Florence + The Machine @ Comerica Theatre

A day in the life of Florence Welch is a lot better than a day in yours: Her group, Florence + the Machine, taped the kickoff episode of MTV's Unplugged in New York's oldest synagogue, surrounded by dozens of candles, backed by a 10-person choir, and performing a version of...

By Lauren Wise

April 19, 2012

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A day in the life of Florence Welch is a lot better than a day in yours: Her group, Florence + the Machine, taped the kickoff episode of MTV's Unplugged in New York's oldest synagogue, surrounded by dozens of candles, backed by a 10-person choir, and performing a version of Johnny Cash and June Carter's "Jackson" with Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme. Her edgy rock 'n' soul sound has had no problem finding a pop audience, with her records, Lungs and Ceremonials, topping the charts in her native UK and amassing her the kind of loyal stateside fan base that doesn't "Lana Del Rey" her when she appears on SNL. Chalk it up to her decidedly classicist approach — she recorded most of Ceremonials at Abbey Road Studios, no doubt soaking in the hallowed vibes there. But Florence is the kind of starlet who rules her sound, a self-proclaimed "pain in the ass" who claims she writes her best songs while drunk, hungover, or manic. And their reputation for breaking hearts is all the better for it.

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