Between the Black and White...There's David Gray

David Gray is probably most famous for his hit, “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 it throughout his performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Tuesday, April 13, 2010.

To open for Gray, Phosphorescent warmed up the crowd with their grungy, folksy, Iron and Wine-esque musical style. With deep indie-rock riffs and vibrant guitar solos, the country twinge drifting in and out made for a soothing entrance into an amazing evening. With five players – keyboard, drums, bass and two guitars, Phosphorescent left the audience with a Willie Nelson cover and some great new songs remember.

After the short and sweet opening set, the stage was readied for David Gray. Ruth Eckerd Hall had never looked so sparse, but then sporadically filled 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 his silhouette. The sheet dropped and there he was, center stage, strumming that guitar and rocking the crowd.

Gray had four men behind him to complement his signature sound. Gray’s stage presence was strong, and some of his moves are very much like dancing tantrums. His forceful guitar strums are one with his stage-stomps and erratic foot-work; his head is a like a bobble-head on a windy road but never misses a single beat. Gray is a performer to be taken in, watched and paid close attention to.

Gray performed pieces from his entire collection, but definitely made it known that his new album, “Draw the Line” should not be missed. “Be Mine,” “Draw the Line,” “You’re the World To Me,” “Freedom,” “Sail Away with Me,” “Nemesis,” “Kathleen,” “Babylon”(of course!), and “Please Forgive Me” were all featured throughout the evening. People in every row were singing along, dancing from time to time and loving every minute of it.

Gray also frequently switched instruments. Between different guitars, the piano, and the harmonica, he proved he was not only good on disc, but was fantastic live. He commented on the Florida weather saying “It’s like Jurassic Park down here,” and calling Floridians, “Part reptile by now.” And these “part-reptilian” fans are extremely devout. I wanted to believe David Gray to be a relatively obscure artist, but I was very wrong. I’d never seen such a dedicated crowd. I even had a woman next to me “helping” by letting me know the name – and lyrics – to nearly every song he played.

After about an hour or so, he had quite the instrumental finale finishing with a bang. The crowd hooted and hollered until he returned for his ferocious encore. He closed with my personal favorite, “This Year’s Love,” followed by “The Other Side” and then “You’re the One I Love.” The crowd left smiling and content. Throughout the parking lot you could hear various David Gray albums blaring out of car stereos.

David Gray is an incredible performer and should not be missed the next time he comes back down around “Jurassic Park.” He exceeded my expectations, literally wowed fans (I heard them say “wow!”), and left too many of his songs stuck in the audience members’ heads. For a Tuesday night in Clearwater, it was definitely a musically eventful evening.