David Gray

It is so hard to choose, because it is true that DG never disappoints! The first one I saw is still my fav, because I was so not prepared for the power, the passion and the incredible strength of David's voice. So when he came on stage and started singing, I was totally blown away! It was a feeling of surprise and wonderful recognition and awe. It made me happy deep down in my soul. My personal No. 2 is the BB show in KKL, Luzern 2007. The sound there is so magnificent and the audience so quiet. There were some funny moments when the grand piano acted up and in the end DG gave up and sang acapella. I also loved the concert in Zürich (don't remember what year!) with a full band and lots of beautiful instruments. The concert in The Roundhouse, London when he was his own support act. Oh and Zermatt was pretty amazing too. The concert I didn't go to and still regret it today: KKL, Luzern 2009. My hubby was there and said it was his best ever. (I went to see James Morrison, who was playing the KKL too, the same evening. He was okay, but I so regret missing out on that wonderful DG concert!)

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Marjolijn

Best attended: Bare Bones Tour, Paisley - fantastic acoustic set, lots of early songs.

Wish I had attended: The Point, December 1999! - amazing gig! 

This is impossible.  Top five are KKL Lucerne 2009, Backyard Austin - 2006, St. John Smith's Square - July, 2007, Ottawa NAC- August, 2006 and Manchester Apollo, November, 2007 and Massey Hall,- Toronto October, 2009 (woops its six oh well)

 

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"Your smiles at the wake and your tears at the wedding" - DG

I know this is an old thread, but I enjoyed reading it and thought I'd throw my own in here too.

I've only been to three shows, but each of them have something special that make them "the best" for me.  My first one (Newport Folk Festival, 2006) was special because it was my first and I got to go to the very front of the crowd.  My last one (Durham, July 2011) was special because I got to meet David after the show, have him sign a CD booklet for me, and take a picture (in my avatar).

It was my second show, however, that is the best.  Durham, April 2010.  We were completely broke at the time, and I didn't think I could afford to attend the show.  I was mourning each day that passed until the day of the concert and I realized that I just couldn't miss it.  I called my husband at work and said that I would do anything to make it happen.  He agreed, and I drove myself right then to downtown Durham to see if there were any tickets left at the box office.  When I got there, they had just two left.  I got the last single cheap seat, cried, and a few hours later, there I was tucked in a back corner of the best concert of my entire life.  I should say that before kids, I was practically a professional concertgoer and would travel all around the country to see shows with people I had never met.  This show blew everything I ever knew about concerts away.  Nemesis was a truly spiritual experience, and I'll never forget the end of Other Side.  The place was completely sold out, and when he started the last line, "Honey, now if I'm honest, I still don't know..." you could have literally heard a pin drop.  He held that silence for over 10 seconds while the entire venue held its breath before he finally dropped "WHAT LOVE IS!!" and brought the place down.  Never have I experienced a moment like that.

As for which one do I wish I had attended?  Live at the Point is a pretty obvious one, though I also would have liked to see any of his really early ones in a bar or something like that so I could buy him a drink afterward.

Unfortunately I have only been to one concert.  I went to a concert about a year ago in Nashville, Tn when he was playing with Ray Lamontagne.  I knew a few of his songs but really did know much about him.  It was so amazing!  I came to see Ray and he was good but oh when I heard David I didn't want him to stop.  I loved it.  This concert made me a huge fan.  My favorite part was when David and Ray sung Dig a Pony.  It was fantastic.  I hope to get to go to another concert soon!

Only been to on DG concert so far and that was Bridge Water Hall on 3ird June 2011 but what an occasion it was!

 

Went with my two good friends as well and we had such a great time and got an autograph and picture with the legend!! :)

 

Looking forward to more gigs in the future but wish I had gone to see him when he visited my home town in 2000 or 2001 but I was only around 7 or 8 and didn't even know who he was then :( Wish I'd seen him around the time of the white ladder album.

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Bridge Water Hall 03/06/2011

Been to 4 so far, my favorite was probably the first.

Having only heard snippets of DG live from youtube and ofcourse the LISM dvd.... expectations instantly blown away when DG starts playing fugitive "behind the curtain".

We were sat closest to Keith also... man what a beat he can lay down!!

Nothing beats that amazement feeling of how much better the live shows are than the recorded tracks... and how brilliant the boys are.

