Immediately the guy shows total unity with his electro acoustic guitar. ‘When I Reveal’ is the third in his set, and by now his unique vocal style and restrained but energetic playing style are beloved by the crowd. The six-string really seems to be a direct musical extension of him, while the mic seems a natural asset rather than additional amplification. The strength of his own lyrics is admira
ble and his playing style is certainly engaging. If you want to see how to get the most sound from an electro, look no further. No real mic manner though as he prefers to let the songs talk for themselves. Closing the set with ‘Sweetgirl’ shows a funk dexterity...”
JOHN JUKES, BSE-LIVE.CO.UK
“As Gray Smith reached the stage and sat down with his guitar, first impressions would normally lead to an assumption not befitting to his compositions. Starting unannounced, he rocked out with a down-tuned grunge number that immediately set a high standard for the rest of the night. Without the backing of a band, songs such as this can feel hollow and ill-thought; however Gray Smith provided a well rounded sound with immaculate guitar playing and voice that holds control and attitude in equal amounts. Mixing the strongest elements of Seattle grunge, and the vocal tones of a sneering Bon Jovi, he provides dirt laden riffs I hadn’t heard since Sudarshan (formally Freeway) had graced local stages. The second half of his set moved towards funkier blues-based works, pairing more deft guitar work with a slightly more laid back vocal, regally choosing lead lines instead of a basic rhythm to showcase his abilities. ‘Morning Mr Malibu’ is a track which shows Gray Smith at his best and can also be heard on his website by all. Encompassing a singer-songwriter approach with a snappy rhythm gives his songs reason to rise from the pack and rub shoulders with the best...”
KARL HAYMAN, BH ONE