Andrew Veeder on December 3rd, 2013

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There was a moment during Sam Smith’s show Monday night at the Troubadour – his first of two sold-out nights in Los Angeles –  that seemed to sum up the evening perfectly. It came during his third song, “Leave Your Lover,” while the acoustic guitar gently strummed, as Smith reached the chorus, gazed out at the packed house and sang, “Leave your lover ”¦ Leave him for me.” The near-silent crowd was instantly peppered with squeals and applause, and Smith’s face cracked into a slight grin, as one female audience member leaned in to another and muttered, “You know, I would.”

Backed by a bassist dabbling in synth, a cellist, a guitarist, a keyboardist and a percussionist flanked by a clear sound shield, the 21-year-old British singer-songwriter took the stage to a thunderous ovation and performed 10 songs over a mesmerizing 40-minute set to an assortment of what appeared to be industry insiders hugging one another and adoring fans already familiar with an artist trying to blow up stateside. And at this point, that seems imminent.

He began with “Nirvana,” the title track to his new EP, and followed it with “Together,” crooning powerfully over funky guitar, R&B bass and soulful keys, as well as a mix of songs from his forthcoming debut album out next year, including “Not The Only One” and his new single “Money On My Mind.” He also performed Naughty Boy’s “La La La,” a song that recently reached No. 1 in the U.K. and one on which he contributed vocals.

Then he asked the crowd, “Who in here knows a group called Disclosure?” and launched into a stripped-down version of their collaboration “Latch,” slow-burning over rolling keys and subtle cello before picking up steam for a rich and soulful finish. Throughout the evening, spectators hooted and whoo-ed at moments big and small, during both the quiet instances and the crescendo peaks, often times within the same song, like throughout “I Told You Now.” And when he passionately sang, “Can I lay by your side?” on the penultimate “Lay Me Down,” he had the enchanted audience wrapped in the palm of his hand.

Smith can easily be likened to a male Jessie Ware – both are charming and immediately likeable; both shine with a captivating and endearing stage presence, complete with natural moments of slight awkwardness; both possess poignant lyrics and masterful voices that veer from soft and reserved to strong and unleashed, the spectrum of which seemed to be effortlessly harnessed; and both brim with a giddiness that they are even singing before you, blessed to be doing what they’re doing. He excitedly recounted seeing his photo hanging on the wall next to Katy Perry’s earlier that day after a meeting at his label Capitol Records, happily confessed he found the silver chain he was wearing in the lofted green room’s couch and enthusiastically admitted that he got to introduce his band – many of whom were in L.A. for the first time – to In-N-Out Burger.

||| Live: Sam Smith returns to the Troubadour for another show tonight.

Photo courtesy of Arjan Writes