3/12: Ray Davies at Lorain Palace Theatre

I too was skeptical when I heard that Ray Davies was remaking some key songs in the Kinks’ songbook backed by a full symphonic choir. But The Kinks Choral Collection, which came out last year, is surprisingly tasteful and faithful to Davies’ vision. It helps that most of the songs Davies covers are from his Victorian-dandy period — so there’s more “Waterloo Sunset” than “You Really Got Me” (which is on The Kinks Choral Collection and, like other early three-chord rockers on the album, falls flat). Songs like “Days,” “Celluloid Heroes,” “Shangri-La” and a bunch of cuts from the classic The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society were always better suited to stuffy chamber halls than sweaty rock clubs anyway. At 65, Davies sounds inspired by his old songs’ new dressings. None of his Brit-rock peers can claim that much. Davies and choir play the Lorain Palace Theatre (617 Broadway Ave., Lorain, 877.598.8703) at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets: $39.50-$55. — Michael Gallucci