Energetic, Straightforward Set by Gene

Of the many British bands trying to woo America, Gene is one tier below Oasis and Pulp on the popularity scale, aligned with the likes of the London Suede. Riding hard on the heels of Suede, which played an L.A. show last month, Gene offered a steadfast set of mostly dark-hearted songs at the El Rey Theatre on Wednesday that was reminiscent of another UK band, the now-defunct Smiths.

But Gene is more muscular and blues-based than the Smiths. And, unlike Suede, which came on full-bore with pomp and glam energy that eventually flagged, Gene opted for a straightforward, energetic set built on sweeping melodies and singer Martin Rossiter’s lush vocal style. Dressed all in black and holding forth with a distinctly Morrissey-like air, Rossiter proved to be a highly likable frontman delivering tunes about deep depression and being alone, love and lusty urges with heart-on-his-sleeve honesty.

The band lagged occasionally, stumbling beneath the weight of some of the more burdensome songs on its new album, “Drawn to the Deep End,” but eventually won the crowd with diligence and passion.

“My mother called this an ‘under-the-sheets’ song,” Rossiter called to an audience of mod-looking Anglophiles before launching into the band’s best tune, “Fighting Fit.” A randy, rousing, anthem-like ode to sexual desire, the song is ironically the one that happily brings Rossiter out of the bedroom and into the world with lines like, “I can’t take it / too much time’s been wasted . . . I’m fighting fit and able!”

Dark and confessional, Rossiter was never so gloomy that you wanted to put him out of his misery. On this evening, he was clearly beginning to fight his way out from under Morrissey’s shadow.