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Ray Davies @ Symphony Hall
May 30 2007 By Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail
HALFWAY through both Autumn Almanac and Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Ray Davies stopped and said: "I can't believe this was a hit."
Most Kinks fans of a certain vintage would disagree, but the man whose bitter-sweet melodies provided a soundtrack to the 1960s has never been afraid to mock the status quo - or even his own material.
Few can match him for caustic wit - the pretensions of the middle classes, tourists, neighbours...all are targets.
The ex-Kink took the Symphony Hall on a musical ride from the 1960s to the 21st century and back again. After the Fall, from his 2005 album, highlighted just what a talent Davies remains.
But with such a star-studded back catalogue, nostalgia is always going to rear its head. Celluloid Heroes, Sunny Afternoon, Days, Lola, Waterloo Sunset, and finally, a snarling You Really Got Me, had the audience reliving their youth in style.
"I'm just a honky from North London," said Mr D. Not on last night's evidence, you're not.