Who doesn't love a freebie? If it's gratis I'm there like a bear. This is the reason I have done a lot of things I wouldnt usually - because if I haven't shelled out for it I don't discern. This is a good thing - it opens me up to a multitude of experiences that I would never have had. It meant a couple of years ago I got to see Britney Spears in all her lip synching, costume changing, booty shaking glory. And I enjoyed it (okay this enjoyment may have been trebbled by the shooting off of a glitter cannon at the end - my first experience of one) despite myself. It was a spectacle. A show. Everything a pop concert should be.
So when my housemate proffered Pixie Lott tickets for free, I thought why the hell not. I could do with a bit of razzle dazzle, some glitter and a lot of zany outfits.
Now this freebie stuff is not all fun and games - if I am going to do something I will do it properly and so there was homework to be done. Pixie Lott is a familiar name and face from the papers, but I couldn't have told you one song she sang, so I plugged her name into YouTube and went for the play list. Frothy pop tunes emmited from my laptop, her little girl lost voice sometimes drowned amongst the dischord that is modern pop. And it seemd Pixie has an aversion to trousers of any kind as in each she bopped about in most of the videos in a leotard with elaborate sleeves. Hmmm...
But with my 'try everything once' mindset fixed firmly in place, off I went to see Pixie Lott. She was playing at the Kentish Town HMV Forum. My lovely friends Jo and Anna were my companions for the evening. After establishing we were at least 10 years older than everyone in the standing area we headed up to the seats, away from the tide of adolesence.
The opening act was Starboy Nathan - should I be mortified to say I don't know who this fellow is? In complete ignorance when we heard his name we actually took bets as too what he might look like and what he might sing. I felt even more out of touch with the youth when they joined in to his choruses, chanting away with the fervour of the initiated. How to describe his act? To be honest it wasn't a performance or style of music that appealed to me - all synchronised moves, pubescent thrusting and plaintive crooning. But that is not to say he is not good at what he does. Having watched snippets of this year's X Factor offerings over the last two weeks I notice that while most of them have some talent - they can sing or dance - in a cruel irony what they are all missing is the X Factor. And this is why even the winners, despite getting launched on an international platform, having a guaranteed #1 written for them, and Simon Cowell's media machine behind them, all fade into obscurity. So, using X Factor as my only real mainstream pop barometer, I will say that Starboy Nathan has the star power that seems so conspicously absent from the show's contestants. He has presence, which is more than I can say for most of those vapid Cowell creations. It seems no matter how much cash you throw at it that X Factor, much like love and class, is something money can't buy.
So onto the main act. As you already know my Pixie knowledge was lacking, and from the bits I had seen online I was prepared to be under whelmed. But she endeared herself to me early by skipping on stage bare foot, and donning little cat ears. She launched into her set with a trio of dancey numbers, all a bit over produced and consumer driven if you ask me, but the swirly light show was mesmirising. In between she chatted to the audience in a rather endearing way, and I was impressed that she was in an outfit that covered her bits for once - a short, black, backless dress, with a sequined Peter Pan collar and sleeves. I think I might describe it as evening Alice in Wonderland couture.
After the dancey numbers she slowed down into some more soulful numbers and I was pleased to hear she actually has a lovely voice. There was no lip synching, and without the computer generated cacophany of the faster songs her voice was impassioned and quite stirring. Cry Me Out is an impassioned ultimatum song. All around women were pounding their fists, flinging their hands out in diva stance and belting out the chorus and I realised that this was an act usually performed in front of bedroom mirrors and into hair brushes. Moving smoothly into Mama Do the atmosphere was transformed with an air of rebellion and defiance as she song of forbidden love. All quite generic and well worn, but again I was impressed by her singing ability and her unpretentious performance.
While it wasn't quite the big drums and guitar riffs I favour it was an interesting and I suppose some what educational evening. My only complaint - Pixie only had one outfit! Take some lessons from Britney... I was there for feathers and rhinestones!
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