Review: Ray Davies, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, Sunday, September 30

by Keith Hunt

At the age of 68 it might be expected that Ray Davies would be retired and enjoying the fruits of his highly successful and influential career with The Kinks.

Instead, despite suffering such mishaps as being shot by a mugger while living in New Orleans in 2004 and other health problems, he could be found performing some classic songs and executing nimble scissor kicks as he lapped up the adulation of a near-capacity Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, on Sunday.

Having been kept waiting for some 20 minutes, with restless fans resorting to slow handclaps and jeers, the maestro’s retort was to stroll, seemingly oblivious, on stage and, with some irony, launch into This Is Where I Belong accompanied by guitarist Bill Shanley.

The pair continued with a stripped down set and Davies encouraging maximum audience participation, joking: “I know I’m a big star but don’t feel intimidated.”

At the risk of showing my age, I can proudly say I saw the original Kinks line-up of Davies, brother Dave, Pete Quaife and Mick Avory some years ago at a star-studded show in Dover.

The brothers have since fallen out, Quaife sadly succumbed to kidney problems in June 2010 and a mooted reunion of the remaining members has not materialised.

Ray Davies has, however, continued to garner acclaim on solo tours with a tight, high-octane backing band. Stepping out of a London cab and singing the 1967 hit Waterloo Sunset to millions was a highlight of the Olympics closing ceremony.

Still sporting skinny pants and now with wispy receding locks, Davies did not disappoint when a lone voice on Sunday implored: “Waterloo Sunset, please.”

“Shall we do that now?” he asked the other band members. “We were going to do that at the end, so you have ruined the finale.”

Accompanied by just Shanley on electric guitar, he duly obliged with the captivating tale about lovers Terry and Julie and plenty of sha-la-las from us.

Davies had us all singing and clapping along as he sifted through Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Autumn Almanac, Sunny Afternoon, Till The End of the Day, Lola, Dead End Street and Come Dancing, saving a rocking You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night for a seat vibrating finish thanks to the theatre’s impressive sound system.

I have rarely seen such a rapturous reception for a performer and Davies seemed genuinely reluctant to leave the stage and bring it to an end.

May the sun never set on one of our pop-rock treasures.