David Gray brings ‘White Ladder’ to LA, covers David Bowie and The Cure
David Gray brings ‘White Ladder’ to LA, covers David Bowie and The Cure
Photo credit: Tee Schneider
“Good to finally see you, LA,” said an exuberant David Gray, moments after beginning his pandemic-delayed return to Los Angeles. The Saturday night performance which landed July 30 at the Greek Theater – a stop on Grey’s in progress white scale 20e The US anniversary tour was originally postponed for two years due to COVID-19. Gray opened the highly anticipated evening with an hour-long series of back catalog hits, then delivered a second series with a full rendition of the white scale album, and a long five-song encore.
A gray in a dark suit, backed by a four-piece ensemble, kicked off the first half with the single “You’re the World to Me,” from his 2007 album. The biggest hits collection. He followed that with eight classics from his discography, including a trio of singles from 2005 life in slow motion: “The One I Love”, “Hospital Food” and “Alibi”. During the final three, Gray extended the chorus throughout the outro, imploring the near-full crowd to sing along.
After a brief 20-minute intermission, Gray – now in cream-colored attire – returned with his band and with Craig “Clune” McClune on drums. Clune, a long-time collaborator and an integral creative part of global success white scaleceased working with Gray in 2007. Reunited after 15 years, the duo led a streak read of the multi-platinum chart-topping album, garnering standing ovations at the end of each song.
Leading back to back with two of the The white scale greatest hits – “Please Forgive Me” and “Babylon”, Gray and his band stuck to the songs’ original arrangements, right up to the album’s closer, Soft Cell cover, “Say Hello Wave Goodbye”. Without leaving the stage, Gray announced the start of an encore, featuring a rendition of “Tainted Love” written by Gloria Jones and adopted by Soft Cell. Gray also offered a monologue on his first Glastonbury appearance in 2000, and a chance encounter with David Bowie, before launching a tribute to the late artist with a pair of Bowie covers: “Life on Mars?” and “Ah! You pretty things.
With a Greek crowd insistent for more, Gray surprised with a cover of The Cure’s “In Between Days,” then returned to solo for one last acoustic version of his classic debut, “Shine.” Gray’s North American schedule then spins east across the United States, peaking in mid-August. A third leg in Australia and New Zealand begins in November and ends in South Africa in early December.