David Gray Gigs

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:29:38 GMT

What a great review posted by nevermind, thanks for that. the reviewer so brillantly and eloquently articulated that this tour and it's set up have done wonders for DG's songs.

He needs to be playing on tour in this way, or least not discard the set up for future tours because he clearly revels in it and so do us fans.

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:07:17 GMT

Great audios Teemto! Thanks!

Found this video of Falling Free:

(click on pic)

her a few pics I took with my mobil:

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 02:21:46 GMT

Few audio uploads:

Falling Free / World To Me

TOIL

My Oh My

Alibi

I would have loved to have gotten a few pictures but unfortunately i was stopped by one of the stewards.

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:04:12 GMT

Thanks for the Great reviews Teemto and Nevermind.

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:49:04 GMT

Fantastic Review and pics, Pip, thanks for sharing.

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:09:23 GMT

Hey guys,

We posted our review up of David's gig on Monday along with an image gallery so I thought I'd share it with you:

http://www.entertainment-focus.com/music/articles/david-gray-monday-6th-june-2011-royal-festival-hall

Thanks

Pip

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:12:11 GMT

Thanks for the review nevermind!

I'm sorry its taken me so long to report back, but something came up yesterday.

As always, David and the band were fantastic. They keep getting better and better. The crowd was very entative and knew how to show their appreciation. One thing was different about this show however, it was very honest.

David opening with Foundling is very striking, sets the mood perfectly for the rest of the show... and then when we get to Davey Jones, Lately - the stage explodes and the band really start to show off, brilliant.

But then we get to one of the cruxes of the show.. My Oh My, Flame Turns Blue, Ain't No Love - which shows David and the band at the very best. Real emotion flowing from these songs. These performed without any automated effects, just pure musicianship. I absolutely loved hearing Draw the Line.. its a shame we missed out on the alternative lyrics (saw that Nottingham got a glimpse ^^) but great nonetheless. Fugitive is also one of my favourites, and i think it's definately reached its potential in the current state.

Forgetting was very nice to hear, David pointed out "This isn't one for the UK christmas singles market... unless the world does some crazy slowing down.."

Then onto the solo act, before playing Falling Free David mentioned that the song spawned from "Falling madly, deeply in love" , such beauty in that performance.. Raw passion, fantastic. Straight into World To Me which was amazing! It just goes to show that there is no need for the electronic bass and the drums on this one. Shine was a lovely surprise , shame that my friend Sam couldn't make it on Monday night, he would have loved that. TYL great as always, and i think i've finally been won over by DG and Robbie...

Then came Alibi, a song which i did not think i would get the chance to hear, and WOW!! I was barely able to breathe afterwards, absolutely brilliant performance (lisa also added to the vocals to this one)

Babylon was started with an introduction down Lordship Road.. and ended with a very somber singalong that David asked of the audience.. Not like your standard drunken BABYLONNNN , much more controlled and melodic, i enjoyed it very much.

Nemesis was amazing! Neill was doing all sorts in the outro.. Infact, we were discussing before the show how much Neill has risen up, and this show was perfect example (Holding On, Flame, Nemesis ... all great)

Lisa was also great tonight, i feel i've gone "half-circle" with her at this stage . Her last song of her own set was a cover on which Caroline stepped in, very good!

I've uploaded a few songs on this page and will continue to upload more hopefully throughout today/tomorrow, so keep watching!

Lovely to meet everyone before and after the show, hopefully see you all again soon

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:51:49 GMT

Tuesday, 07 June 2011 04:00

David Gray, Royal Festival Hall

Written by David Cheal

Head-waggling - and heartfelt: David Gray

How much did I like this show? Well, here’s a clue: at the end, the only really bad thing I could think of was that the bass guitar could have been a bit louder. I’ve seen David Gray on stage quite a few times now, and this was easily the most satisfying show, the one that did justice to his voice, his music, his songs, and especially his lyrics, which were, almost uniquely for such an event, audible and understandable almost word for word.

Ever since he had a hit 12 years ago with the folktronic “Babylon”, David Gray has become the man that the pop cognoscenti like to sneer at; a singer-songwriter (itself a somewhat unfashionable category) who waggles his head and sounds a bit like Dylan and mainlines on gloomy introspection. Well, it’s all true. He waggles his head quite a lot, still. He does sound a bit like Dylan (in fact he sounds more like Dylan these days than Dylan does). And gloomy introspection is his stock-in-trade. But it’s done with such craft, such skill, and here it was sung with such clarity and purpose and emotional authenticity, I was simply seduced. He writes great songs; he sings them; and that’s that.

'Ten years ago, David Gray was filling venues as big as Earls Court. But he was never really a pop star'

It has to be said that there was a certain amount of sophistry at work in the build-up to this gig. All touring musicians must grow weary of the album-tour-album-tour treadmill; hence, presumably, the widely publicised notion that this tour, of which this was the final night, was to be an acoustic, organic affair; quieter, subtler. This was all true, up to a point, but taking my seat in the stalls, I immediately noticed a keyboard with the word “Kawai” on it and realised that the definition of “acoustic” had become somewhat elastic; likewise the electric guitar, and the electric bass that sometimes stood in for the double bass (and which in the event was nothing like as deep and thrummy; see opening paragraph).

