As soon as flor took the stage, I'd all but forgotten the stress of the day. Immediately, it was very clear that this show was going to be special. Everyone was grinning ear to ear, dancing even before the music started, the energy was lifted to an all time high that remained constant throughout the show.
They opened with Get Behind This, much to my surprise. I was sad I wasn't going to hear that song, because it's not on the album, and it's been played at every flor show I've ever been to (if you can't tell, I am 1000% not cool with changes, especially when it comes to flor setlists... unless of course it's playing the full album, that can be forgiven.)
From then on, they played my favorite album start to finish.
A few songs in, in an unfortunate wild microphone attack, Zach ended up splitting his lip (don't worry, McKinley came to the rescue and offered to "kiss it better"), then he got tangled in the guitar cords, then almost hit his face again, which lead to me starting a new game called "how many times will Zach hurt or almost hurt himself in one set?"....... it was 6.
This is what I love about flor, they're not afraid to mess up, or be a little weird, or forget about being perfect so they can have fun playing the music that they've worked so hard on. They're perfectly imperfect.
"I’m having so much fun on stage and completely forgot I was working. I don’t even know if what I’m doing sounds good" - Zach
My absolute favorite of the night was Spoiled (surprise, it's not Warm Blood... I'm showing versatility). It's no secret that the last minute of Spoiled is my new religion, it's got dark and twisty Zach, and Kyle absolutely kicking ass and taking names and I could not wait to see it live. Spoiler (lol) alert: IT MURDERED ME. Kyle thought he was funny by pointing at me before my favorite part, he was probably just checking that I was alive before killing me, how sweet.
Remember in my San Francisco post where I said Zach sang an acoustic song that had me crying for a week but I didn't know the name? Well that song is called Restless Soul and not only do I have a rather large tattoo based off of a lyric from this song, but I was fortunate enough to hear it live in all its glory for the first time they ever played it. Could anyone hear me crying?
Flor finished the set with Overbehind, a song that has come to mean so much to them and the ever-expanding fan base. Everyone was screaming the chorus, using every last bit of energy to belt out one more song. I never wanted it to end.
It might sound silly, but the pride I felt for this band when the album came out doesn't even come close to how proud I was throughout this show. My first flor show had about 8 people, 3 of them were people I brought. Two years later, a packed crowd was singing along to every word of songs that I was previously singing along to practically alone and embarrassingly loud. I'm proud to know them in my own little way, and proud to say that I support artists that are not only insanely talented, but the kindest group of people I've ever encountered.
After the show I made my usual rounds. Stuttering and bumbling around like an idiot (it's expected now). While I was waiting to talk to everyone, I got to meet so many of the people who made flor who they are now, family, friends, and everyone in between.
What made this show the most special for me, aside from the actual set, was that I have never in my life been at a show where so many people have come up to me and said, "I've heard a lot about you, you know this band loves you just as much as you love them." I will carry that with me forever.
Despite my anxious rambling, excruciating awkwardness, my excessive twitter activity, and everything that comes with me (exhibit A: the photo below), Zach, McKinley, Kyle, and Dylan have welcomed me with open arms, and have become not only my favorite band, but some of my favorite people in the world.
