La Roux LIVE @ The Macbeth, Hoxton 15.09.14

A polished pub/pop performance from Elly Jackson and her band.
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It was almost like a scene from some ironic, Catatonia ‘Karaoke Queen’-esque music video when La Roux took to the stage at Hoxton’s Macbeth this week. The Macbeth is, after all, just a pub – but what a pub, and what a treat to see the band in such an intimate venue, following their Bestival appearance and prior to a UK tour.

While it’s been reported that Elly Jackson is disappointed with her record label’s efforts with this year’s Trouble In Paradise, there were no signs of trouble during the hour-long set, which saw new pop-heavy efforts and early electronic cuts combine to create an exquisite show. Perhaps it was the free-flowing Jack Daniels (the show was part of a JD takeover of The Macbeth, set to last for four months), the intimacy of the venue or the fact that this is only Elly and her band’s fourth show together, but this is clearly an act enjoying getting these songs across live, following the five years between Trouble In Paradise and La Roux’s self-titled debut.

While a funkier, more disco-flavoured edge is the obvious difference between the two records, the set list allowed all songs to segue together in seamless style, from opener ‘Let Me Down Gently’ (the slowest number of the night) through to the nu-wave of early album track ‘Fascination’ and ABBA-ish bomp of new single ‘Kiss And Not Tell’. If anything, the band gave the earlier numbers more of an organic finish, while still capturing the harsh keys associated with ‘Quicksand’ and ‘I’m Not Your Toy’.

A solid fan base ensured that the chanted middle-8 of ‘Cruel Sexuality’ and hollered chorus of ‘Sexotheque’ (Jackson’s favourite to play live, and not to be misheard as “sex attack”) were audible over the band, while the album’s lead single ‘Uptight Downtown’ was met with as many cheers as ‘In For The Kill’. Perhaps the true highlight came with 7-minute marathon ‘Silent Partner’ – a series of stops and starts over an arcade-like loop, and the track that has more in common with La Roux than anything else from Trouble In Paradise. With most band-members banging drums at some stage of the track and enough false endings to warrant at least three applauses, it’s the track that ties Jackson’s legacy –so far – together.

And so, with ‘Tigerlily’ (complete with spoken narrative) and ‘Bulletproof’ the pub gig was brought to an end. Her record label might not appreciate her enough, and Radio 1 are fools for not adding her to their playlists, but La Roux is undoubtedly one our finest makers of unapologetic pop currently writing and recording. There’ll only be trouble if it’s another five year wait between albums…

Dan Bull

@danbull7609

Photos: Marcus Maschwitz

Dan Bull

Dan Bull

Reviews Editor
London. Likes: Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, Prince Charles Cinema, Duran Duran Dislikes: Soreen, All-hits setlists, "I liked them before everyone else..."