The pop star performed to a near-capacity show in our nation’s capital
David Gray, the highly acclaimed British performer with the hugely successful album White Ladder recorded in the late 90s, is on his first solo tour in a long time and played for a highly receptive and enthusiastic audience last night (Sun, Jan 26th) at the Anthem in Washington, DC. The near-capacity show packed in nearly three thousand spectators on the cold evening.
Gray is on his Past and Present Tour to promote his new solo album titled Dear Life. The intimate and inspiring concert showcased this collection of new songs, for a great audience at the Anthem. The audience sang along with most songs at capacity throughout the evening routinely jumping up and waving their arms while singing at full throttle.
Sierra Spirit, the Native American singer, opened the show for Gray and played several songs highlighting her recently released EP titled Coin Toss. She will accompany Gray on several of his US tour dates.
The show was highlighted by Gray’s renowned acoustic guitar-driven songs, with a very well-rehearsed and tight band that played a night of songs with personal meaning, reflections and inspiration.
The setting for this show was dark as the venue turned most lights off and stopped sales at the side concessions to allow the audience to fully engage with Gray and enjoy the night’s songs more intimately. Gray conversed well with the audience during the show and emphasized that this latest album was written while he had family members ill and, in the hospital, creating a more difficult situation for writing, and creating that ensured effort would be needed to craft an album of new songs from him to the audience.
Gray is an outstanding songwriter and storyteller, and these qualities were felt during the show. Gray reflected a lot during the show talking about family, the difficulties of life, and his fondness of Van Morrison and was very thankful for all involved for allowing him to craft together 20 tours over the last several years with many of those tours played in much bigger arenas.
In the end, the show was outstanding, with many people standing and dancing in the aisles to feel the enormous spirit of music in the room. It was a highlight for fans to get to see Gray in such an intimate setting as opposed to a huge arena, and fans made the most of this intimacy reciprocating Gray’s friendly chatter and laughter throughout the event.
Gray highlighted the show with a collection of some his best-known tracks and some from the new album including Plus & Minus, Babylon, and The One I Love.
Gray will continue to tour in the US and is scheduled to play his last US show on this tour at the Ryman in Nashville on February 24th.
James Todd Miller contributed to this report.
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