When it comes to giving off natural energy, Sophie B. Hawkins has maybe two rivals: Tina Turner - and the sun.

Hawkins' hip-shaking, spine-sliding show wowed a crowd of almost 5,000 at Stearns Square Thursday at the CityBlock concert series.

Some of today's younger over-choreographed and overwrought pop divas could take a few lessons from Hawkins' energetic, yet totally natural, stage presence. Her unaffected joie de vivre was infectious, and she clearly won over some new fans during the show with it.

Oh yeah, the music was great, too.

Hawkins kicked things off with the song "Mysteries," then moved seamlessly into a great version of "California." A few songs later, she let loose with a superb rendition of "As I Lay Me Down," which reached No. 25 on the charts in 1995.

Backed with just a keyboardist and drummer, Hawkins and company unleashed a full, rich sound, proving that you don't need to be Jimi Hendrix to make a three-piece band sound big. One highlight of the show was "I Need Nothing Else" featuring Hawkins on the djembe, an African drum resembling a conga.

Usually when a singer picks up a percussion instrument, you can only hope they keep it away from the microphone. But Hawkins, whose first instrument was the drums, played with a rhythmically perfect ferocity. She also played guitar, keyboard and banjo during the 90-minute set.

Although Hawkins' energy carried the upbeat tunes, some of the mid-tempo songs that had large dynamic shifts got a bit lost in the carnival-like atmosphere of CityBlock. This was no fault of the bands, who played each song superbly. It just seems that the CityBlock series, with its beer tents and bikers, lends itself more to party tunes.

Yet despite this cacophonous setting, Hawkins later stunned the crowd with the gorgeous and jazzy "Bare the Weight of Me."

Another highlight was "Beautiful Girl" from Hawkins new CD, "Wilderness." Oddly, this sparkling, percolating pop gem was one of just three songs Hawkins played from the new album, the other two being "Walking on Thin Ice" and "Feelin' Good." This latter tune is an old, bluesy Anthony Newly song that Traffic once covered. It served as a perfect set-up for the final number, Hawkins' 1992 Top 10 hit, "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover," which got the crowd dancing and singing along.

CityBlock continues next Thursday night with Bonnie Bramlett. The shows, which are co-sponsored by The Republican and the Springfield Business Improvement District, are free and begin at 7:30 p.m.