British singer-songwriter David Gray played to a boisterous capacity crowd at Express LIVE! on Saturday night. The show, presented by IGS Energy and the City of Dublin, donated its proceeds to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and Nationwide Children’s Hospital alliance. From its inception in 2007, the annual concert event has raised over $700,000 to support the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
While the threat of rain loomed for most of the day, the anticipated storms spared the Arena District. Show opener and veteran musician Shawn Colvin began her set shortly after eight o’clock. In fine voice and armed only with her acoustic guitar, Colvin made her way through catalog gems like “Fat City,” “I Don’t Know Why,” “Polaroids,” and, of course, her 1997 Grammy award-winning opus “Sunny Came Home.” Two excellent covers: Bruce Springsteen’s “Tougher Than The Rest,” and Paul Simon’s “American Tune,” were also highlights. Colvin’s most recent project, a collaboration with folk-rock legend Steve Earle (aptly titled Colvin & Earle), was released last June. Earlier this month, Colvin announced a forthcoming twentieth anniversary re-release of her landmark album, A Few Small Repairs.
After daylight had finally disappeared from the venue, Gray appeared just before nine-thirty. Greeting the audience enthusiastically, he sat at the grand piano that had been set at center stage and played the opening notes of “You’re The World To Me,” which had originally been released as a single from his 2007 Greatest Hits compilation. With his signature head wobble and closed-eye delivery fully intact, Gray’s clear, exquisite tenor capably filled the open venue. Standout cuts like “Fugitive,” “Back In The World,” and “Only The Wine” were warmly received by the crowd, which grew increasingly loud as the set list tracks became more familiar. Sensing their fervor, Gray politely asked the masses to quiet down as he donned his guitalele for a haunting version of the ballad “Last Summer” — and they obliged.
“From here on out, it’s all hits – I promise!” he joked.
And he didn’t disappoint. “The One I Love,” “Hospital Food,” “Please Forgive Me,” and his cover of Soft Cell’s classic “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” from 2001’s breakthrough White Ladder, came in rapid succession. The gorgeous “Sail Away” and a playful rendition of “Be Mine” served as vocal warm-ups for the audience, who came out in full force as soon as Gray launched the first verse of evergreen “Babylon” — the show’s initial closer. Gray would return to the stage for his encore with the sparkling “Nemesis,” and would finish the night with the joyous “The One I Love” from 2005’s Life In Slow Motion.
Gray released a new compilation album, The Best Of David Gray in October, which includes new tracks “Smoke Without Fire” and “Enter Lightly.” He is currently working on a yet-to-be-named project, with a release date to be announced in the coming months.
All photos by Grant Walters.