David Gray live at The Olympia, Dublin

David Gray’s seventh studio album is called Life In Slow Motion. As someone who hasn’t ever fully understood the appeal of his music, that’s exactly what his concert experience felt like. But I needn’t tell you I was in a minority of one. In fact, rarely have I witnessed an audience reaction that was so over-the-top enthusiastic, so completely adoring of the artist on stage. Maybe it was the intimate setting that sparked it, but the response was overwhelming.
Made up of couples, or groups of well-turned out twenty- and thirty-something females, the audience was delirious with delight throughout, singing every note of every song virtually, from beginning to end. When not exploding in raptures of applause at the conclusion of each number, they constantly shrieked with recognition mid-song. Even Gray himself seemed surprised by the reaction.
So what exactly is the Gray appeal? Well, it does no harm that he’s charming, fit-looking, resplendent in (grey) suit and open-necked shirt. The result? Women love him and guys want to be him (well, the guys here tonight at any rate). He sings from the heart directly to the audience and they respond in kind. The songs – from the classic radio staples like ‘Sail Away’ and ‘Please Forgive Me’ to the new single, ‘The One I Love’ (which sounds uncannily like Springsteen’s ‘Brilliant Disguise’, as radio DJs have been demonstrating this past week) – strike a chord with a huge number of people. For me, they lack depth and seem samey. But maybe I’m missing something.
So much is in the eye of the observer. When he wobbles his head from side to side, especially when sat at the piano, which he is for half the show, I find it disconcerting. Others are enthralled. When standing out front with his guitar he does an Elvis-in-Las-Vegas-style karate kick, usually timed to emphasise a lyric – cue more shrieks and howls.
There were undeniable plusses: the sound was near-perfect and quite loud for a singer-songwriter. The animated drummer, with his Hawaiian shirt, vied with Gray for attention, while the cello added some lovely textures. After almost two hours the crowds poured out into the street beaming with satisfaction and speculating about how hard it might be to get tickets for the upcoming Point shows.
Not me – but then there’s no accounting for taste.
Pic: Graham Keogh