Craig David—Signed, Sealed, And Delivered In Leeds

When British artist Craig David first emerged onto the music scene via the Artful Dodger track Re-Rewind in 1999 with the catchy hookline of Bo’ Selecta, it became his signature trademark—frequently to be caricatured by Leigh Francis on the TV show of the same name.

As David’s success waned, he moved to America, only to return years later back to Britain to discover that a new generation of fans had discovered his music, reinventing himself as an in-demand Ibiza DJ as well as a newfound musical passion with his star once again in the ascendency.

As David arrived at the Leeds Arena as part of his current Commitment tour, the aptly described show ran for over two hours with a performance where the energy levels never dropped.

It helps too when you have a talented band to call upon; the multi-instrumental six-piece was moved from drums and guitars to keyboards with ease, gelling together with the atmosphere emanating from the stage as one big party.

David’s new tracks, such as S.O.S., showcased a progression in his songwriting that contrasted well with earlier tracks like Re-Rewind, which took the audience back in time. Rise and Fall was a reminder that David has collaborated with some of music's biggest stars, as images of Sting flashed over the video screens. David shared that he learnt a lot from the former police singer—even how to complete crossword puzzles with ease. It was moments like this that brought a more personable side to the evening.

He rolled out the DJ decks as part of his TS5 sound system just as the mood began to wane with some unforgettable album tracks. As he rediscovered his former garage days, he slipped in some R&B cuts along the way, singing himself over some of the tracks, sounding in some instances better than the original vocalists.

Naturally Seven Days, one of his biggest hits, was saved until the end, concluding a set that had been contrasting and varied from one of the most underrated singers of his generation.