But regardless of what it claimed to be, this show was certainly organic. The rich textures of guitars, cello (you could hear it properly - hooray!), bass, piano, harmonium, keyboards and drums created something warm and real, rendered immaculately clear by the sound system and the hall’s acoustics. And David Gray’s voice was fabulous – it’s gritty and raspy but it’s also rich and true, and he does a mean falsetto, too. Three big floor lamps placed around the stage enhanced the impression that we were experiencing something warm and intimate, an interaction between musicians, who, tellingly, spent most of the time facing each other with earnest concentration.

Most of all, though, what I loved about this show was its emotional honesty. From the opening song, the title track of last year’s Foundling album, through to a radically revisited version of “The One I Love” (aching loss rather than exuberance in this tale of a dying soldier), to a tingling “Flame Turns Blue” from 1999’s Lost Songs album, to a glorious, soaring "Alibi", and culminating in a majestic, unashamedly romantic “Sail Away”, this was compellingly heartfelt. Inevitably there was “Babylon”, too, but it was "Babylon" redux: a gentler, more muted affair.

Ten years or so ago, thanks to “Babylon” and his breakthrough White Ladder album (his fourth), David Gray was filling venues as big as Earls Court. But he was never really a pop star, and in the intervening years he has progressively downsized to more modest halls such as this one. Last night’s show suggested that he seems infinitely happier and more comfortable at this level. This is where he belongs.

http://www.theartsdesk.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3841:david-gray-rfh-review&Itemid=27

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:43:59 GMT

davidcotyalex:

looks like I am actually headed in the opposite direction

Travel safely!

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:37:39 GMT

haha miralake good one lol!

and fortunately you live closer to reno than vegas so you only lost the 10!!

as tempting as it sounds.............and to your point don't think it wasn't considered but all this hitting the road with his crazy folks stuff is wearing thin with the 12 year old and - more importantly actually - duty calls and looks like I am actually headed in the opposite direction and back to the dam

ah well all good

haven't had time for a proper review with all that is going on..............so at some point will try to get a little more specific............did have dinner with ford's manager mr wibberly and our new good friend monkeyinahat tonight and it was great - that is the clear advantage of this stuff in finding folks of similar tastes - jump starts a relationship for the most part!!

cheerio!

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:25:26 GMT

Loved the whole show - Really was impressed and entertained by Lisa O'neill - want to see more of her. She's a natural entertainer. This time sat nearer the stage with babylon - we finally met up. DG's shows get better and better - such a lovely friendly warm atmosphere - great to see Lisa on stage a few times as well. Good to see Caroline Dale back - not seen her live before - Had to travel back home after the show and then up again eary this morning - loads of music going through my head still - feeling shattered - I see America is getting a few tour dates next - hopefully we will get a few more over this side of the pond coming up to Christmas

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:47:18 GMT

Wow. Sounds like the UK portion of the tour is the place to be!!! Judging from DG's Facebook updates he is thoroughly enjoying himself, and obviously that is translating nicely on stage!

If you haven't noticed, I'm in love with all of England, and I'm curious about the differences between the US and British audiences. I've heard DG speak a little about the differences, but I was wondering if anyone who has seen shows in both places has a lasting impression??

Oh, and I'm a gambling woman, so I'm in for $10 that DCA and family make it to Dublin...

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:10:28 GMT

Dave and the band just keep getting better and better wish I was going to Dublin tomorrow night they are going to have a real great gig! Was on my own last night and waited to meet Dave after the gig and got his autograph and could actually speak to him this time!! Here is to the next one and it was good to meet Sally after all of this time xxxxx

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:51:30 GMT

Hi All,

Haven't posted for a while, but just wanted to say what an amazing gig it was last night. I was supposed to be up at 5am for a train to Edinburgh for work this morning, but was very ill over night, so I'm taking the day off (Obviously a DG hangover, haha!). Anyway, sorry for the lack of videos, I took my camera and was hoping to get a few great videos of the likes of Shine etc, but unfortunatley that was the only venue I have ever been to where I was told I was not allowed to take any videos or photos. Apart from that though, was one of the best setlists of any DG gig I have been to and I think last night was my 15th. Hope everyone had as much fun as I did!

Re: Royal Festival Hall - London, UK - June 06, 2011

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:05:39 GMT

Thanks for the wonderful review as always Rena, perfect setlist to end the Uk tour. That guy must have been completely nuts to miss out on most of Davids set, what a waste.

Its sad about that guy who was it by a bus, and yes you're right you never whats around the corner, need to make the most of each day.

Enjoy your last gig in Dublin, which i'm 100% sure you will, i'll be looking out for you on the livestream. Safe travels.