Live Review: David Gray – 3rd April 2025 – Royal Albert Hall, London, UK
5 min read
With what feels like a second home for us these days, we were back at London’s very regal and very iconic Royal Albert Hall last night, and for another dose of 90’s nostalgia. On Friday night we were basking in the brilliance of sibling quartet The Corrs as they played a special set as part of this year’s Teenage Cancer Trust. Last night it was British singer-songwriter David Gray who is currently trekking the UK and beyond to promote latest studio album, Dear Life which was released back in January. And this won’t be his only stop in the capital for this tour. The musician has another two shows at the London Palladium further in the year, proving demand for the Babylon singer is still at its unwavering peak.
Last night’s Albert Hall affair cracked off fairly early with Gray taking to the stage just shy of 8.30pm with arms outstretched to the audience and a quick “Hello London”, and over the course of a solid two hours fans got to hear a variety of career notables, deep cuts and new album numbers with the likes of the lengthy and atmospheric Leave Taking and set opener After The Harvest being delivered to represent the new studio collection.
We have seen Gray 3 times over the years and while we have been blown away each and every time and last night’s show was different. If fact, last night’s show was of another level entirely. The historic setting of the Royal Albert Hall certainly contributed to that, but it was the much more free-spirited performer that we saw Gray display and his band – complete with a 6 member horn section who were positioned at the rear of the band, playing in front of giant mirrors to replicate the Dear Life album artwork. Their inclusion, along with the tightness of his touring band, garnished each of Gray’s songs with a different kind of richness that we haven’t heard of that level from his sets before. It was truly mesmerizing. The unplugged vibe was perfect for the storytelling of Gray’s personal musical gems and instantly reminded us of George Michaels famous MTV Unplugged performance – albeit with those different unique gravely tones on numbers like Be Mind and White Ladder – that swept through the sold out crowd; many of who would shout out “I Love You’s” to the musician – at one point Gray responding comically with “Thanks Mum”.
My Oh My provided a bit of bounce to the first half of the show while The One I Love proved one of the biggest, most welcomed inclusions with the whole venue erupting in approval as Gray performed the number with pitch perfect precision – even offering a quick piano chorus of the song again further into the set following a request from a member of the crowd, but quickly following that up with “we’ve done that one” and offering up career notable, Please Forgive Me which got an equally loud reception.
Gray’s ability to draw the crowd’s utmost attention was effortless as he told stories of his time in lockdown and his writing process for Dear Life during those tough months, allowing us into the creative process of a musical mastermind. He also paid a touching tribute to his guitarist, Neil who fell sick before the tour and wasn’t able to make the journey around with his band mates before offering us That Day Must Surely Come. Support act Talia Rae performed alongside Gray on Plus & Minus, Fighting Talk and Heart & Soul – providing a subtle vocal sweetness to the contrasting gravelly tones of the leading man.
It wasn’t just the crowd that were having the time of their lives at last nights show – Gray himself was bouncing around the stage in his oversized grey suit at times, fist punching the air with enthusiasm and letting the musical moments sweep him up as he passionately delivered some of his careers most cherished penning’s – offering gratitude to the crowd at every available moment for their adoration of his work. And every member of his audience hung on to every note – personally, my face physically ached by the end of the night just from the focus I was giving to each song that the songsmith dished up, especially during my personal favourite David Gray number, This Years Love, which proved to be the piano led centrepiece of the set and the highlight of the night for this reviewer and fan.
As the evenings end neared, Gray promised that he still had the big numbers waiting to be let out of their cage; a promise delivered by the unveiling of some of his biggest 90’s hits including of course, Babylon and set closer, Sail Away which capped a beautifully intoxicating evening of some of the UK’s finest songwriting, and from a performer who turns the phrase “of record quality” on its head. Gray is one of so few musicians where you can confidently say the recorded versions of his songs don’t give him justice – hearing the songs performed live simply takes them to a whole new level!
Setlist:
After The Harvest
Leave Taking
Slow Motion
The One I Love
Alibi
From Hear You Can Almost See The Sea
Plus & Minus
White Ladder
Please Forgive Me
Silver Lining
That Day Must Surely Come
Fighting Talk
Be Mine
Dead In The Water
The Otherside
Heart & Soul
My oh My
This Year’s Love
Pharaoh
Depeche Mode
Babylon
Hello Goodbye
The Way Young Lovers Do
Sail Away
::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.
