This was a strange sort of homecoming. After years lost in the music industry mire, Welsh wonder David Gray found himself adored on this island. Today White Ladder has gone multi-platinum worldwide. Ireland has been good to David Gray. He's keen to return the favour.
With the world now paying due attention, Gray has been steadily releasing every morsel from his back-catalogue. His set was more carefully chosen, mining the best nuggets from his early works while offering each jewel from White Ladder. Babylon's looped beats underpin a subtle string section to provide an early highlight, before new song Real Love chimed to life with tolling keys, sweeping strings and upbeat guitar.
This is a beautiful spot to play a gig, testified Gray, and it is hard to imagine it having been performed anywhere else despite the Smithfield plans. A mourning Falling Down The Mountainside and the weary enrapture of My Oh My fitted snugly into these idyllic surrounds.
Unusually sensitive lights bolstered the tasteful orchestral pop of Gray's set, balanced only by drummer Clune's loud Hawaiian shirts and louder drum fills. Sail Away lapped gently against a seascape backdrop and rang out with mass vocal support. It was, of course, an extended Please Forgive Me, a warm This Year's Love and celebrated cover Say Hello, Wave Goodbye which made the night.
It's hard not to like Gray. There is something in the desperate optimism of his tender pop and the late-night introspection of his unadorned acoustic ballads which anyone can relate to.
