The Kinks’ Ray Davies Plays Solo at The Fillmore

The prospect of a Kinks reunion seems unlikely, despite persistent rumors in the music press. Still, Ray Davies, the legendary band’s frontman and main songwriter, continues to soldier on, four years after being shot during a mugging in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

At age 63, Davies has lost none of his caustic wit, and he refuses to graciously ride into the sunset alongside fellow classic rockers who simply rehash songs from their back catalogues. The Kinks finally, officially broke up in 1996 after much animosity between Davies and his bandmate and brother Dave. Since then, Davies has released two solo albums, the most recent being 2007’s Working Man’s Café. On the incredibly strong disc, Davies continues the tradition of Everyman social commentary he began with the Kinks; the title track seems prescient about the recent U.S. economic meltdown. On “No One Listen,” he rants about the Louisiana authorities who dropped charges against his alleged shooter, and later, on “Morphine Song,” he relates a dark account of what he experienced during his hospitalization.

For the current tour, still in promotion of Working Man’s Café, Davies is backed by Brooklyn-based power-pop band Locksley, which will also open the show. (The group was most recently seen in South Florida this past June, opening for Rooney at Revolution.) Davies will certainly perform Kinks classics such as “Celluloid Heroes,” “Lola,” and “You Really Got Me,” but staunch fans will know to also expect lots of newer material. Ray Davies is, simply, not the kind of guy who dwells in the past.