a rallying call and a song for the ages. The moment of unplugging capped off a sensational performance that functioned not just as a concert but a healing ritual.

Florence + the Machine delivered a breathtaking performance before a packed crowd at the Allstate Arena. Lead vocalist Welch emerged center stage, emanating the supernatural. No blinding lights. No unnecessary theatrics. Just a musical phenom with a dynamic stage presence and a razor-sharp command over her audience. An eerie calm echoed through the crowd before the opening lines of her latest album’s title song, “Everybody Scream,” which drew deafening cheers.

Known for her enchanting indie rock pop vocals and witchy aesthetic, Welch embodied the spirit of catharsis and reclamation that comprised her latest album, “Everybody Scream,” released last Halloween. The album, and its accompanying arena tour, were born out of Welch’s deep trauma. The artist experienced a devastating and near-fatal miscarriage in 2023, for which she sought emergency surgery. A week later, she was back on stage in a prescheduled performance.

Welch aptly chose to partner with Planned Parenthood and Doctors Without Borders for this tour, transforming her trauma into advocacy and resilience. Before the encore, screens projected a message in support of Doctors Without Borders and information about how to donate. It also stated that a portion of all proceeds for the tour’s North American leg would go toward the humanitarian organizations.

It is no surprise, in that regard, that Welch’s concert was far more than a sold-out headlining gig: it was a collective emotional exorcism. Audience members screaming along to the titular song at the top of the show were not just shouting into a void — they were healing emotional injury and undergoing collective catharsis, an experience well worth the steep price of admission. 

 Thanking the audience for their continued support, Welch reflected on her nearly two-decade-long career midway through the show, a testament to the lasting impact of her discography. 

Standing in the crowd, it’s not hard to see why the performer has a cultlike following. With occult imagery and ritualistic dance sequences, Welch’s performance crafted a transformative experience akin to religious ecstasy. Audience members swayed, danced and jumped with raised arms — similar to worship — to songs like “Witch Dance,” “Big God” and “King.”

Throughout the show, Welch wielded a strong grasp on her audience’s attention, pulling attendees through the emotional high points of the ghostly anthem “Which Witch.” Welch reeled in the audience with the touching vulnerability of songs like “Buckle” and “The Old Religion.” Welch’s band contributed sonic depth to Welch’s vocals, with ethereal harp interludes and impressive guitar riffs.

In an age of high-intensity choreography and flashy stage design, it is rare for a headliner to captivate the audience in a way that makes visual spectacle seem unessential. However, Welch makes minimalism wholly compelling. Her stage presence substituted well for a lack of production design, holding the audience’s attention entirely on her performance rather than overdone theatrical cues. 

Several times throughout the night, Welch descended into the audience to embrace and connect with fans. Unlike other performers of her caliber, Welch didn’t have to fight through overly handsy concertgoers or a barrage of phones being thrust in her face — perhaps a testament to the loyal fan base she’s attracted. Naturally, only a performer like Welch could successfully enforce a “no-screens” moment during one of the performance’s climaxes.

Welch’s stunning vocals, delighting with the perfect dose of edginess, were as rousing as her calls to advocacy and action.

Although there were multiple high points, perhaps no moment in the show was as cathartic as “Shake It Out,” Welch’s 2011 hit, which calls for listeners to shake the devil off their backs. Belting into a crowd of thousands offered a cleansing and ritualistic call to forgive oneself for previous wrongdoing and revel in the remarkableness of life on Earth. 

Welch closed out the night with a performance of “And Love,” from the new album, calling for world peace. Her focus on optimism and positive manifestation in the final song underscored the concert’s underlying message of enduring hope and triumph over hardship.

Despite her heartbreak, and the emotional setback it generated, one thing was clear Friday night: the world has not seen the last of Welch. 

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