Heartwarming home opener for Perri

The story of how Bensalem native Christina Perri achieved musical fame is already legend: moving to L.A. on her 21st birthday, waitressing while writing songs, getting the song "Jar of Hearts" onto Fox's So You Think You Can Dance, and selling more than 150,000 digital and physical copies in one month.

That she managed on Saturday to help sell out the Tower Theater with the headliner, the moody British singer/songwriter James Blunt, 17 days before releasing her debut full-length album, Lovestrong, wasn't just auspicious.

It was cause for a loud celebration, something closer to an Italian holiday dinner with friends than a concert. Before the 24-year-old singer started playing, the family cheering section of the theater was abuzz with hugs and how-you-doin's.

It was hard to beat the joy found in that audience - but Perri managed to from the second she hit the stage.

With her tight three-piece band, Perri leaped into the rousing revenge-pop of "Bang Bang Bang." With its malleted drums, gutsy bass lines, and a piano that floated between pounded chords and theatrical flourishes, Perri and company came across like the Dresden Dolls without the weird poetry - challenging cabaret pop.

Perri's vocals were coolly soulful and reminiscent of Sara Bareilles. With a hushed voice and changing backup - a bottleneck slide on electric guitar on ""Black + Blue," a violin on "Tragedy," a spare arrangement on "Arms" - Perri drew the audience into her tales of romantic woe and wonder. When she sat at the piano for "Jar of Hearts," her voice gathered power until its grand finale. With the song's standing ovation, she thanked all who came: "Now I don't have to waitress anymore."

James Blunt wasn't going to let his opener have all the fun. The soft-rocker known for "You're Beautiful" started his show bounding down the Tower's center aisle, showing off his buff physique, encouraging all to take their tops off ("Perhaps not you, sir," he joked with one rowdy gent). And he ran through a long but elegantly taut set of sensual glam-rockers and argumentative ballads. Sounding like a cross between Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant and a long-lost Gibb brother, he smiled through the icy "So Far Gone" and "Dangerous" and made the most of the twinkly "Wisemen." Still, Blunt saved the best for amorous bashers like "Turn Me On" and "Superstar." Who knew he could be sassy?