Smith Works Christian Theme Into Solid Pop Performance

Michael W. Smith doesn’t need to preach. Unlike so many Christian pop artists, Smith is confident his music alone can carry a convincing spiritual message. At the Universal Amphitheatre on Friday, he performed the same tasteful melodies that have already brought him success with secular listeners.

Smith spent much of the night alone behind a piano, making music that could sit comfortably beside the likes of Michael Bolton or Phil Collins, and was often more interesting than either. He wasn’t creating anything destined to change the course of pop music, but it was always well-played and built on solid pop hooks.

Singing earnestly in a warm, raspy tenor, Smith was an unpretentious presence in his baggy jeans and short spiky hair. But his light demeanor always fell short of undercutting his theme of finding redemption through spirituality.

Smith first crossed over into the pop mainstream in 1991 with the hit single “Place in This World,” and his albums consistently sell well over 500,000 copies.

On Friday, the Tennessee-based singer focused on material from his newest album, “Live the Life,” music that was compassionate and polished, if sometimes a bit too familiar. He also performed a song originally commissioned for the film “Titanic” (though never used) that matched the epic schmaltz of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” It was a sure sign of Smith’s comfort within the mainstream.