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By Dave Miller

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With his backing band poised to play and intro music blaring out of the speakers, Dave Davies ambled onstage and purposively put talcum powder on his hands and along the neck of his Fender guitar like a warrior preparing for battle.

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That Davies played a show Saturday night at Taste of Lincoln Avenue, or anywhere for that matter, was a victory in itself. The Kinks guitarist suffered a stroke in 2004. A couple years later he was able to walk, talk and play guitar again. He released an album in 2007, but a planned U.S. tour in 2010 was postponed on the advice of a doctor.

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"Good to see you," Davies said early in the show in what ran deeper than normal stage patter. The legendary guitarist was in good spirits and seemingly health during the hour-and-a-half concert. He's currently touring behind a new album, I Will Be Me. A powerful start in performance and decibels included the Kinks openers "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" and "I Need You" followed by solo songs "She's Got Everything," the new "Little Green Amp," "Creeping Jean" and even a fun, impromptu stab at "Naggin' Woman" that was eventually abandoned. "Doing blues in Chicago, what's the point?" a bemused Davies said knowingly.

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Davies proudly embraced his band past. "Anyone hear of the Kinks?" he teased the enthusiastic crowd. "What'd you say? I can't hear you." "Tired of Waiting for You" was clunky, but was immediately redeemed by an expansive, soulful "See My Friends" that saw him dig deep vocally. "It's one of my favorite songs," Davies said, "and a song dedicated to absent friends, loved ones, all the beautiful souls that have crossed over." An acoustic five-song stretch started strongly with a tender "Strangers" and wistful "Flowers in the Rain" with Davies continuing in fine vocal form.

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While introducing "Young and Innocent Days," Davies playfully took a swipe at this brother, Ray, showing there's still something left in the original and longest-running brother feud in rock history. "My fucking brother did not dedicate one song to me," Davies said with relish, "but, however, the forgiving soul that I am, I'm going to dedicate this to my brother, Raymond." The show veered off track during the next two acoustic numbers. First, Davies brought up a girl from the audience to help him sing "Death of a Clown," which grinded to a halt when she left and Davies had trouble finding the right page on the nearby lectern. Then "Healing Boy" fell flat.

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But Davies restored order by returning to his electric guitar. "Dead End Street" featured his big riffs at the end and then came a highlight -- a dramatic "Living on a Thin Line" that saw Davies pouring himself emotionally into the song. Despite the occasional stumbles, Davies gave off a comfortable, credible and fun vibe as a frontman. He earned the right to sing for his brother in "Where Have All the Good Times Gone" and "All Day and All of the Night." By the time the second encore finished with Davies showing why Rolling Stone named him one of the top 100 guitarists in rock history with his trademark distortion riffs in "You Really Got Me," it was clear he's physically ready for a long-awaited Kinks reunion tour. Now if he and his brother can just come together and get along long enough to make it happen.

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The setlist:

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I'm Not Like Everybody Else

I Need You

She's Got Everything

Little Green Amp

Creeping Jean

Naggin' Woman

Tired of Waiting for You

See My Friends

Strangers

Flowers in the Rain

Young and Innocent Days

Death of a Clown

The Healing Boy

Dead End Street

Living on a Thin Line

Where Have All the Good Times Gone

All Day and All of the Night

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I'm Not Like Everybody Else

Cote Du Rhone (I Will Be Me)

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You Really Got Me

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Start: 8:27 p.m./Finish: 9:55 p.m.
Totals: 20 songs, one hour 28 minutes

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Photo Gallery

Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

 

Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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Dave Davies

July 27, 2013 @ Taste of Lincoln Avenue

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