Bournemouth International Centre,
UK - 9th/11/02
Firstly, one has to mention the support group, headed by
James Yorkston. They were clearly shocked by the size of the crowd, and were
happy to admit that this was by far the biggest audience they had ever played
to (wait for Belfast and Dublin then lads.) Musically they were actually very
good. Guitar, harmonica, double bass, harpsichord and so on. Sadly, as many of
us had been queuing since six, and they came on at eight, legs were getting
tired, and the vast majority of us were there to see David, they dragged a
little. The Irish Folk music, played by Glaswegians, became a little morbid
and several references to wrists and slashing were made by the crowd, never
the less they (eventually) left at about 20.45.
Just after nine, it happened. The crowd went wild, David
Gray was on stage. 3 feet away from me as I had got to the front at centre
stage. We’d all been betting about what he would open with, as it was Sail
Away on his White Ladder tour, my money was on Be Mine, or at a push, Dead in
The Water, but it turned out to be The Other Side. Fantastically done. He went
into Dead in The Water after a quick “Hello Bournemouth!” The Lighting design
for this piece was, as a techie myself; exceptional. A lovely blend of purple
and gold engulfed the stage from all angles, with some nice use of gobos
through the haze.
Real Love quickly followed, then he introduced White
Ladder. You could instantly tell, that it was only the hardened fans of us at
the front that had found David before White Ladder, or indeed bothered to buy
some previous work. The back of the room went wild. Not a closed mouth in the
house as we all kicked it out- still didn’t drown him out though.
Alan Hopley - 12th/11/02
