Regina Spektor apparently inspires a special kind of devotion from her fans.

The Russian-born singer-songwriter performed last night before a raucous, adoring audience at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles that sang along, word-for-word, with her quirky piano songs for most of the 90-minute show.

At rare quiet moments, both boys and girls in the standing-room-only throng shouted their love for the charismatic Spektor — with at least three proposing marriage.

This writer, who attended the show with his wife, managed to restrain himself.

But one young man with a shaved head, standing only about 20 feet from Spektor’s piano on the stage, cupped his hands to his mouth to holler his full name and desire to marry her.  Later, he bellowed to the singer: “I want to have your babies!”

A beaming, ebullient Spektor clearly enjoyed the lively crowd as she threw herself into energetic versions of  songs from her latest album, “Far,” as well as 2006’s commercial breakthrough “Begin to Hope” and 2004’s “Soviet Kitsch.”

Between songs she thanked fans repeatedly for their enthusiasm, but didn’t agree to marry any of them on the spot.

Spektor’s tour in support of “Far,” which was produced in part by ELO frontman Jeff Lynne, will take her next to St. Paul, Minnesota, Chicago and Ann Arbor, Michigan.  She has just announced new dates in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles for October.

Regina Spektor photo courtesy of Big Hassle Media