BLOW MONKEYS BOW AT THE PALACE

On its latest album, “Animal Magic,” the Blow Monkeys come off as a better-than-average young British soul-influenced group. Without the record’s string and horn textures, though, the band’s performance Wednesday at the Palace--its first U.S. headlining engagement--seemed merely average.

Main Monkey Dr. Robert’s restrained boyish charm made up for his unexceptional voice and lent warmth to material ranging from lightweight jazzy soul (typified by the single “Digging Your Scene”) to the swampy funk of his best original number, “Sweet Murder” (though the good Doctor’s sunny personality seemed incongruous in the context of that song’s ominous tone).

But this wasn’t enough to inject much character into the solid, but undistinguished support of his cohorts (saxophonist Neville Henry, bassist Mick Anker and drummer Tony Kiley, augmented by a keyboardist, percussionist and the ubiquitous pair of lingerie-clad black female singers). Making matters worse was a generally muddy sound mix.

All in all, the 65-minute performance was pleasantly entertaining, but hardly gripping, save for the playful encore set which included Curtis Mayfield’s 1972 theme song from “Superfly,” a sly and surprising selection that was likely a mystery to the largely young crowd.

Hope, a young seven-piece local outfit, opened the show with a set at times resembling Simple Minds, but neither as grandiose or uplifting as that band’s music.