12/07 The Lemonheads with Bass Drum of Death and On Being an Angel at Madrid
Lemonheads Setlist (12/07)
Bass Drum of Death Setlist (12/07)
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Three decades later, it’s still a Shame--
Make that Shame, Shame in our case as we headed out not once, but twice to catch The Lemonheads on their It’s a Shame About Ray- 30th Anniversary Tour in Kansas City, MO at the Madrid Theatre and also the following date up north in Minneapolis, MN at First Avenue.
Most of their remaining US dates are sold out, as was the tour of the UK and Ireland that they had recently completed, so bandleader Evan Dando is finding out exactly how well that quintessential 90’s alternative rock album, has aged.
The band formed in Boston way back in 1986, with Dando being the remaining constant, and struck a chord first at indie radio with a sound that echoed folk / alt-country (before its time) blended with pop-like melodies, discordant chords and the low-fi sound of period alternative. Band members have previously included Juliana Hatfield, Ryan Adams, and members of Descendents, Blake Babies, Dinosaur Jr and Fuzzy.
Dando famously announced the demise of the band on stage at Reading Festival in 1997 and carried on with a solo career, but you can’t keep a good thing down, and the current trio consists of Dando, bassist Farley Glavin, and previously Swervedriver drummer Mikey Jones, who unfortunately fell ill and was unable to complete the tour.
Enter (on very short notice) the legendary Bill Stevenson of Descendents fame who played the Denver and KC shows, and upstate NY’s Lee Falco, who is slated to complete the rest.
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The opening acts for this leg included Austin TX band On Being an Angel, who just put out a recent EP, On Being a Tape Vol II last month, the four-track collection includes their cover of Lucinda Williams’ “Metal Firecracker” which they’ve been playing a loud version of live as well.
With Hatfield-esque vocals and a mid-90s throwback part to their sound, the four piece just seems to be getting started, and is worth keeping an eye (and ear) on, to see what’s next.
Bass Drum of Death is a formidable sounding name for an Oxford, MS garage rock trio that has a sound to match, fronted by John Barrett and filled out by his brother Jim (only recently recruited), and Eric Parisi.
We saw the band a few times in 2013-14, and then they seemingly vanished, but were actually on a hiatus to re-emerge with both Barretts collaborating for the first time, and new album, Say I Won’t, expected in late January and a headlining club tour to follow.
The threesome was musically tight throughout their swift thirty-minute set, with chugging rhythms like a runaway locomotive and if new single “Say Your Prayers” is any barometer of sounds to come, more will definitely be taking notice in 2023.
===
Madrid Theatre – Kansas City, MO (2022-12-07)
Evan Dando casually found his way to the stage to begin their eighty-minute set, randomly tuning his twelve string and other guitars, while singing along to the Ella Fitzgerald walk-on music, but was eventually ready, playing a three-song solo set to begin.
Right away, the printed setlist seemed only an advisory as what might be played, but unpredictability / spontaneity often can be a part of a Lemonheads show.
Stevenson and Glavin made their way up for the anticipated It’s a Shame About Ray album played in its entirety, but it began more like a rehearsal with some unsure chords and the trio facing each other in a circle until they found their way (ironically) with “Rudderless” and drummer Stevenson now bashing the skins even louder, and with a killer smile on his face.
Despite his sometimes-puzzling stage presence. Dando’s voice has held up nicely and the crowd sang along with hits’ It’s a Shame About Ray” and “My Drug Buddy”, holding their phones up to video capture those nostalgic songs of their college days and the album's closer, “Frank Mills” was a sing-along as well, back to just Dando solo on stage.
The printed setlist then seemed completely ignored (with Dando re-entering the stage tossing his guitar stand), playing instead songs that came more to mind, including Whitney Houston, Misfits and Townes van Zandt covers but Lemonheads hits also remained for the patient, including the near-perfect alt-pop smash “Into Your Arms” and the set-closing “If I Could Talk, I’d Tell You”.
===
Make that Shame, Shame in our case as we headed out not once, but twice to catch The Lemonheads on their It’s a Shame About Ray- 30th Anniversary Tour in Kansas City, MO at the Madrid Theatre and also the following date up north in Minneapolis, MN at First Avenue.
Most of their remaining US dates are sold out, as was the tour of the UK and Ireland that they had recently completed, so bandleader Evan Dando is finding out exactly how well that quintessential 90’s alternative rock album, has aged.
