La Roux / Delphic
Scala, London
10/09/2009

The Fly arrive early to Kings Cross’s Scala, only to be met with a queue of die-hard La Roux fans queuing outside, all sporting various incarnations of Elly Jackson’s trademark ‘wonky quiff’. Wandering down a nearby street, we spot the lady herself having a sneaky fag outside a bar, looking cool and calm in Lennon-style shades. There is some temptation to alert the loiterers to her presence, but she’s a very small lady so we decide against it for fear of a stampede. For such a new act, La Roux have quickly established a solid troupe of super-avid fans/stalkers, and this is evident tonight. First up though are Delphic, a Manchester four-piece who blend techno and electro beats with loud guitars and emotional vocals, like a British Brian Molko collaborating with Underworld. They sound epic, and will no doubt be a huge hit at next year’s summer festivals, but tonight’s crowd are single-minded, heads nodding politely in anticipation for the main event.

After a slightly nervous start, the manic adulation of the crowd appears to increase Elly’s confidence, and she delivers the piercing electro-pop onslaught that The Fly expected. The extravagant multi-coloured light-show, combined with the flame-haired one’s asymmetric ‘do, retro white waistcoat and signature bling, create a stage that could come straight from Top Of The Pops circa 1984. But Elly’s definitely not miming, and is cute with the crowd, urging them to clap, dance and acknowledge the whole band, particularly Mickey on keyboards, whose deeper, sultry vocal works beautifully with Jackson’s piercing falsetto on tracks like ‘As If By Magic’. There’s no sign of co-writer Ben Langmaid: La Roux tonight is Elly, and Elly, to most of the crowd here, is La Roux. Everyone goes inevitably crazy for number one single ‘In For The Kill’, and by the encore (recent hit ‘Bulletproof’) the mood borders on hysterical. La Roux may have missed out on the Mercury, but evidently the fans don’t care, and Jackon’s short but sweet set proves she can headline like a pro.

Laura Vevers

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