Nerina Pallot: The week's true pop star

It's time to make some fuss over Nerina Pallot

If there was any justice in the world, it would be Nerina Pallot dominating the headlines this week, not Cheryl Cole. The 15 million who tuned into X Factor on Sunday night might beg to differ, thankfully, however, for the small crowd crow-bared into the ICA in London last night, see-through bodysuits and carefully choreographed dance routines were the last thing on anyone's mind.

From her first second on stage, to the pitch-perfect refrain of her closing song just over an hour later, Ms Pallot held her rapt audience - including, rather adorably, her Dad - in the palm of her hand, with nary a gimmick or suggestive wiggle in sight.

That's not to say Nerina's fashion credentials are in question, she might not have performed in thigh-slit harem pants, but her dress looked suspiciously Vivienne Westwood-esque to those of us in the audience trained to spot those things.

It's also not to say Nerina isn't enjoying mass appeal. Heard Kylie's new single, Better Than Today, yet? That'll be Nerina's songwriter skills at play. Although why Ms Minogue didn't pick When Did I Become Such A Bitch? - one of our favourite new-album hits from last night - we can't imagine.

Other highlights on the night included Real Late Starter, the first single from Nerina's new album, the rousing I Don't Want To Go Out, and a high-jinks medley of Elton John hits. However, it was her stunning encore performance of Sophia that really proved, if proof were needed, why it's time to make some serious fuss about Nerina.

For those of you who didn't fall for her first time round (Nerina's album, Fires, was a platinum-success a few years back), her latest album, The Graduate, is on sale now, with a handful of shows on her UK tour still not yet sold out.

For those of us who did, last night's show just made us fall a little harder.