The Lemonheads and Evan Dando have since the 1990s been the same thing. Dando famously gave up drugs n booze in the wake of 9-11 (around the same time as much of his audience were embracing them). So what to say of allegations of a relapse by Evan Lemon. Well it’s his trip, and at least he’ll follow in the steps of his musical mentors like Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt (both of whom he’s outlasted in longevity or is it lattgevity, I can’t ever get that right).
Either way the musical tradition he is by now steeped in is littered with performances which transcend expectations, good and bad. So to tonight at Dublin’s academy. An admittedly out of sorts Dando, took to the Mike with his two band mates and kicked Into a couple of old favourites. Not the worst renditions, but different enough to set a tone from sections of the audience who expected…who knows what. And herein lies the issue.
We have a generation extant who consider themselves superstars and expect perfection from entertainers. In terms of pop music, perfection, 2025 style, means perfectly rendered Varshions (sic) of greatest hits, interspersed with gratitude and funny anecdotes. That’s always been false. Dandos’ difficulties, vocally or otherwise, preceded him onto tonight’s stage and it was unclear whether the crowd were there be entertained by him, or to judge him. Of the songs, the gig was littered with old favourites and officially released cover versions of ‘Mexico’, ‘Layin with Linda’ and anybody who didn’t recognise his heartfelt treatment of The Flying Burrito Brothers ‘Return of the Grevious Angel’ has no business being within a pickup truck mile of an Evan Dando gig.
He would no doubt have done more than the single from the new album, or an encore, and yet more hits (the playlist suggested as much). But why bother? In an age where the verdict on such things is in before the trial begins, it is to Dandos’ credit that he tried. In doing so, he packed more into an hour and five minutes than most stadium rockers of the school of 2025 will do in an entire tour. As for the crowd… “are you not entertained” I was. Just sayin.
The Lemonheads photos & set-list:
Set-list:
It’s About Time
Down About It
Paid to Smile
Big Gay Heart
Style
Rest Assured
Dawn Can’t Decide
I’ll Do It Anyway
Into Your Arms (Love Positions cover)
Being Around
The Great Big No
Favorite T
Layin’ Up With Linda (GG Allin cover)
Deep End
In the Margin
Photos – David McEneaney @experimentzero
Words – Gerry McCrave