There’s no denying it. People love Eric Roberson. At Friday night’s sold out Birchmere performance, this was clearly evident. From the point shortly after Roberson was introduced by his father to the show’s close nearly two hours later, the female contingent, in particular, could be heard singing along with the lyrics and delivering raucous applause. The question is, what is it about him that not only produces passionate reactions from the women but also elicits a tip of the hat from the guys? Most likely, the cross-gender appeal, and his appeal in general, can be traced to his exceptional ability to capture the essence of interpersonal relationships within many of his songs.

Supplementing his writing skills is his almost equally impressive stage presence. A graduate of the music theater program at Howard, Roberson demonstrated lyrical improvisation akin to an emcee at the onset of his show over Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights” with the aid of a four-piece band and background singer. Later on, he recreated an incident where his perturbed girlfriend changed the locks to their apartment after he, admittedly, messed up. Standing outside the door clutching an armful of groceries in what he described as the dead of winter, Roberson said he gained the inspiration to write “Only For You.”

It’s at times like this where Eric’s superb capacity to tap into universal experiences, particularly related to love, to cross perceived boundaries is clear. With this song, as with others in his catalog, one can’t help but go back into their own life to recall a similar situation they’ve endured. Not only is it a universal experience but it’s being expressed through a thought structure and vernacular that seems natural and sincere. In the midst of the most loving relationship, Roberson’s words in “Softest Lips” would work as perfectly as they did when he used them as a segue into his rendition of Prince’s “Adore,” which he performed almost as well as The Artist could have done.