Sam Smith shows why he's a Brit soul master

We might speak of London-born Sam Smith with the same reverence we once did Boy George and George Michael. All are soulful New Wave Brits whose warm, torchy voices can move you to tears. Smith - who packed the Liacouras Center on Tuesday - is British blue-eyed pop-soul's voice du jour, a platinum-selling singer/songwriter, with his debut album In the Lonely Hour.

Smith, 22, was actually very reminiscent of the Boy George of yore (sans the cross-dress accoutrements). From the shape of his face to a yearning voice that leaped from falsetto to round, low tones, Smith is a spiritual brother to Boy George.

There was abiding love and pain in every broken, romantic lyric Smith and his octet touched on - from self-penned originals such as "Leave Your Lover" to a windswept rendition of "My Funny Valentine," complete with dramatic vocal flourishes. But there was also a degree of cockiness you couldn't ignore.

Smith gave the audience jittery soul in "Nirvana," with its "room is all hazy/we're too lost in the fumes" romanticism. But the R&B of "Money on My Mind" (ending with CeCe Peniston's house classic "Finally") allowed him a truly great moment of irritation, suggesting that no matter how much he wants love, he's not to be trifled with. In the acoustic ballad "I've Told You Now" and the slick, groovy romp "I'm Not the Only One," Smith sounded both indignant and tenderly wounded.

It was only in March when Smith played Boot & Saddle. He mentioned that tour during a stripped-down interlude with just vocal and piano, doing ballads "Good Thing" and "Lay Me Down." He delivered tart, tough lyrics and gently nuanced highs.

That intimate break was a welcome relief from Smith's opulently arranged set list. But you couldn't argue with the fact that this guy - with but one album under his belt - has made himself into a true contender.