Last night's banter: Ray Davies

Ray Davies has songs - and he's got stories, too.

When Ray Davies takes the stage, he comes with countless hits and copious quips. The legendary Kinks frontman gave an endearing performance at the Birchmere on Monday night. (We reviewed him last time he was in town at 9:30 club.) Here's what he had to say between songs:

- Upon first arriving in the U.S.: "[The immigration officer] said, 'Are you a Beatle...? Or are you a girl?' I said, 'Whatever works for you, mister. Just stamp my passport."

- On secretly writing songs about his brother and bandmate, Dave Davies: "I disguised [this song] and called it "Two Sisters." That's why we were called the Kinks."

- On why the labels were once reluctant to sign the Kinks: "They said [Dave Davies's] guitar playing sounded like barking dog. Some dog. But what a wonderful bark."