A Show of Strength Displayed by Sheila Nicholls at Benefit

English musician Sheila Nicholls emphasized self-reliance and inner strength during her Tuesday performance at Hollywood’s 1650 club. These themes nicely complemented the evening’s cause--a benefit for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)--and the smart, witty songs from her sophomore album, “Wake,” got the message across without being preachy.

Indeed, even such somber numbers as the inspirational “How Strong,” co-written with hit-producer Glen Ballard, were less about faltering than about confirming one’s own power. Yet the longtime L.A. resident was most engaging with such amusing and thought-provoking numbers as the cautionary “Medusa,” which envisioned the snake-haired Gorgon of Greek mythology shaving her head in order to let people get closer to her, only to lose her identity and end up growing it back.

Upbeat and charming despite the small audience, the socially conscious singer-pianist leavened her introspection with a keen sense of humor in an hourlong set featuring selections from “Wake” as well as from 1999’s “Brief Strop.”

Nicholls began the show accompanied only by a guitarist, but most of the time was backed by a quartet that included stand-up bass and cello. Though her sophisticated pop ranged agreeably from lushly pretty to dramatically stark, with subtle folk and jazz accents, the music ultimately proved less striking than her imagery.