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Jessie J may have called herself awkward a few times onstage at her sold out show at House of Blues on Saturday, but her command of the stage and her singing were anything but. Coupled with her fun banter with the audience and her cheeky delivery, she was a charming performer.

The British singer-songwriter whose given name is Jessica Ellen Cornish, has had multiple hits in the UK and elsewhere in Europe; her three studio albums have all been in the Top 5 in the UK. She’s also penned hits for others, including co-writing Miley Cyrus’ “Party In the U.S.A.” But Jessie J’s popularity stateside has been a slower rise. Her recent album, “Sweet Talker,” is her first to crack the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart.

And it was her newer anthemic material that stood out most during her set. Backed by a rousing six-piece band that included two backup singers who complemented Jessie J’s powerhouse vocals, she confidently strutted the stage with adept dance moves peppered in. “Bang Bang” combined what made her most compelling: searing, soulful singing, a sassy attitude and catchy hooks. The fiery “Burnin’ Up” and earlier hits “Domino” and “Price Tag” were also standouts. Jessie J was also endearingly goofy, delivering “Sweet Talker” with a wink and a smile to a fan-brought sign of Samuel L. Jackson in a pink wig.

Her ballads were hit or miss. Power ballad “Masterpiece” and “Flashlight” sounded beautifully effortless, but “Nobody’s Perfect,” while lyrically sincere, was more overwrought. A versatile singer, she spanned hip-hop and dance, such as during “Do it Like a Dude,” a song she originally penned for Rihanna; ballads; R&B and pop. But her malleability could also come off unfocused, such as on “Ain’t Been Done,” which had positive sentiments that were crowded out by the varying styles within the song.

Still, her voice was impressive. Despite her being challenged by a cold, the power behind her belting was so fierce she could’ve forgone a mic at points. If anything, she could’ve pulled back some on her added vocal runs.

While she’s just beginning to make larger waves on this side of the pond, judging from her performance and her connection with fans at the show – she read a fan letter out loud, signed autographs and had direct conversations with individuals in the audience – she seems poised to further grow her U.S. fanbase.

Legaspi is a freelance critic.

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