Recent LA gigs Pt.1 - La Roux

La Roux is a pop sensation out of the UK (already having topped the US Dance Billboard charts, beating off competition such as Madonna, the word sensation is wholly justified) with the kind of influences list that would normally be reserved for 30-something eighties revivalists.  Yet Elly (the red headed warbler from the band - who inspired the name La Roux) is only 20 or something like that.  So when we heard that Elly was very sick, we were internalizing - ‘Oh no, a 20 yr old singer, thrust into the limelight, over worked and now exhausted.  I bet, that like most 20 yr olds at this point she will throw a hissy fit and refuse to perform, or at best perform a begrudged, moody set’.

Well no, in fact, it was a brave, honest and inspiring performance.  Elly definitely has a way with people, with her people at least, that is lost on most pop stars.  When she told everyone that she was sorry that she had come all this way and now she could hardly sing, there wasn’t one person, out of all of LA’s hipsters and dance music aficionados in that room that a) didn’t believe her sincerity and b) didn’t give her heartfelt applause and cheers.  For once, people were less worried about the money they had shelled out for the gig, and instead, grateful that she had the integrity to share her disappointment with them in such a real way, and go on to do the gig anyway.  It really wasn’t what she said actually, it was more how she said it.

She need not have worried either.  The crowd cooed and cheered at this new music phenomenon from beginning to end.  Her presence on stage was fantastic, and even though she was visibly knackered, she still refused to give in to it and threw herself around the stage with her wonderful, straight out of the bedroom, dance style.
Ben, the other half of the La Roux song writing duo (and the one who can just about remember the 80’s the first time around) kept the 80’s electronic & rave inspired fusion (sorry, I tried to think of another word) dance music crisp and tight, whilst the sub-star of the night, the drummer, kept the rhythm and the vibe alive with loony long limbs and some prancing moves that strangely reminded me a bit of Bez from The Happy Mondays (although unlike Bez he seemed to be high on the music rather than Ecstasy).

What was the only problem with the night?  It was over too soon.  Alas, the set had to be kept short to let Elly get some rest before the next leg of her tour.  After the show Ben and I chatted about Synths and how excited he was to meet Heaven 17 the following day.  A man after my own heart, and a band that is breaking boundaries and making friends everywhere they go.
Thanks to Ben, Elly, Mike and the gang for the hospitality, a great night and the great performance.
http://www.laroux.co.uk

Posted on 26-10-2009