Judging by the praise already given to Tom McRae, a young singer-songwriter who has yet to release a single, we are about to witness the second coming. He has been compared to Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and just about anyone else who ever held a guitar. The only thing McRae hasn't been allowed to be is himself.

Until tonight. Alone on a tiny stage surrounded by intrigued faces, McRea is surprisingly confident. As he begins Bloodless and his soaring vocals reach the roof, you can feel the crowd start to breathe again in the sweltering heat. McRae has a beautiful voice that acquires a raw but controlled power live. Gentle and fragile in recordings, it is blistering tonight. And while You Cut Her Hair and Boy With the Bubblegum are tender, there's no mistaking a sense of rage. It's as though McRae needs to channel his frustration through songs to swoon, to or else he'd just scream. With the voice of an angel, he sings, "If words could kill, it would spell out your name", and you believe him.

The songs are romantic but realistic. While in a laid-back, folk tradition, they have no Richard Thompson-type stylings. References to high-rises and cocaine set McRae firmly in the present. And he isn't precious about his talent. He's an odd mix of lad and artist, joking with the sold-out crowd before tearing open our hearts. "Thanks for coming down," he says, "those of you that could get in." He pauses. "I've always wanted to say that."

At Ronnie Scott's, Birmingham (0121-643 4525), tomorrow, and touring. ***** Unmissable **** Recommended *** Enjoyable ** Mediocre * Terrible