Dave
When I first started hearing talk of a new grime MC called Dave, around the start of the year, I assumed it was some sort of joke. That assumption lasted until I heard his music and realised that we were talking about a remarkable new voice on the scene. Very young, immensely talented and with more depth than most it’s been fascinating watching his star rise. By the time October arrived and he dropped ‘Question Time’ I was left staggered by it. For a nineteen year old to release a seven minute long song that powerfully addresses the current political situation, questioning all sides and engaging his predominantly young audience, well, then I finally understood that with Dave we may be talking about a once in a generation talent.
This Waterfront show then was a very big deal, selling out in just a few hours. The venue has rarely felt fuller and we could not have been more ready by the time Avelino made his rather low key entrance onto the stage. Still primarily known for his work with Wretch 32, having him as tour support was a masterstroke. Avelino is also just at the point where he is about to blow up and he performed with the confidence of someone who is at the top of his game. Fresh from releasing his No Bullshit playlist he very soon had the ‘energy crew’ whipped up and the whole dancefloor was a sea of phone screens and youthful exuberance. If I’m honest his slower, auto-tuned more R&B influenced songs really aren’t my jam, but that’s just personal taste. His last two tracks, ‘It’s A Moovie’ and his monster tune ‘Energy’ were absolutely brilliant – he’ll be filling this venue on his own next year.
With just some simple neon lights and a DJ Dave put on a show that I felt privileged to watch. The sound was perfect, the bass – the beautiful, all enveloping bass, gripped us tight and Dave’s flow was incredible. Clear as a bell, nothing was lost in the live performance, we were watching a master at work. Beginning with the title track of his new ep Game Over, the music sounded absolutely massive. Attitude, also off the ep, is lyrically of the highest order – smart football references mixing with the off kilter beat. It was by the time we reached the performance of How I Met My Ex though that it became really obvious that we were witnessing a serious artist; someone with real power and weight to his music. Without wanting to in any way sound like a patronising old git, to be so young and to be so confident to open up about your innermost feelings was breath-taking. To perform a seven minute long song accompanied just by a simple piano melody and hold 700 hyped youth in the palm of your hand was staggering. The joy, the excitement, the heartache that falling in love can bring were laid bare for us on stage.
This is what made the show so special, the careful thought that has gone into plotting the peaks and troughs of the set, mixing heavy, deep songs with the party bangers that the crowd craved. By the time Question Time was performed I was once again stunned into rapt silence as Dave’s pure poetry was brought to life before my eyes, surrounded by a crowd singing along with him word for word. He’s done more to engage his audience in politics in two months than most politicians spend a lifetime doing. Avelino joined him for their collaboration U Can Stand Up and mega fan ‘James from Nottingham’ was pulled up onto the stage to deliver AJ Tracey’s lines from ‘Thiago Silva’ – a great moment. The set rounded out with ‘Wanna Know’ and ‘No Words’ and a visibly humbled Dave told us that this was the best show he had ever played – and I believe him.
Speaking as someone who has been watching live music for over three decades this had the feeling of something very special – it felt important, it felt profound, it felt inspiring, it felt positive and empowering. I am in no doubt that I have seen the future of music and his name, rather brilliantly, is Dave.
