Ray Davies – Berklee Performance Center, 11/17/2009

Ray Davies played the Berklee Performance Center in Boston last night. His brother Dave is still recovering from a stroke, so another go-round for the Kinks wasn’t in the works at this time.

I went courtesy of Marc Hirsh, who was covering the show for the Globe.  They must have seated the media together, because when I took my seat I was surrounded by men with notebooks.

Dennis Brennan opened with a solo set.

Then Ray and guitarist Bill Shanley came out for a few songs.

Followed by a set with the rest of his current band.

The band was sharp, and the sound was very good.  The arrangements weren’t quite the same as the originals, but with a few exceptions (most significantly “20th Century Man”) the songs were still in touch with their initial greatness.

As usual, Ray worked to get the crowd involved.

And, as always, there was “Lola”.

All in all, another good show from the old man.  It fit in well with what’s turned into my “Year of Old Rock”.

Pennies are getting expensive

Penny candy in the Arlington Center CVS:

I can remember when penny candy cost a penny. And I’m not that old.

Like it or not, it’s a democracy

Now that Maine has voted to repeal its gay marriage law, the blogosphere is filling with people complaining about the use of popular voting to decide civil rights questions.  Where were they before the vote? If their side had won, they’d be happy with the process. When the government does things they don’t like without a vote, like go to war, they’re unhappy.

When the government implemented civil rights legislation in the 60s, they got ahead of what the majority of people wanted.  The backlash gave us Nixon, Reagan, Gingrich, Bush(es)….  Be careful what you ask for.

You have to move popular opinion to be successful. For whatever reason, some people hate and/or fear homosexuality. That needs to change before same-sex marriage is accepted.  Even if the law had withstood the challenge in Maine (or California), that wouldn’t mean that same-sex couples would never face prejudice again.

The trend is heading in the right direction.  With time and continuing effort, equal marriage rights are going to happen.  When the people finally do vote to ratify the step, that will help the remaining resistance accept the change.