Qudos Bank Arena, November 14

Sam Smith promised, during a rather sombre intimate show early this year, that he would “pretend to be Beyonce” when he brought his full concert back.

Fortunately, the sweet soul crooner didn’t spend more than a few seconds trying to dance like her, although he did bring more verve to a set packed with songs ranging from the mildly melancholic to the downright depressing.

From the start, rising in the centre of a triangular stage hunched on a chair for break-up ballad Burning, the range and power of his voice was impressive. Getting the audience out of their seats took a bit of doing: a plea from Smith helped, as the gospel-infused ode to infidelity I’m Not the Only One doesn’t exactly drive people to the mosh pit.

The set has been honed to dole out upbeat moments in limited doses: a cover of the Georgia Mass Choir’s I Sing Because I’m Happy early on, his songs with Disclosure sprinkled in the middle, and the sexy new Calvin Harris collaboration Promises saved for later. For the last he asked the crowd to “pretend we’re in the biggest gay bar in the world. The biggest. The gayest” as he indulged some unabashed happiness.

A towering pyramid (Illuminati imagery or homage to Toblerone, you decide) hovered over proceedings like Chekhov’s gun; it split in dramatic fashion during the vocal high-wire act Writing’s on the Wall.

Yet the sadder, introspective moments tended to be best, and even if he doesn’t have the charisma and energy to raise the roof Smith can command a stadium while standing still and singing. This is no small feat. For the first half of Lay Me Down, he was backed with sparse soft piano chords and maybe a whisper from the cello. Would Beyonce have the guts?

The soul-baring Him, exploring bigotry, sexuality and faith, was Smith at his most raw and powerful. Pray touched on similar themes, bringing the night to a cathartic close.

Sam Smith’s The Thrill of it All tour continues at Qudos Bank Arena on Friday and Saturday.