LAURA COX LIVE AT LA CIGALE, PARIS

We’re back at La Cigale, one of our favourite venues on the Boulevard Marguerite de Rochechouart, for a gig that was billed as a release party for the third Laura Cox album Head Above Water, despite the fact of the album being available for several weeks now. The gig did however live up to that particular billing; the evening definitely felt like a celebration, and like any good party there were surprises throughout.

One of the first surprises of the evening was the opening set of French artist, Kim Melville. Unknown to us until tonight, Kim blew the roof off La Cigale and did exactly what a headline act needs from from any opener – by the end of her set the crowd were energised and on their feet (metaphorical speaking, given that it was all standing on the main floor anyway) and gave Laura Cox an extremely formidable act to have to follow. We’ll be keeping an eye on the future of the incredible young singer/ guitarist, (in the meantime you can check out the K-RPM gallery here).

Laura Cox arrived on stage with minimal lighting but maximum applause, introducing her set with a spot of lap-steel which did indeed set the tone for the evening, infusing the country vibes. Later on she informed us that she had taken to playing lap steel in order to pay homage to her influences, a task she has apparently taken to with ease, or great determination. Indeed, throughout the set we got to witness her abilities on guitar, lap steel, piano and a spot of percussion thrown in as well. And of course, there is her voice and singing style, which on more than one occasion evokes such talents as Sheryl Crow. 

The night is a full-on dose of positivity and colourful energy. The crowd, her crowd, clearly adore her, each song welcomed as a classic. Indeed, the setlist – apart from the surprises of the night – come drawn equally from her back catalogue. Five songs a piece from her three albums, a definite crowd pleasing choice, and a sign of the confidence she has in her body of work. 

After the two set-opening tracks from Head Above Water (the title track followed by the single, Wiser) we are treated to Hard Luck Blues from 2019’s Burning Bright album. 

The first surprise of the night was the guest appearance by Elin Larrson, singer of Blues Pills, a singer Laura introduced as one of her biggest influences. Together they duetted on So Long, another single off Head Above Water, Larrson hitting the stage with all the confidence you would expect.

Mary Reynaud was the second guest of the night. Despite performing backing vocal duties through most of the evening, it was for Before We Get Burned that she was given the opportunity to share the center stage. 

About two thirds of the way through the set an even bigger surprise, depending on your own point of view, was the appearance of both Edgey Pires and Delila Paz of The Last International. Their arrival raised the game of the entire night instantly, the TLI belter, Soul On Fire backed perfectly by Laura’s current band : long term drummer, Antonin Guérin, joined by accomplished touring bassist Adrien Kah (who occupies the stage with a considerable presence of his own), and on keys, replacing the position of a second guitarist, Florian Robin.

Last guest of the night, Waxx certainly knew how to lift the crowd again, if it were needed, lending his guitar playing to Laura’s Freaking Out Loud.

The night ended with all of the guests returning to join Laura and her band for a cover of Neil Young’s Rockin’ In The Free World, Laura and TLI’s Edgey Pires trading solos between the verses shared by Laura, Elin, Delila and Mary. The crowd could not have been happier. 

As the official first-night of her European tour, a night Laura had confessed during one of her in-between song chats to the crowd as having been something she has been stressing about, it contained highs that she will be lucky to repeat, but given the rapturous response of tonight’s crowd it’s clear that she is more than capable of giving her public exactly what they want, and it is this intuition that will propel her career and longevity.