Chicago, IL – 11 Nov 2021
The Evan Dando Show still continues to impress
At TGEFM, we cover genres other than just punk. I’m thinking many folks don’t consider The Lemonheads punk, although it’s hard to listen to their early material and find a better label for it. Back then their songs sort of careened from straight punk thrashers to more the almost ballad-esque. As you listen to their records, you can hear the tension between songwriter/singers Ben Deily and Evan Dando. This volatile chemistry eventually led to the dissolution of the band. Out of the dust of Lemonheads one, Evan Dando emerged and in the 1990s, he became one of the poster children for alternative music. As The Lemonheads (2?) took a page from Husker Du, The Replacements, and Dinosaur Jr; many bands took a cue from the Lemonheads on how to break through to the alternative/grunge Promised Land. Dando broke through big time with the album, It’s a Shame About Ray, and the cover to end all covers (a point/counterpoint for another day?) “Mrs. Robinson.” Safe to say if someone in the 90s was wearing combat boots and a flannel, they owned IASAR. I love that record. From beginning to end, it’s all killer/no filler. “Rockin Stroll,” “Alison’s starting to Happen,” “My Drug Buddy” (a duet with underground heavy Juliana Hatfield)– the album just slaps, plain and simple. Well that record is coming up on its 30 year anniversary, and Lemonheads (Dando being the only consistent member) are on tour. I happened to catch them at Thalia Hall in Chicago at Thalia Hall.
Hey Rocco opened the show. A bit of an odd choice considering that HR sounds a lot like the Lemonheads. A good thing for those that can’t get enough, a bad thing for those that like a little variety in their lives. High point of Hey Rocco’s set: a cover of The Replacements “Answering Machine.” After a short break, The Lemonheads strolled onto the stage. The years (see- documented drug use) have not been kind to Evan Dando, although you can still see the heartthrob in that lanky frame. His previously long hair is now cropped at the shoulders. Dando has a deep catalog to choose from, I was prepared to be disappointed in not hearing my faves. He broke out “My Drug Buddy” early on, J Hatfield’s vocals were subbed by the bassist who spent most of the show impersonating Cousin It, with his mop of hair completely covering his face. Some other standout tracks were “Big Gay Heart,” “Rudderless” (bassist filling in for Juliana on this one too), “It’s a Shame About Ray,” and “Bit Part.” The band left the stage and Dando returned to play an acoustic solo set. I stood there thinking that if he could, he would play all night. I knew that he had been dropping the Misfits’ “Skulls” during this set, but sadly not at our show. At the very end, Dando called his bandmates back out for one more tune. Most people were likely introduced to the Lemonheads from their cover of “Mrs. Robinson,” and many at the show probably lamented its absence. They actually have a long history of putting a new spin on an old favorite (“Skulls” for example) Their closer, Linda Ronstadt’s “Different Drum,” left everyone feeling satisfied and likely googling the original as they walked out.
