 Walking towards the venue, I know I’m in
the right place; I’m surrounded by dozens
of girls (and guys) dressed up in 80s glam, complete
with gravity-defying quiffs. Inside, the Academy
is already packed out with eager fans, and La
Roux propaganda is already plastered across the
stage.
There’s only one support on the bill tonight,
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. I’m not sure what
to make of them and their lack of French skills,
but the fact that they are half an hour late to
emerge hasn’t dampened the spirits of the
excitable crowd. OELSP finally surface and launch
into a barrage of noise. It’s hard to describe
OELSP; their two restless frontmen jump around
the stage in a frenzy, hardly standing still long
enough to get a good look at them. They have great
charisma though, and I’m so entranced by
their energy that I hardly notice what music they’re
playing. Their backing band plays an assortment
of keyboards, drums, and synth, perfectly complementing
La Roux’s impending electropop performance.
I’m not sure where it’s coming from,
but the bass line is so strong it’s making
me dizzy, and I wait out the rest of the set trying
to recover by the bar. Despite the headache, OELSP
are strangely enjoyable, and truly original, if
somewhat disorientating.
 We’re in for a long wait, as La Roux are
20 minuets late to appear on stage. The audience
is chanting ‘La Roux is on fire’,
but nothing seems to be luring them out. Finally,
the lights dim, and the welcoming cheers from
the crowd are deafening. Suddenly, the LED wall
at the back of the stage makes sense; the words
‘La Roux’ flash up, and smoke fills
the air as Elly’s silhouette makes her entrance
and launches straight into ‘Tigerlily’.
The last time I saw La Roux, supporting Lily
Allen in March, they were just emerging as one
of 2009’s biggest stars, and this tour cements
their position in pop history. Elly has grown
more confident, and moves about the stage more
freely. Some things haven’t changed though;
her voice is as staggering as ever, reaching unbelievable
heights. Nevertheless, between songs she transforms
into a humble, down-to-earth, almost shy girl.
Not surprising, considering her sudden rise to
fame. But she handles it well, commanding the
stage brilliantly, and hypnotising her audience
completely.
 The thing that bothers me about La Roux is the
complete lack of expression and enthusiasm from
the backing members. With the exception of the
ex ‘Scouting For Girls’ drummer who
at least seems to be enjoying himself, they hide
behind their keyboards and laptops. Still, it
leaves the focus firmly on Elly, who deserves
the limelight.
Their more popular songs (‘I’m Not
Your Toy’, ‘Quicksand’, ‘Kill’)
shine, but sadly the other tracks seem like fillers,
and even the attention of the rapturous audience
seems to wane in between chart-toppers. I find
myself drifting into a synth-induced trance, as
all the songs melt into one. The set is also disappointingly
short, at just over an hour, and the band only
return to play one song, Bulletproof, before exiting
the stage.
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool 3/5
La Roux 4/5
Review By Helen Williams |
