Concert review: Sam Smith, Vector Arena

Sam Smith needs surgery to correct damaged vocal cords. Photo/AP

He may have found fame by featuring on a track by exuberant dance duo Disclosure, but last night at Vector Arena, Sam Smith was all about the ballads.

In his first ever New Zealand show, the 22 year old British star, who won two Brit Awards and four Grammy Awards in February, delivered a classy evening that put all the emphasis on his vocal abilities rather than any bells and whistles.

The light show was impressive, and the eight-piece band simply but strongly presented on their stepped platforms. But down the front it was all about a sharply-suited Smith and the songs of heartbreak and longing from his debut album In The Lonely Hour, with the two large black and white video screens keeping a tight focus on his face throughout the 75 minute show.

And his face is certainly a strong point of the show - his delight in the crowd's enthusiasm, and his grin after every song was utterly charming, and reinforced the fact that Smith was little known until 18 months ago.

The other strong point is of course that luxurious voice, and the songs where the white soul-crooner's vocals were given room to breathe proved the most spine-tingling.

The simple piano accompaniment for Lay Me Down made the soaring chorus truly memorable, while the simple, classic arrangements behind his biggest hits I'm Not The Only One, and Stay With Me (with which he closed the show) were perfectly judged.

And there were some nice moments elsewhere too - the rhythmic chanting which opened Like I Can, the stripped back version of one of Smith's personal favourites, Leave Your Lover, and a snappy version of Money On My Mind which blended nicely with a cover of CeCe Peniston's Finally.

But there were also a few sound issues with some overblown bass muddying the tracks, or Smith's vocals overwhelmed by the arrangements and volume. And though a certain demographic were delighted to hear him perform his Naughty Boy tune La La La, and Disclosure's Latch, the big band arrangements instead of electronic beats made them seem a little lost and lumbering.

Perhaps Smith might be better suited to a more intimate venue, rather than trying to make his music stadium-friendly. But given that he's playing two sold-out nights at Vector, there would be a lot of unhappy fans if that were the case, and ultimately his voice overcomes everything else to leave the impression of a charming boy-next-door who's delighted to share his heartbreak with the world.

What: In The Lonely Hour Tour
Where and when: Vector Arena, Wednesday April 22.
Reviewed by: Lydia Jenkin