Next up, Paolo Nutini! Let me tell you, the 22-year-old Scottish Italian soul sensation did not disappoint the packed house of fans at Warehouse Live on Saturday night.

Paolo released his first album, These Streets, in 2006. He had minor hits with the songs “These Streets” and “Last Request” and played the festival circuit in Europe. His career gained momentum through 2007, as his songs were featured on programs like “Scrubs,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “CSI”. When his third single, “Jenny Don’t Be Hasty,” caught my attention on the radio one day, I became an instant fan.

Critics were quick to lump him in with other lite soul-pop heartthrobs like James Blunt, Jamie Lidell and Adam Levine. However, there is more than his model looks to set him apart from the pack (not that he doesn’t have the magazine spreads to support the teen idol image).

From Teen Vogue

No, Paolo has the IT Factor. Star power exudes from the heartfelt delivery of his lyrics, which reveal a wisdom beyond his young age, to the way he combines influences from Sam Cooke to Bob Marley, and caresses the syllables with a brogue (imagine Paolo as a modern day, musical version of James Bond, where he pacifies dangerous women by crooning– Brigad007n?):

His 2009 release, Sunny Side Up, should quiet some of those comparisons to his peers. On this album, you’ll hear plenty of old school soul, but also a broad range of styles from ska to celtic folk. With every song, Nutini sings with conviction and a voice that is uniquely Paolo. Read this glowing review, which pretty much sums up my feelings about the album.

His set last Saturday night in Houston contained songs from both records (but mostly Sunny Side Up), and a couple of covers:

• Alloway Grove (TS)
• High Hopes (SSU)
• Pencil Full of Lead (SSU)
• Loving You (SSU)
• Growing Up Beside You (SSU)
• Candy(SSU)
• Chamber Music (SSU)
• Funky Cigarette (SSU bonus track)
• Coming Up Easy (SSU)
• Down In Mexico (The Coasters Cover)
• 10/10 (SSU)
• No Other Way (SSU)
• New Shoes (TS)


Anyone remember Terence Trent D’Arby?

Encore:

• These Streets (TS) (Crowd favorite, everyone knew the words and sang along)
• Jenny Don’t Be Hasty (TS) (Highlight of the show for me, and was performed like a trippy remix with extended intro and reverb effects):
• Forget It (Sixto Rodriguez Cover)

A bit of constructive criticism: Paolo gets very into his singing, and does not interact with the crowd very much at all. One might attribute this to shyness, or perhaps too many “funky cigarettes.” Afer watching the giggling interplay between the band members during that song, and reading a couple of quotes from Paolo on the Net, I would probably go with the latter, but who knows?

Also, they did not play “Last Request” !!! C’mon Paolo, our hubbies and boyfriends took us to drool over see you, now close out the show with that sexy ballad that makes us want to go home and show our appreciation!

Other than that, I absolutely adored the man and the show. Go see him if you can!