“Tortured Genius Springs To Mind When I Think Of The Captivating Lemonhead Frontman, Evan Dando”
It’s 30 years since the release of former cult favourites, The Lemonheads’ seminal fifth album and tonight is my chance to hear the wonderful fusion of punk and Byrdsian jangle of “It’s A Shame About Ray” in full for the first time in 30 years. I mention former, as tonight’s gig at the O2 Ritz in Manchester is a sell-out. Not just any sell-out either, it’s bursting at the seams. It appears that everyone who has bought a ticket is here which is not always the case. Support tonight is from Oxford, Mississippi’s, Bass Drum of Death.
Formed in 2008, the three-piece Bass Drum of Death are back after a brief lull. Their modest blueprint of two guitars and drums deliver wave after wave of heavy distorted melodies haemorrhaging into polished heavy garage guitar and pounding drums. It’s a blistering set and the venue is already packed and responds well to the onslaught. There’s quite a few fans who know the band and are singing along, hands raised. Their new album “Say I Won’t” is out early next year and the echoes of the Jesus and Mary Chain, BRMC and the Ramones I hear tonight have placed it on my to buy list.
Tortured genius springs to mind when I think of the captivating Lemonhead frontman, Evan Dando. I’ll be honest, the last time I saw the band five or six years ago, the glorious songs shone through, but his voice was weak and I was disappointed. The nineties heart throb strolls onto the dimly lit stage without his band and tunes up his acoustic guitar ready for a stripped back acoustic set. He’s lost none of his laid-back cool, but I’m wondering which version of the supremely talented Evan we’re going to see and hear tonight.
The frontman does like a cover version and there’s a few on show in the first part of the show. There’s the Michael Nesmith cover “Different Drum”, from The Lemonhead’s 1990s favourite “Spanish Dishes”; The Smudge cover “Outdoor Type” from 1996 album “Car, Button, Cloth”; The Misfits “Skulls”; Townes van Zandt’s “I’ll Be Here in the Morning” all interspersed with Dando originals such as “Ride With Me” from “Lovey”; “Being Around” from “Come on feel the Lemonheads” and the haunting “Hard Drive” from his solo album “Baby I’m Bored”. There’s no need to worry as his smooth, powerful and sorrowful voice is back to its best, the crowd singing along in the darkness of the blue\purple lights to the mournful “The Outdoor Type” and reflective “Being Around”. He loses his jacket, swaps to a battered electric guitar and we’re straight into the tours billed full album.
“Right let’s do the album, thanks very much for coming out tonight” states the enigmatic frontman and he introduces his band of bass, Farley Glavin and drums, Mikey Jones (from Swervedriver). To be fair, I’ve seen the band performing most of “It’s A Shame About Ray” plenty of times over the years and after hearing the quality of the acoustic set I’m well-up for a slice of nineties nostalgia tonight. Memorably, I can picture myself with long hair, wearing denim and a fake fur coat watching the Lemonheads joined by the album’s original bass player, Juliana Hatfield, in a muddy field somewhere in the 90s. Now that was a gig.
Up tempo album opener, “Rockin’ Stroll“continues the frantic pace before the trio immediately launch into the chiming and addictive crowd favourite “Confetti”. The alluring harmonies and chugging, distortion of “Alison’s Starting to Happen” entice the now bouncing, throbbing crowd into a nostalgic singalong. I walk upstairs and it’s three deep on the balcony, something I’ve not seen for a long time. “Kitchen” is cool and intricately balances bruised and beaten fuzz with Evan’s beautiful vocal melodies perfectly. “Ceiling Fan” is effervescent, whilst “My Drug Buddy” is both dejected and triumphant. Many of the audience singing along to every word. All as it should be then. The biggest crowd singalong saved for album finale “Frank Mills”, from the musical “Hair”. The trio race through the album in less than half an hour. I’m guessing because of the early curfew. The melodic genius of each song shining through with the frontman still able to control a room with his deep baritone brogue and imposing presence.
The third set of the night is devoted to further Lemonhead classics and Evan reminding us even further of his gift for choosing obscure cover versions. There’s Smudge’s “Tenderfoot” and John Prines “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness”, but there isn’t “Mrs Robinson”. No surprise really, given Evan’s previous thoughts, but there is “Rick James Style”, “The Great Big No” and “Dawn Can’t Decide” from “Come on Feel The Lemonheads”, all fitting and brilliantly performed replacements, the bands stunning performance on offer tonight perfectly capturing the irresistible nostalgic allure of the songs.
The band leave Evan standing alone on the stage before the crowd have had a chance to cheer as the final song finishes and he bizarrely performs the allegedly cursed Hungarian Suicide Song ‘Gloomy Sunday’ Acapella. Famously covered by Billie Holiday and the Associates on their album Sulk there is something truly dark and beautiful about this song, but it is a bizarre ending to a glorious gig. I guess I wouldn’t have The Lemonheads any other way though.
SETLIST
1/ The Outdoor Type
2/ Being Around
3/ Hard Drive
4/ I’ll Be Here in the Morning
5/ Different Drum
6/ Skulls
7/ Ride With Me
8/ Rockin’ Stroll
9/ Confetti
10/ It’s a Shame About Ray
11/ Rudderless
12/ My Drug Buddy
13/ The Turnpike Down
14/ Bit Part
15/ Alison’s Starting to Happen
16/ Hannah & Gabi
17/ Kitchen
18/ Ceiling Fan in My Spoon
19/Frank Mills
ENCORE SET
1/ Unknown
2/ Hospital
3/ Break Me
4/ Tenderfoot
5/ Speed of the Sound of Loneliness
6/ It Looks Like You
7/ Rick James Style
8/ The Great Big No
9/ Dawn Can’t Decide
10/ Gloomy Sunday
FOLLOW THE LEMONHEADS
FOLLOW BASS DRUM OF DEATH
I’ve loved music since forever. Graphic designer, photographer and artist at painted.papillon.smile (www.ppsdesign.co.uk)
