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David Gray

David Gray at the Apollo – 8/10

Gray has been adamant in recent press (as surely all artists are) that his newest offering is his best, and fans and critics alike seem to have more or less agreed. Based on tonight’s show it would seem - on the surface at least - hard to argue.

The songs and the band are great, Gray’s voice is at its peak, and there is plenty of appropriately placed whooping and handclapping, from both the man and his followers.

The problem is with the choice of material. There is nothing aired that is pre-White Ladder, and instead Gray concentrates on the records that have brought him mainstream success (namely the last three). Whilst this still makes for a show that is nothing less than great, at times the set lacks rawness and energy that songs from A Century Ends, Flesh or Sell, Sell, Sell may have brought to the table.

Aside from that however, this was a stellar performance and it will be interesting to see how the show translates from the Apollo to the Arena when David and his cohorts return at the beginning of December.