David Gray

Hi, I have decide to join the forum as I am having trouble enjoying Davids music at the moment.  I used to love it, so much that I decided to go to Cornbury this year, I'm not a concert goer and decided to only get there for when David was playing, I squeezed myself to the very front and was soooo excited at being able to see David up close and singing along to the songs. The problem is that after all that effort, David called us a bunch of f****g morons and I saw him say it up close and I'm not so sure he was joking, I feel like what the hell did we do wrong?  Now when I put on his music at home it reminds me of what he said to us and I feel quite fed up.  Does anyone know why he said it, what annoyed him so much?  I feel like all that effort of attending the concert was wasted and leaves a bad taste, shame.

just curious.............why are you posting this now? wasn't Cornbury several months ago?!

call it whatever you want David is not afraid to tell of a bunch of idiots off if it pissed him off - and I can almost guarantee he was not joking. So if you were not doing something stupid then he wasn't talking to you.

if on the other hand you cannot deal with an occasional f-bomb then you should simply stick with the cds............david tells it like he sees it and that sometimes involves utilizing words in the english language which I have no issue with but others may

i will say though in my opinion seeing david in a proper venue is way way better than with a bunch of drunken fools who may not be there even to see him......that would be my recommendation

Hi Sunny555,

welcome to the forums. Sorry to hear this has lessened your concert experience. 

You know, David is heart on sleeve, which I regard as a true virtue when thinking of the hypocrisy that seems to rule our lives these days.

I have been to that concert (to DCA - that was 6 weeks ago) and heard and saw what you did. What he actually said in full was something along the lines of 'and I sit and spend months and years working and reworking on a song until it reaches perfection and it's only to go out into the world and play it to f****** morons like you'. And went on to play Nemesis.

He voiced his idignation not at the true fans and people who were there and actually knew how to appreciate his music but at those who in his eyes treated him disrespectfully. I remember a guy who was wearing a green wig who annoyed DG especially. Lyricwise Nemesis is one of his most accomplished works and he must have felt that it was wasted on those people who stood in the area in front of Neill mostly.

You may find this harsh but that is the way he is. Outspoken. No hypocrisy from this man. 

He did not mean you if you weren't one of those mentioned above. I can see that someone who isn't that familiar with DG must have misunderstood the remark. He had his reasons and in all the many times I have seen him live there has never been a comparable incident . I hope you will be able to enjoy listening to his music as much as you used to.

- Rena

edited to say that I second DCA's advice - go and see him at one of the Foundling gigs next year. it will be a totally different experience.

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Thanks for your response.  I'm not a complete softy and have grown up in a harsh environment where swearing etc. is not unusual, thats not what bothered me.  And the time it has taken me to write is reflecting how I felt whenever I have played his music since, I was getting a bit fed up with not enjoying it so much.

I havent been to many concerts and I recognise what you are saying about there being some pillocks there, I agree and I wont be going again to Cornbury, but I really enjoyed seeing David so maybe I will try to see him at the gigs you mention and get it put straight in my mind.

 sunny

I agree with Rena and DCA wholeheartedly. I've seen David several times here in the States. On at least 2 occasions he's dropped the f-bomb, once to get the crowd moving i.e. "get off your asses and show me some ....ing attitude. I also was in attendance when he called the boob out in Toronto for talking on his cell phone at the start of Nemesis. I think he gets so involved in not only the audience reaction, but it breaks his concentration. Lord knows, as many of us have seen, he goes into somewhat of a trance as the music hits him. I love to watch old wobbly neck as the moment sweeps him away. He will always enthrall me in that way. Please do not let this dissuade you from attending again, the end result is mesmerizing!

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Remember - your soul is the one thing you can't compromise

OMG, did David really say that???? I love that man. And if those idiots picked Nemesis to be disruptive of all songs, then I'm really not surprised that David went off at them, since it's felt like his most introspective and vulnerable song of the tour when he reached deep down into his inner soul.

You've got to love that man's passion and sense of self worth and candor for speaking for his art. I remember years and years ago attending a Natalie Merchant concert at the Orpheum in Boston and some a**hole in the audience picked a quiet moment in between songs to shout out something very disturbing and offensive to her which was off course heard by everyone. While she chose not to respond (the crowd did for her though, booeing and cussing at the guy), I remember feeling so angry by such blatant disrespect for an artist who gives 100% of herself to her audience. I remember hoping to see that person booted off the show (but off course these things never happen).

So although it is unfortunate that some appreciative fans misunderstood David's anger, I give David two thumbs up for making that ungrateful idiot feel like a complete arse. What a waste of a front row presence!!!!

You go David!!!

H

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Helen

I get it.  It's one of those incidences, like in junior high, when you get yelled at for something that someone else is doing.  And you were looking for a 100% positive experience...a little time with someone you admire...and it got a little ugly.  David does like his curse words and he has a long history (has anyone read, David Gray A Biography?) of sometimes being combative with his audience.  He's definitely aware that he is a genius and, like all great thinkers, he wants his thoughts appreciated and respected.  I suspect his sensitivity and passion come from feeling every bump in the road.  Anyway, because this is a forum you should be able to share your experience without being swatted.

phillydog109.....................Great Post!!!!!