David Gray is probably best known for his hit song, “Babylon,” from his album White Ladder. Personally, I think this is his worst song, especially when you listen to the entire album, let alone his entire catalog. Despite my distaste for “Babylon,” I fell in love with “White Ladder” and with the handsome man from Wales, David Gray. He has come a long way since his success in 2000, and proved why he's stayed relevant throughout his performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall this past Tuesday, April 13. [All photos by Tracy May.]
Phosphorescent warmed up the crowd with their grungy, folksy, Iron and Wine-esque style. With deep indie rock riffs and vibrant guitar solos, the country twinge drifting in and out made for a soothing opening to an amazing evening. Phosphorescent left the audience with a Willie Nelson cover and some great new songs to remember.
After their short and sweet opening set, the stage was readied for David Gray. The hall was looking kinda sparse but then sporadically began to fill in, bit by bit. There was a big, white sheet engulfing the stage for Gray’s ominous intro. The lights went dim, the sheet turned red, and you could see the shadow of his silhouette falling against it. The sheet dropped and there he was, center stage, strumming his guitar and rocking the crowd.
This article appears in Apr 14-20, 2010.