When you think about British rock of the 60s, the top acts that come to mind will most likely consist of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who and The Kinks.
The Kinks formed in 1963 and were hit potent until 1970. The last big hit may have been 'Apeman' in 1970, but they remained active as they delved into the less successful concept album era.That era spawned the live favorite 'Celluloid Heroes' but pretty much exhausted the hit making potential until the late 70s when they returned to another spat of hits on Arista with songs like 'Superman' and 'Come Dancing'.
The last studio album, 'Phobia', came in 1993.
While the band hasn't played in more than a decade, lead singer Ray Davies has gone back on the road to keep the music alive.
His current shows have given us a look back at British Rock History, a rather fitting chore the now Queen Elizabeth honored Ray Davies, CBE.
Davies performed his first Melbourne show in 20 year this week, playing at The Palais Theatre, the same venue he last performed with The Kinks in 1982.
The setlist was not only The Kinks greatest hits, but Davies modernized the performance with material from his two recent solo albums 'Other People's Lives' and 'Working Man's Caf??'.
The set opened with 'I'm Not Like Anybody Else' and went straight into 'Where Have All The Good Times Gone'.
Davies gave the crowd more than expected from The Kinks era and a fair balance off the new records. This classic hits included 'Dedicated Follower of Fashion', All Day and All of the Night', 'Tired Of Waiting For You', 'Lola', 'Apeman', Come Dancing', 'Celluloid Heroes', 'Waterloo Sunset' and 'Sunny Afternoon'.
'20th Century Man' from the 70s concept album 'Muswell Hillbillies' played alongside the title track from the new record 'Working Man's Caf??'.
Davies was also the storyteller, throwing in stories about growing up with these songs just like the fans, how his father could not come to terms with the 20th Century, and how America didn't understand the term 'Fag" in the song 'Dedicated Follower of Fashion' and how suddenly the band was getting invitations to perform in San Francisco.
Ray Davies will perform this weekend in Tasmania as part of the Southern Roots Festival and in Byron Bay for BluesFest.
