Saturday 22 November 2008

Little Boots @ London ICA


From the moment that the diminutive Victoria Hesketh aka Little Boots strides on stage to a sold out Institute Of Contemporary Arts, it’s clear that this girl may be tiny physically, but on stage she has a big charismatic presence. Dressed in an off the shoulder glittery blue dress, with braided hair and glitter make up, her short set confirms why she could well be crowned the new queen of pop. Armed with her keyboards, a tenorion, a Korg keytar (last seen in the 80’s) and backed by a live drummer and a further keyboard player, Little Boots brings Kate Bush meets Kylie Minogue vocals combined with Goldfrapp go clubbing electronica to get everyone dancing.

With not a guitar in sight Little Boots blasts out pulsing disco with massive pop songs. Click with its “Oh oh oh oh,” hook line sounds like a future hit in the making and final song Stuck On Repeat is more gorgeously Moroder than Moroder himself. In fact there is even more Moroder influence with a cover version of Freddie Mercury’s Love Kills, which Victoria admits is very camp, and she carries it of perfectly. For those who have become acquainted with Little Boots and her stylophone and piano for her appearance on Later With Jools program, tonight they see a much more Friday night, hard hitting, shake your ass version.

Despite her young age Victoria exudes confidence and is a consummate front woman. Rather than hiding behind her keyboards, she leaves much of the playing to her band, thus giving her the freedom to parade around the stage, encouraging the crowd with her arms aloft reaching for the stars.

To paraphrase S Club 7, she could soon become what she reaches out for.

1 comment:

cat said...

be entertained