David Gray Live on KCRW

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David Gray by Larry Hirshowitz
David Gray by Larry Hirshowitz

From KCRW DJ Anne Litt:

For me it’s always a good night when I get to see David Gray perform.  I have to hand it to former KCRW DJ Tricia Halloran for turning me on to him so many years ago.

Seeing him perform at Apogee’s Berkeley Street Sessions earlier this month (a session which is now up in our archives) really set me straight.  His songs simultaneously break my heart and then fix it again. Warning to those falling out of love:  DON’T GO!  It’s way too hard. Everyone else should line up now.

He played songs from his new album “Foundling,” like “Only The Wine.”  The last time I played that song on the radio, the phones blew up.

He also hit a few of my personal highlights from 2009’s “Draw The Line.”  Even a cool customer like Jason Bentley catches his breath when David Gray drops “Kathleen.”

During the interview, he talked about his songwriting process – intricate – and a book that has moved him beyond words, “The Peregrine” by J.A. Baker.  He says it’s a book about absolutely nothing and everything.

I moved right up to the stage during the encore, “Babylon.”  It still works every time.

Anne Litt

Hear/watch Gray’s full performance and an interview in the archives here

See more photos!