Formed in Boston in 1986, The Lemonheads continue to rotate around the inimitable Evan Dando; eclectic music fan, writer of infectious power pop, and renowned trouble maker. The band’s history is littered with ex-members, celebrity fans, cliff-hanger interviews, madcap asides, lost horizons and all the things that vintage rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle is all about.
“I was born in the Summer Of Love and I’ve come to say, ‘Hi!’,” Evan famously dropped into conversation at some point but not before paying his dues with The Lemonheads as part of a Boston scene inspired by Hüsker Dü, Dinosaur Jr and The Angry Samoans among others.
The album ‘Hate Your Friends’ arrived in 1987, “Frantic, fitfully exciting with occasional moments of brilliance,” reckoned The Line Of Best Fit, while the following year’s ‘Creator’ was hailed in the NME as “some American box-bedroom rebel equivalents to The Smiths.” ‘Lick’ (1989) completed the monochrome edition of the band and features a patchwork of fresh recordings of old B-sides, covers and a few new songs. “For a plate of reheated leftovers this is pretty tasty.” The Line Of Best Fit
From the same era comes ‘If Only You Were Dead’ (finally released in 2014) which features local radio sessions on Boston’s WERS from 1987 and 1988, along with ‘Favourite Spanish Dishes’ (1990) which saw the band signed to Atlantic Records and being “tried out” on an EP that’s most recently been expanded and re-issued. Atlantic had snapped up The Lemonheads in the flurry of activity that surrounded the arrival of grunge and after three albums they released “a treasure of an LP” NME with ‘Lovey’, followed in 1992 by the breakthrough platter ‘It’s A Shame About Ray’ with the crossover single ‘Mrs Robinson’ that catapulted Evan into the pages of Interview, Sassy and People magazines.
“This was a band that deftly matched pop sensibility with grunge directness.” BBC
Around this time, with his newfound songwriting buddies in Australia, Evan recorded what became a much-bootlegged cassette, ‘The Hotel Sessions’ (now remastered to sonic greatness). A Walkman-recorded demo of new material and a few songs he loved, supposedly to inspire a new live agent. The majesty of the tunes shining through the impromptu ambience.
By contrast, “Too happy, not quite dark enough in some ways” Evan summed up its follow up ‘Come On Feel The Lemonheads’ (1993). That said, ‘Into Your Arms’ lengthy stay on the Billboard chart, ‘Big Gay Heart’ and ‘It’s About Time’ ensured that the Dando song-writing legacy was intact.
“The Lemonheads have always been recognised as purveyors of grade-A pop-punk” Record Collector
Three years on ‘Car Button Cloth’ (1996) rekindled interest with another eclectic mix of songs that was justly heralded: “In the tuneless climate of sub-Cobain mediocrity that is alternative rock, it’s great to have Dando back.” Rolling Stone
Then came the wilderness years, a hiatus as such. A period that was broken with Evan touring solo and the release of his excellent album ‘Baby I’m Bored’ (2002, expanded in 2017), proof positive that his knack for melody hadn’t faltered.
“Dando’s most consistent, thoroughly enjoyable work since The Lemonheads’ 1992 jewel ‘It’s a Shame About Ray’” Paste
Throughout The Lemonheads’ career, Evan Dando’s esoteric pick of songs to cover, whether on album or live, has dusted off some real gems, the ultimate singalong playlist which manifested itself on a couple of albums, most recently ‘Varshons II’ (2018), “a love letter to the breadth and talent of rock music, but also to Dando’s sizeable melodic gifts.” Louder Than War
Evan Dando and The Lemonheads’ arcane adventure goes on…
Evan Dando 2024 Tour
16 Oct: La Belle Angelle, Edinburgh, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
17 Oct: Tunnels, Aberdeen, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
18 Oct: Fat Sams Club Room, Dundee, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
19 Oct: Slay, Glasgow, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
21 Oct: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
22 Oct: Riverside, Newcastle, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
23 Oct: Academy 2, Manchester, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
24 Oct: The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
26 Oct: The Gate, Cardiff, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
27 Oct: Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
28 Oct: O2 Institute 2, Birmingham, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
30 Oct: Islington Assembly Hall, London, UK, w/ Ella Raphael
31 Oct: De Vorstin, Hilversum, Netherlands
01 Nov: Vera, Groningen, Netherlands
02 Nov: Pop Up!, Paris, France
04 Nov: La Nau, Barcelona, Spain
05 Nov: Kafe Antzokia, Bilbao, Spain
06 Nov: El Sol, Madrid, Spain
07 Nov: Loco Club, Valencia, Spain
10 Nov: Schuur, Lucerne, Switzerland
11 Nov: Das Bett, Frankfurt, Germany
12 Nov: Nochtspeicher, Hamburg, Germany
14 Nov: Voodoo Club, Warsaw, Poland
15 Nov: Nuu, Berlin, Germany
16 Nov: Rolling Stone Beach, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
17 Nov: Gebaude 9, Cologne, Germany
18 Nov: Depot, Leuven, Belgium
