La Roux

An old hippy once said that the last will be first and the first last. It is a maxim that La Roux should have taken to heart by playing their breaktrough hit Bulletproof at the beginning of this gig instead of leaving it to the end.

For its eventual introduction rejuvenated a gig that was fizzing and spluttering like a like a damp squib without giving any indication when it would spark into life.

It was the elfin-faced singer's (Elly Jackson) first foray to Belfast and she chose a good venue in which to debut. The recently refurbished Limelight now holds close to a thousand punters and boasts a revampted PA.

But there were times when even this technological boost wasn't enough to propel her high pitched monotone delivery, which at times seemed to operate on a frequency that only our canine chums could tune into.

It was clear from the outset when she took to the stage wearing a multi-pleated Bowie bags with obligatory Low-era haircut that she was under orders to move more around the stage. Unencumbered with instrument, save for a guitar for two songs, she ambled from side-to-side in a clumsy and obvious attempt at audience engagement.

Still the gig was not unenjoyable. Backed by a tight traditional four piece (including a Christie McVie lookalike on keyboards) and a minimalist but effective light show that nodded towards early Soft Cell, the tunes titillated rather than thrilled.

A lack of passion in both product and performance; however, perculated from the stage through the audience leaving a taste, while not unpleasant, ultimately failed to satisfy.

Highlights included Kiss and Not Tell; Don't Tell Her and Colour Less Colour. But the interminable Silence just had most of the audience craving some of it.

It was just a pity the gig started the way it went on... till the end at least.