Mainstream music fans might remember David Gray from his hit “Babylon,” a jangly slice of folk-pop that was a ubiquitous radio presence in 2001.
The song remains the biggest U.S. crossover for the British singer-songwriter-musician, yet a lack of radio airplay the past decade hasn’t kept him from having a fan base here.
A shared show with another reflective folkie, Ray LaMontagne, sold out Chastain Park Amphitheatre last August, and less than a year later Gray is returning to the market for a June 28 concert at the Fox Theatre.
“There’s a real passion down there,” he said of Atlanta. “The last time I played the Fox was five years ago. That’s a special place. At a venue like Chastain, there’s an energy that builds. But in terms of playing, the old theaters are just special places. It stays in the walls.”
Considering that Gray’s current tour, supporting last year’s pensive “Foundling” album, is deliberately acoustic -- though with a band -- he agrees the music is better-suited to an indoor venue.
Although Gray, 43, is associated with music that tends to be quiet and contemplative (“Shine,” “You’re the World To Me”), in conversation he’s a cheerful, chatty guy, and, like his music, unguarded.
Calling from his home in London recently, Gray discussed why he loves the unembellished versions of his songs on this tour and what his musical future might hold.
Q. Have fans appreciated this stripped-down approach to your songs?
A. I’ve never had such strong reaction from the shows I’ve done so far. It’s like doing a taped show in a studio -- you can hear absolutely everything. It pulled me completely out of my shell. If you’re a fan, you get much more of the essence of the music.
Q. In what way has it brought you out of your shell?
A. You get to meet me a little bit in a way perhaps I’m not always available onstage. In the big shows, you wear ear monitors, but playing like this I can hear the band, the audience. It’s been quite an ear opener.
Q. Why did you decide to go this route live now?
A. I fantasized about this idea for a long time. The "Foundling" record was a perfect platform because those songs needed to be dealt with in a small way.
Q. Are you still taking fan suggestions for what to play live?
A. For the first tour in February we asked fans for suggestions and got them for about 170-something songs. I didn’t think I’d written that many! But some were for cover versions. Some quite obscure songs got a lot of requests. It was actually very touching.
Q. "Foundling" is a very quiet album. Was something going on in your life to make you particularly introspective?
A. I don’t need anything going on in my life -- [introspective] is my default setting! It was more a sonic thing, the space that’s in the music, the simplicity of how little you need. It’s a record I’ve been yearning to make; it’s not one that’s trying to play the game.
Q. Is it your favorite album?
A. I don’t know. I’m too close to this one. It’s just been born while some of the others have had snotty noses and are talking back to me now [laughs]. I just think it’s as good as anything I’ve done.
Q. What are you plans for the next record?
A. I’m at a loss as to where to go next. I felt like I made some statements on "Foundling." Now I’ve got to take five and work out where I’m going next. Maybe something completely different. I need to cut myself some slack and take some time off.
Concert preview
David Gray with Lisa O'Neill. 8 p.m. June 28. $39-$59. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
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