La Roux at the Commodore

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      Hey, here’s a tip for all you musicians out there, up-and-coming and otherwise: if you don’t want to piss off the people whose job it is to convey information about you to the public—in other words, the lowly class known as music journalists—it’s best to refrain from repeatedly jerking said people around. Last July, the frontwoman for the English duo La Roux (her parents know her as Elly Jackson) blew off a scheduled telephone interview with the Straight without offering so much as a word of explanation. Jackson had an opportunity to make it up to us last week by granting us an interview in advance of La Roux’s Commodore Ballroom show on Sunday (April 18). So, what did she do? She strung our reporter along until the last possible minute and then—surprise, surprise—she blew us off again. Let’s go out on a limb and speculate that, since the show is sold out, the petulant little ginger figured she no longer had any obligation to promote it. Perhaps the Boots on Brixton Road was out of Nice ’n Easy Medium Auburn and she had to pop over to Clapham High Street to pick some up. Whatever. We’re sure she’s a real busy gal, and her time is no doubt far more important than ours. Fair enough. But what she failed to take into consideration is that the ink-stained wretch she so callously tossed under the bus had already spent a considerable chunk of her day preparing for the interview. Part of that prep time was spent listening to La Roux’s self-titled debut album, which quite frankly sounds like the work of a shitty Yazoo tribute act with a shrill, adenoidal teenager on vocals. We’ll never get those precious 46 minutes and 26 seconds back, so the least that pompadoured fucking scrag could have done is let us have 10 minutes of her day.

      Comments

      22 Comments

      rosiexx

      Apr 15, 2010 at 10:44am

      christ calm down....you write for an online magazine and she's been ill. and her musics very good, but if you don't think so then it's probably for the best she didn't waste her time talking to you.

      Julie Dee

      Apr 15, 2010 at 11:01am

      Dear Ink-Stained Wretch: I, too, was snubbed by La Roux's publicist for a mere 10-minute phone interview to promote her San Francisco show. Apparently they feel they already have the American market (as well as the Canadian) by the balls.
      It's funny how performers shit on the very institutions that make them famous. But sad for them, we just LOVE to talk.

      R2

      Apr 15, 2010 at 11:42am

      I need to know who wrote this beautiful review/comment because you are my hero, I'm still laughing.
      This twit shit is nothing more than a talentless, overrated, karaoke, reject who obviously has a big fat head under that Thompson Twin coif.
      She'll be begging for interviews in about 18 months once her idiot fans have moved onto the next trendoid must see act and you'll get the last laugh blowing her off.
      Believe me I'd rather listen to nails on a chalkboard for 10 hours than be subject to listening to even one lame effort from this Annie Lennox wannabe.

      PS: I hope her Karaoke machine blows a fuse and she has to sing acapella Sunday night.

      sarah b

      Apr 15, 2010 at 1:36pm

      a little bitter yes? lol sorry to hear she was such a twat, not once but twice.. i do like her music but not having respect for someone's time is not cool!

      libby

      Apr 15, 2010 at 2:06pm

      i would start to correct this by not using the term 'music journalist' to describe yourself, proffessional? i think not.
      you may see it as a 'shitty Yazoo tribute act', but what you fail to see is what la roux has done to effect the re-birth of 'electro' and proper pop into the charts. instead of being forced to listen to the empty hollow lyrics of the many manufactured, or down right talentless artists of today, i have been handed a masterpiece. perhaps you should take the time to listen to the lyrical value of the songs, which reveals a certain vulnerability and beauty of an artist you frown upon. you don't like the album? dont talk to the woman who wrote it. find a new job, you fail to see beyond the rhythms and beats that make this an exceptional dance album, and you fail to see the beauty of such delicate, hurtful lyrics. the effect the music has had on many others, like myself, which has allowed people to gain trust in todays music once again, has been outstanding.

      Anon

      Apr 15, 2010 at 5:25pm

      Wait, so you're complaining about not getting an interview (twice) with someone whose music you overtly dislike? What were you doing attempting to interview them in the first place?

      Caroline

      Apr 16, 2010 at 12:56am

      Ok first of all that was not cool. You dissing her like that is even worse than her cancelling an interview! you think she's the one with the problem? take a look at yourself and what you are saying about someone you don't know!
      Musicians, especially when on tour have a hectic schedule. They are pushed and pulled around by managers, publicists and the like, and if they have to cancel an interview it's not because they can't be bothered, or they have a grudge against you or whatever the hell you think, it's for a legitimate reason!
      Musicians might not enjoy doing interviews, but they know that every time they do it's important because more people are finding out about their music. Especially young and new musicians like La Roux.
      Get off your high horse and realise how easily schedules for musicians can change.
      If you hate her so much then I wouldn't think you'd be so dissapointed

      missleecarr

      Apr 16, 2010 at 1:50am

      bah haha ha!! to the review. and bahahaha to some of the comments. masterpiece... hahahaha

      Dennis

      Apr 16, 2010 at 8:56am

      Musicians can be assholes?!?! SHOCK!

      Scottie

      Apr 16, 2010 at 9:10am

      I laughed out loud. Fantastic!