Two David Grays for the price of one? Not quite, but close. At the first of three consecutive concerts at the Roundhouse in London to promote his Greatest Hits album, released this week, David Gray supported himself. Fans who weren’t aware of his plan couldn’t quite believe that the chap in the smart black suit, who ambled on early and alone, was indeed the headline act. And, as the evening wore on, some probably suspected that the usually dour singer-songwriter had been secretly replaced with a perky doppelgänger.

Gray’s six-million-selling album White Ladder may have paved the way for the current crop of major-label, acoustic guitar-toting types, but his own relevance has been on the slide for some time. Yet armed only with his guitar and joking with the audience, the David Gray who started the show appeared to have rediscovered the passion of his prefame days.

Opening with Shine, a track from his 14-year-old debut album A Century Ends, Gray was searingly soulful and surprisingly gritty. He switched to pounding the piano on Ain’t No Love, covered a song about Celtic magic based on a Yeats poem that baffled fans but made him smile, and brought on two of his band for an acoustic Babylon that had the crowd chanting its chorus.

That Gray had the confidence to leave his best-known song out of his “proper” set spoke volumes. His Greatest Hits album marks the end of his record deal and the singer, who may release his own music in future, has spoken of a fresh start to his career, dismissed his long-time band and – judging by the current single, The World to Me – has made plans to return to the stripped-down folk-pop of White Ladder.

A light show, a backdrop of twinkling stars and four plugged-in backing musicians accompanied Gray on his reappearance. Sail Away was beefed up with blues guitar, a rearranged The One I Love was almost kidnapped by the crowd and Life in Slow Motion and an upbeat Hospital Food were proof that not all of Gray’s recent efforts have been below par.

The singer toyed with psychedelic rock on Nightblindness, almost lost his voice during a gruffly delivered Be My Baby and saw out the night with an awesome The Other Side that had doubled in length and came in cascading waves. If this is the new David Gray, please could he stay.

— David Gray finishes his Roundhouse season on November 14

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