u/villainthigh

My Seattle Florence fam, you really turned it out last night. I was the tall individual on stage right with the big witch hat with the funeral veil attached - I wanted to reach out here and offer a thank you for how welcome you all made me feel, and how much I appreciated the compliments. I came very close to not wearing that hat.

My mom died over the holidays and this album has been a deep comfort to me in my grief. I wore the funeral veil both to 'commit to the witchy bit' but also to quite literally and earnestly attend the concert in mourning. I'm a very novice sewist & designer and originally intended to complete a bat wings-style capelet with the ES runes hand embroidered on it to wear with the hate, but was unable to finish in time. It was important to me that I wear something handmade so I hurriedly stitched the lace onto my hat brim and hoped for the best.

It meant the world to me to arrive to a big event and be so encouraged and complimented based on something I made (even if it feels unfinished or unpolished to me). It may seem like a little thing in passing, but I've been reflecting on what Florence said last night on the nature of songwriting and making art, and how it doesn't really make much sense until your art is out in the world and seen by other people. Last night felt like a little nudge to keep sewing and designing and writing and creating - so thank you for your part in that affirmation.

I grew up in the Southwest, and bats in particular have had a special significance for me in my grief. My mom and I used to watch the bats that migrate in my hometown and appear in giant clouds at dusk. My first thought after my mom's passing was that "grief feels like echolocation" and how bat-like I feel while grieving - I keep screaming to find her, and now only an empty space is reflected back to me. Last night felt like I got a much needed scream back.

In that spirit, I wanted to check here to see if anyone from Seattle or the fandom at large might be able to help with the following:

• If anyone has a spare Bat Fan they'd be open to sell, I will happily cover the merch price and any shipping (or a coffee meet up if you're local to Seattle!). I was unable to snag one from the merch table and would really love to commemorate that special tie to the album and the event.
• If anyone can connect me with the person that had the GORGEOUS all black cape that spread out like bat wings with "EVERYBODY SCREAM" in red on the back - I didn't get the chance to compliment them in person, but if that person sees this and is comfy sharing any photos, I would love to reference that design or chat construction! It was beautiful work and I actually gasped when I saw it.

Lastly, I met and took photos with a ton of you - if you'd like to be friends post-concert, feel free to drop a line here or on Instagram. Always down for more community to hang with at the next Florence show.

Sending all my very best to anyone reading this. If I've learned anything about grief, it's that it teaches us exactly what we need in order to truly LIVE. Whoever you are, I hope that clarity finds you, and that you are comforted by something as much as I have been comforted by this album. To echo(locate) Florence's encouragement from last night: "Peace is coming." May we all be held <3

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Edit: I appreciate the callout around concert etiquette and apologize to anyone whose view was impacted. I can’t help my height but could have removed the hat, and will think of other creative things to make for Florence shows in the future that don’t add to my height. I (obviously) don’t make it to a lot of concerts and was caught up in my feels.

I’ve removed my Instagram handle due to some messages that I’ve received, but I am happy to connect with folks who’d like that - please just DM me here. I completely understand that I frustrated folks and that’s totally valid, I do hear you and apologize. Please refrain from cruel sentiments about my mom, though.