Review: Ray Davies

THERE cannot be many performers who attract an audience quite like Ray Davies. It is testament to his enduring popularity that the crowd at the Barbican in York ranged from teenagers to those who witnessed The Kinks at the start of their career in 1963.

And it is not hard to see why.

The gig was a wonderful reminder of some of the best-loved moments in British pop. There can be no arguing with a setlist that includes Waterloo Sunset, Days and Dedicated Follower of Fashion – which Davies introduced as a classic English folk song. He has lost none of the charm that has been a hallmark of his career, changing the lyrics of Autumn Almanac to include a reference to Scarborough and reminiscing about his first visit to Yorkshire when he played the resort’s Futurist Theatre.

But for all the banter, there can be no masking the fact that Davies’ vocal range is no longer what it once was. And there is also something slightly disconcerting in watching a 68-year-old man perform a series of stiff star jumps on stage during the more raucous parts of the concert. The most engaging moments were when Davies played acoustic guitar, sat on a stool at the front of the stage. However, his appeal remains undiminished, as the two encores culminating in Lola testified.

With a promise of a return to York next year, it appears his musical career is set to continue for some time yet.But it would be a travesty if his legacy was ruined by an ever-diminishing return as age is undoubtedly catching up with a man who has defined British pop music.