La Roux, London Scala

is such a nice person. Despite a packed crowd having to wait 45 minutes for the band to emerge due to ‘technical difficulties’, plus a couple of hold ups during the course of the set, they still receive rapturous applause that practically blows the roof off the small Kings Cross venue. “You know when your computer freezes and you just want it to work again? That’s how we’re feeling right now”. We understand Elly; apology accepted.

Once the band are onstage they waste no time in launching into the mountain of great material on their eponymous debut album; they know we have to make the last tube home. Dressed in her signature androgynous self-designed clothing, Elly spends the majority of the set stood at the front of the stage, as if she wants to be within touching distance of her fans. The atmosphere is one of adoration towards La Roux’s lead singer; reinforcing the view that Elly Jackson is becoming one of the most prominent ‘alternative’ role models for girls.

Highlights include ‘Quicksand’, ‘As If By Magic’, ‘In For The Kill’ and ‘Bulletproof’, with the latter two songs getting the most frenzied reaction. That’s usually the way with singles. The crowd leave happy, albeit catching a slightly later tube home than intended. We’re sure we saw some of the girls behind us shaping their hair into wavy quiffs as well…