The idea of seeing David Gray live is a novel one, given that the carefully constructed albums on which his international success is based (White Ladder, A New Day At Midnight) don't exactly inspire rampant leaping about the room. The drum machines powering White Ladder help his unique blend of songwriting stand out in a crowd but they're not necessarily dancefloor fillers. I went to this show out of curiosity, piqued by seeing the enthusiasm of the crowds on his live DVD release - was he really that compelling on stage? The answer is no, David is not a compelling performer, but I can well understand the crowd reaction to his show. Of the various gigs I've been to at the Palais, this one had the loudest encore I've yet heard there. David has chosen his band wisely, knowing that giving good musicians excellent material to work with is sure to pay off. The obvious focal point of the performance is drummer Clune, a wiry, manic creature whose playing reminds me of the Energizer bunny (with fluorescent drumsticks in hand). While David clearly enjoys himself on stage, his between song banter was limited to naming the song he was about to play. Indeed, the songs were key as the band artfully expanded and fleshed them out without reducing their impact. David's instantly recognisable voice soared and crooned, his passionate vocals stamping songs like "Please Forgive Me", "Babylon" and "Freedom" with real heart. It was a wonderful night of music made extraordinary by the simple tools used to create it. If you like him on record, try him live, he's well worth it.
