Rating: 
Summary: A gem unearthed
Review: Since inadvertently hearing a few tracks from the breakout self produced White Ladder in a music store I have been quite interested in exploring more from this artist. Unsure what to expect from the DVD, I was more than surprised at what this man brought to the table. The setting is perfect, a small (8000) person venue in an atmosphere that was a breeding ground for new fans to be born. Ireland is passionate about DG and it shows in the faces, the singalongs and the emotions. Then wham! Song after song after song, each one with it's understated beginnings but easily finds its way to the hook. The energy and excitement eminate from DG and his bandmates with his writing partner Clune showing grace and an ecclectic style that makes you grin from ear to ear. It's obvious that the partnership DG and Clune share is more equal than not. Clune is able to keep DG focused within the rhythms but allows for DG's excitement to burst through. The visuals are not necessary to enjoy this concert but do provide a look into a moment in time that is able to show someone on the verge of making the record companies eat their words. DG is unassuming in his approach and handles the crowd with schoolboy like charm. From the opening "Sail Away" to the up tempo "Please Forgive Me", these songs contain exceptional lyrics coupled with a lyrical structure that enhances each track. The song list is selected from his entire collection and provides the first time listener with an overview of what to expect if one was to delve deeper into the talent of DG. In some songs, i.e. "Late Night Radio" his brazen use of obscure chord pairings show his experimental stylings that keep DG from being relagated to average status. While others, i.e. "Shine" are unique variations of traditional progressions. Overall, too many notables to mention. This is a great collection from an up and better be coming artist. North America certainly could use a few large doses of David Gray. The music is what this DVD is all about and does not disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: Your chance to see excellence
Review: The music industry is diluted with many bands that have no emotion. David Gray, however, is not one of these. He has so much passion for what he does, as a listener, you can almost feel his emotion. The DVD "Live at the point" is a great compliment to his music. You can see the feelng that he puts behind each individual song allowing you, the viewer to experience the concert that was out on In Dublin. This DVD is exciting. If you are a David Gray fan, this is a must buy.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Wonderful!
Review: This DVD definitely secured me as a David Gray fan. I was totally sold on all his earlier stuff but White Ladder still wasn't sitting well with me--until seeing the songs from it performed live. Living in the US, we don't get many chances to see Mr. Gray perform but this will have to do---for now anyway! New found appreciation for "Sail Away" and a new realization as to why "Shine" will always be the defining song to David's career. Especially moved by the crowd's excitement to hear "This Year's Love". The sing-a-long was great!! Seeing all this David Gray hysteria made me want to move to Ireland with my fellow Gray-ites!
Rating:
Summary: Making the Point
Review: You wouldn't normally expect a solo acoustic artist and his band to be able reproduce, so faithfully, what for most can only be achieved, technologically, in the safety and comfort of a recording studio. You certainly wouldn't expect them, out on the wire, to sound even better live, but that was my experience when I saw David's remarkable performance at the Manchester's Evening News arena in November this year. It left me yearning for a live video or DVD concert recording to recapture some of the magic of that unforgettable experience. You just don't get it on C.D. And here it is; that magic is written on every track and seen in every frame of David Gray Live at the Point, Dublin. This `must have' DVD includes a well-crafted documentary covering his sell out tour of Ireland. Hear the views of some very articulate Irish fans, see the hard work involved in touring, the venues, large and small, but most important get further insight into the man. David is refreshingly `unshowbizz'; is clearly unpretentious and accessible and comfortable with fans. See him in a record store , just standing there singing `Babylon' to the folks with his guitar. On a radio station interview he sings an old Everly Brothers number live, but he could have sung the phone book, such is the passion in his voice. The cover blurb points to this concert being very special, marking as it does a pivotal point in David's career, an unforgettable night, he tells us, more a celebration than a gig' and that is clearly what has been captured successfully on this DVD. In every one `of the seventeen tracks David performs here, his unique voice is clear, confident and powerful; his acoustic guitar musicianship clear for all to see. He looks a remarkably happy and fulfilled person, turning now and again to others in the band and exchanging knowing smiles, really enjoying himself in that unassuming way he has. No need or place for flashy showmanship. David and his musicians are so tight, totally focussed on what they are doing. Who wouldn't enjoy being on that stage in front of such a knowledgeable and appreciative audience, making and hearing the sounds of those instruments and voices live, blending as they do, together so beautifully , supporting David and his piercing lyrics. He seems to regard himself as very fortunate; all the people around who work with him are there because they want to be, from the early days when the payback was more love than money and that, he says, is what makes it all work. I have all David's C.D's but there is, believe me, no substitute for seeing him live. The nearest you can get is a DVD like the Point concert. I just hope his management will seriously consider releasing
( soon) another David Live concert on DVD . The sustained quality of the new songs on `A New Day at Midnight' , the very recent , remarkable Apple Studio Concert , confirm that David, live, just gets better and better and has me yearning for a more recent live concert DVD to complement this one.
Rating:
Summary: Making the Point
Review: You wouldn't normally expect a solo acoustic artist and his band to be able reproduce, so faithfully, what for most can only be achieved, technologically, in the safety and comfort of a recording studio. You certainly wouldn't expect them, out on the wire, to sound even better live, but that was my experience when I saw David's remarkable performance at the Manchester's Evening News arena in November this year. It left me yearning for a live video or DVD concert recording to recapture some of the magic of that unforgettable experience. You just don't get it on C.D. And here it is; that magic is written on every track and seen in every frame of David Gray Live at the Point, Dublin. This 'must have' DVD includes a well-crafted documentary covering his sell out tour of Ireland. Hear the views of some very articulate Irish fans, see the hard work involved in touring, the venues, large and small, but most important get further insight into the man. David is refreshingly 'unshowbizz'; is clearly unpretentious and accessible and comfortable with fans. See him in a record store , just standing there singing 'Babylon' to the folks with his guitar. On a radio station interview he sings an old Everly Brothers number live, but he could have sung the phone book, such is the passion in his voice. The cover blurb points to this concert being very special, marking as it does a pivotal point in David's career, an unforgettable night, he tells us, more a celebration than a gig' and that is clearly what has been captured successfully on this DVD. In every one 'of the seventeen tracks David performs here, his unique voice is clear, confident and powerful; his acoustic guitar musicianship clear for all to see. He looks a remarkably happy and fulfilled person, turning now and again to others in the band and exchanging knowing smiles, really enjoying himself in that unassuming way he has. No need or place for flashy showmanship. David and his musicians are so tight, totally focussed on what they are doing. Who wouldn't enjoy being on that stage in front of such a knowledgeable and appreciative audience, making and hearing the sounds of those instruments and voices live, blending as they do, together so beautifully , supporting David and his piercing lyrics. He seems to regard himself as very fortunate; all the people around who work with him are there because they want to be, from the early days when the payback was more love than money and that, he says, is what makes it all work. I have all David's C.D's but there is, believe me, no substitute for seeing him live. The nearest you can get is a DVD like the Point concert. I just hope his management will seriously consider releasing
( soon) another David Live concert on DVD . The sustained quality of the new songs on 'A New Day at Midnight' , the very recent , remarkable Apple Studio Concert , confirm that David, live, just gets better and better and has me yearning for a more recent live concert DVD to complement this one.
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