Jack Savoretti at the Royal Albert Hall

Jack Savoretti has always been somewhat of a curiosity in indie pop. He’s no household name, yet he has hit number one on the UK albums chart twice, thanks to his sixth and seventh albums, Singing to Strangers and Europiana. Having released his ninth album, We Will Always Be the Way We Were, earlier this year, Savoretti takes on the Royal Albert Hall.

The venue is a daunting prospect for even the most seasoned professionals, for both its heritage and often cavernous acoustics. Taking to the stage, Savoretti is a commanding, though not overpowering, presence. He starts off the show with Do It for Love. With its distinctive tremolo-picking, it’s reminiscent of Chris Isaak, and Savoretti certainly plays the part of noir crooner.

He’s effortlessly charming, engaging in playful banter with the audience. When the first song finishes to riotous applause, he tells an anecdote about working in Shepherd’s Bush as a young man, dreaming of making it big. Now, he says, he gets to perform “in the greatest city on earth in the greatest venue”. After charming the audience (and shining the lights on us after a woman yells out – twice – that she loves him), he breaks into The One. Initially an anthemic, less-than-conspicuous nod to the heartland rock of Bruce Springsteen, it dips into a derivative sing-along chorus.

Before performing Can Hurt Sometimes, a poignant tribute to his late father, Savoretti opens up about grief and offers life affirmations to the audience. It’s this earnestness that’s evidently one of the key ingredients to his appeal.

The first run of songs is rockier and up-tempo, a standout being the soaring title track from his latest album, but Savoretti gets softer following the interval. As the lights dim, he enters ballad territory, echoing back to his early days as a musician. A particularly attention-grabbing number is The Way You Said Goodbye. Recalling the iconic Wild World, it leans heavily into Cat Stevens-esque territory, but without the acclaimed 70s musician’s unique flair.

It must be said that Savoretti is an under-the-radar success, quietly and assuredly picking up top ten albums without really breaking through to the mainstream in any tangible way. Accordingly, there’s something to be admired in him taking on a venue of this grand scale. However, his songs often do not rise to the occasion for such an iconic stage. Although his voice is pleasant to the ear and his lyrics wistful, many of these songs float by, leaving less of an impression.

Whether Savoretti transcends the milieu of Americana-tinged folk, and infuses it with his own unique touch, is debatable. For those who enjoy melodic easy listening, though, this is an evening out that’s not heavy on pathos, with Savoretti offering a soothing concert experience that doesn’t require much rumination. And the singer-songwriter is undoubtedly likeable and deeply sincere; it’s this personal touch that enables him to make the show feel like a more personal affair despite the enormity of his surroundings.