 

Definitely agree with Sam that i regret not discovering him sooner,  missed out on what looked like an outstanding Greatest Hits gig in Manchester.

 

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Looking down from the Highrise,
Staring back with your own eyes,
Playing games with the numbers,
Messing around with the dates

I have to say his Foundling tour at the Beacon Theater in NYC was an absolute highlight. Saw him in both London and Dublin and the energy was brilliant, but I thought the Beacon show fused technical perfection with an amazing vibe. Except for the 3 drunk skanks in front of us (THEY were in 2nd row dead center) it was the best concert I have ever been to. Wonderful song choices, fantastic execution and David in full sonorous, magnificent voice...

Best show I have seen was the summer of '03 in Milwaukee. He played the new Summerfest north stage, but it was not during the actual festival. First off, all of the band, including David, were playing soccer before the show off to the side of the stage, so a few of us sat in the grass on the outskirts of the soccer field, chit-chatted with whatever random band member happened to kick the ball near us. It was pretty perfect way to chill before a show. Then, I managed to get a spot about 2 rows from the stage, so within spitting distance from David for the show.

I just searched these forum archives for quite a while to find my original post from '03 in here, as nowhere has a setlist posted for this concert. Luckily, I found my old post from back then (had a different login name back then)... here it was: 

Dead in the Water (outro jam)
Real Love 
My Oh My (intro jam)
Silver Lining
White Ladder
Be Mine
All the Love
Shine 
Gathering Dust
Long Distance Call
Late Night Radio into Faster, Sooner, Now 
Hold On to Nothing
Sail Away
Other Side
Nightblindness (outro jam)
Babylon

Encore:
This Year's Love
Baltimore
Freedom

Please Forgive Me 

 

 I just remember, once we got to 'All the Love' in that concert, the gloves were taken off by Dave and the boys. This was before I knew that David Gray was creating this spectacular 'new' outro to Nightblindness. One thing to mention is that the stage is right on the Michigan lake shore and it, from the stage perspective, faces the lake. And, as if on cue with his plans, the sun happened to give us a spectacular sunset as he plays this mind-blowing version of Nightblindness. It was pure perfection surrounding me and completely surreal hearing that and looking behind you to find this beautiful sunset. Tears may have happened. Plus... seeing All the Love, Shine, Gathering Dust, Late Night Radio > Faster, Sooner, Now (which David surprised Clune by going into Faster, Sooner, Now with Clune knowing, as it was the first time that tour they brought that out, and, to this date, was the only mishap I have seen Clune have), Hold On To Nothing, Baltimore and Freedom.... I was in pure heaven. 

 Hopefully I will have some stories in two weeks about the show in Chicago that I can look back to like this one.... my fourth show, but more, importantly, my wife's first. You all know how exciting it is to bring a newer David Gray fanatic to their first show.  Thanks for listening to my rant friends... I kinda get excited about this stuff ;) 

And the show I wish I would have attended...for musical content, it would've been the NY or another one of the Lost and Found gigs... the NY show had that Foundling version that I listen to almost everyday. Overall, though, certainly Live at the Point. What an energy!

 

Gathering Dust.

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You're staring at the sky, but the moon ain't gonna pay our bills.

Yeah... there was a song that I never thought I was going to get to see live. Especially when he got into the extended outro and he started improvising somewhat. Good times... good times. 

wish I had woken up and seen gigs in the post white ladder and andam days.......that set list is so killer

I now have to add all three gigs from this year...the two solo acoustic sundance shows are now absolutely at the top of the list ....... vegas not so much for the gig (well apart from faster sooner > late night radio) but the entirety of the grayhead experience was so awesome.........nothing comes even close

Wow what a set list that is, must have been an amazing gig.

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Your tears at the wake and
Your smiles at the wedding
DG Manchester Bridgewater Hall 03/06/11
:)

davidcotyalex:

wish I had woken up and seen gigs in the post white ladder and andam days.......that set list is so killer

I now have to add all three gigs from this year...the two solo acoustic sundance shows are now absolutely at the top of the list ....... vegas not so much for the gig (well apart from faster sooner > late night radio) but the entirety of the grayhead experience was so awesome.........nothing comes even close

Wasn't that kick ass Say Hello (with the Gathering Dust outro!) in Vegas?

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You're staring at the sky, but the moon ain't gonna pay our bills.