Two years is a long time in the life of an ex-boy-band member, especially if that band was Blue. But while the rest of Blue were last spotted in tabloid gossip columns - or in Duncan James's case, playing a gig in Dorothy Perkins - only Simon Webbe has proved there is more to him than good pecs and gyrating hips.

Always keen to point out his songwriting skills - he had a hand in Blue's biggest hits - Webbe has taken the Gary Barlow route to solo success, with his last two albums - 2005's Sanctuary and the recently released Grace - inoffensive but serious attempts to turn the ex-model into a credible musical force.

This can be the only reason he has chosen to play a show, ahead of his first tour next spring, at the grindingly trendy, atmosphere-free ICA. The venue of choice for cult acts such as Wire and Mogwai, it is not a place for a man used to arenas packed with screaming tweenies. Webbe, crammed on a tiny stage in front of a six-strong band and four backing singers, looks lost.

His music does not really know where it is, either. Country, soul and gospel are strung together with scratches, an embarrassing spot of rapping by an excitable MC and lots of "uh-uh"s from Webbe. But it is nice enough.

Lurking behind aviator shades and worn leather jacket, Webbe sings Lay Your Hands with genuine feeling and My Soul Pleads for You shows off his voice - something that Moss Side's answer to Jack Johnson is very defensive about.

"People think singing Simon Webbe songs is easy," he says. "Let me hear you hit that baritone." It may not be easy, but his voice is ordinary, his songs more so, and his performance charisma-free until a dramatic cover of The Killers' When You Were Young. Suddenly, he is a pop star again - but he has to take his shirt off to do it.