Evan Dando is a complicated man. What are his motives? I’m not sure. Does he enjoy playing nearly 20-year-old songs year after year? I can’t tell. The only thing I know for sure is that his fans love him. Even thought the show was billed as “The Lemonheads” we were all there to see Dando (who dedicated the show “to Michael”)—the rest of the band is really unimportant. Seriously, there was what looked like a 12-year-old cousin of Evan’s on the guitar, I couldn’t hear anything he did and even he was watching Evan the whole time.
The Lemonheads just released a new album, Varshons, which is the strangest and most uninspiring covers album ever, probably. The best track on the album is Gram Parsons’ “I Just Can’t Take It Anymore.” Evan has had a love affair with Gram forever, so that’s probably why this song has so much heart. The rest of the album is very blah, and the track that Kate Moss sings, “Dirty Robot” by Arling & Cameron, is a ridiculous attempt at I don’t know what. Electronic beats are cheesily produced and her voice leaves much to be desired.
Last night’s show at the Bowery Ballroom showcased Evan lazily moving through the typical Lemonheads songs he always plays: Hospital, Confetti, Rudderless, Into Your Arms, etc. But further adding to the conundrum of the above question—why did he release this album?—the band played just two tracks off Varshons. Evan also covered “Blue,” the Gram Parsons track, which he always does. But why not play the new one off the album?
Despite the laziness, the negligible band and the half-assed attempt at releasing a new album, Evan is still the light he always was. Even though he hardly speaks during a performance, his songs are classic, little pop-gems that you cannot help but love. And his voice, oh his voice. It’s a miracle that after all the years of rough stuff, all the cigarettes and drugs, his voice is still in good condition. Like melted caramel.
Opening the show was the Swedish band The Legends. Their songs fall into the indie-pop vein, and like a lot of indie-pop there was nothing too remarkable about them. The lead singer’s voice was generic and the drummer’s playing was very jumpy. He had no follow through, making all the songs sound staccato. That said, The Legends were pleasurable enough and made for good background music.
The second act was Varsity Drag, a true Boston band. The guitarist is Ben Deily, an original Lemonhead and Evan’s childhood friend. It was fun to hear his voice again, those who know early Lemonheads circa Hate Your Friends know what I’m talking about. Varsity Drag had the 90s pop-grunge thing in full effect—it was danceable and fun. Unfortunately, Evan didn’t join Ben for a song even though Ben played two old-school Lemonheads songs.
Again, strange behavior from Evan. He invited Varsity Drag to play, Deily (obviously harboring no bad feelings toward Evan for getting famous after he left the band) thanked Evan multiple times during the set and even played their old songs. It would have been great, but oh well. That’s Evan Dando.
Photo by Georgia Kral / http://www.flickr.com/people/42402904@N00/
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