Photo: Kaitlin Prince

“We made it, Boston. We’re here!” said an ebullient David Gray, moments before kicking off both the night’s opening song, “After the Harvest,” and a subsequent run of North American appearances that will carry through the next month before Gray takes on Europe. Titled Past & Present, the tour, with its Beantown debut, did, in fact, hug closely to bookending portions of the English singer-songwriter’s last 25 years. Across a two-hour set, Gray clocked in two-dozen songs- over half coming from either his breakthrough (and, so far, pinnacle) album, 1998’s White Ladder, and his latest, Dear Life, released earlier in the day.

From the first note, Gray was brimming with energetic magnetism, swaying- even hopping (and getting considerably more air than a certain paunchy, dark oligarch)- as he pulsated through the Dear Life lead-off cut, then into the title track from White Ladder. It was a most fitting first pairing, foreshadowing what was to come. Gray and his five-piece ensemble of multi-instrumentalists- anchored by the always-vibrant and locked-in Clune, on drums- shifted between Ladder and Life tracks, interspersing them with handfuls from Gray’s early-aught records, A New Day at Midnight and Life in Slow Motion.

As such, Gray was able to explore comfortably some reflective and affecting deeper album tracks, bringing out “Nos Da Cariad” and “Lately” alongside the hit single, “The One I Love,” and the perennial favorite, “Please Forgive Me.”  He dipped into his bag of influences, as well, slicing through a blistering take of Van Morrison’s “The Way Young Lovers Do,” and offered a nod to John Lennon’s “Imagine” during his solo piano cover of Mitski’s “My Love Mine All Mine,” as part of the extended encore. And, yes, there was more than enough space for the immortal “Babylon” that closed the set, just prior to the four-song return.

There were surprises, too; a seemingly impromptu choice of “Kangaroo,” requested earlier by a friend, and not played live in over 20 years, or the weaving of Depeche Mode’s “Just Can’t Get Enough” into Dear Life’s latest single, “Singing for the Pharaoh.” As with any first night, there was a wrinkle or two, with Gray turning forgotten lyrics during “This Ain’t No Love” into the concert’s most human and humorous pause, followed by three attempts to get the tune back on track. This, coming only seconds after Gray and his quintet nailed exquisitely a six-part harmony on the song’s chorus. Maybe, like the capacity crowd, Gray just got caught up in the moment.

Perhaps the biggest chance Gray and his group took was on the new cut, “Leave Taking,” and one he admitted was a laborious undertaking in the studio. True to its construction of climbing counterpoint, it was a treacherous effort which the six pulled off magnificently. One can imagine a few more shows into this trek, it will be the show-stealer.

When the final strains of “Sail Away” washed over the sold-out MGM, it was with a palpable combination of exhilaration, warmth, and relief. Boston was a welcome recipient for this spectacular night one. David Gray, once again in magnificent voice and indefatigable drive, indeed, is back.