The band formed in Boston way back in 1986, with Dando being the remaining constant, and struck a chord first at indie radio with a sound that echoed folk / alt-country (before its time) blended with pop-like melodies, discordant chords and the low-fi sound of period alternative. Band members have previously included Juliana Hatfield, Ryan Adams, and members of Descendents, Blake Babies, Dinosaur Jr and Fuzzy.
Dando famously announced the demise of the band on stage at Reading Festival in 1997 and carried on with a solo career, but you can’t keep a good thing down, and the current trio consists of Dando, bassist Farley Glavin, and previously Swervedriver drummer Mikey Jones, who unfortunately fell ill and was unable to complete the tour.
Enter (on very short notice) the legendary Bill Stevenson of Descendents fame who played the Denver and KC shows, and upstate NY’s Lee Falco, who is slated to complete the rest.
===
The opening acts for this leg included Austin TX band On Being an Angel, who just put out a recent EP, On Being a Tape Vol II last month, the four-track collection includes their cover of Lucinda Williams’ “Metal Firecracker” which they’ve been playing a loud version of live as well.
With Hatfield-esque vocals and a mid-90s throwback part to their sound, the four piece just seems to be getting started, and is worth keeping an eye (and ear) on, to see what’s next.
Bass Drum of Death is a formidable sounding name for an Oxford, MS garage rock trio that has a sound to match, fronted by John Barrett and filled out by his brother Jim (only recently recruited), and Eric Parisi.
We saw the band a few times in 2013-14, and then they seemingly vanished, but were actually on a hiatus to re-emerge with both Barretts collaborating for the first time, and new album, Say I Won’t, expected in late January and a headlining club tour to follow.
The threesome was musically tight throughout their swift thirty-minute set, with chugging rhythms like a runaway locomotive and if new single “Say Your Prayers” is any barometer of sounds to come, more will definitely be taking notice in 2023.
===
Madrid Theatre – Kansas City, MO (2022-12-07)
Evan Dando casually found his way to the stage to begin their eighty-minute set, randomly tuning his twelve string and other guitars, while singing along to the Ella Fitzgerald walk-on music, but was eventually ready, playing a three-song solo set to begin.
Right away, the printed setlist seemed only an advisory as what might be played, but unpredictability / spontaneity often can be a part of a Lemonheads show.
Stevenson and Glavin made their way up for the anticipated It’s a Shame About Ray album played in its entirety, but it began more like a rehearsal with some unsure chords and the trio facing each other in a circle until they found their way (ironically) with “Rudderless” and drummer Stevenson now bashing the skins even louder, and with a killer smile on his face.
Despite his sometimes-puzzling stage presence. Dando’s voice has held up nicely and the crowd sang along with hits’ It’s a Shame About Ray” and “My Drug Buddy”, holding their phones up to video capture those nostalgic songs of their college days and the album's closer, “Frank Mills” was a sing-along as well, back to just Dando solo on stage.
The printed setlist then seemed completely ignored (with Dando re-entering the stage tossing his guitar stand), playing instead songs that came more to mind, including Whitney Houston, Misfits and Townes van Zandt covers but Lemonheads hits also remained for the patient, including the near-perfect alt-pop smash “Into Your Arms” and the set-closing “If I Could Talk, I’d Tell You”.
===
12/09 The Lemonheads with Juliana Hatfield, Bass Drum of Death and On Being an Angel at First Avenue
Lemonheads Setlist (12/09)
Tour Dates 12.10 Chicago, IL Metro
12.11 Detroit, MI Saint Andrew's Hall 12.12 Washington, D.C. 9.30 Club 12.14 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer 12.15 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge 12.16 New Jersey, NJ White Eagle Hall 12.17 Boston, MA Paradise 12.18 Boston, MA Paradise 11.25 - 12.18 w/ On Being An Angel 12.9 - 12.18 w/ Juliana Hatfield Read More
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First Avenue- Minneapolis, MN (2022-12-09) with Juliana Hatfield
In the early days of the pandemic, I found myself (like everyone else) scrolling through the Instagram feeds of celebrities, namely musicians. How were the ridiculously good looking and talented biding their time in lockdown? To my utter delight, I came across Evan Dando’s page and discovered a handful of photos. Photos featuring the 90s era dreamboat and power-pop troubadour in Jeremiah Johnson mode: fishing, carousing through the scenic wilderness, enjoying flannel-clad freedom. Dando was just like me! …well kind of. I was still at level 1 Outdoor Type and he was at 89. And though the comparison ends there he still has the power to get me to leave my house.
Deep into their tour celebrating 30 years (30 YEARS?) of the iconic album It’s a Shame About Ray, The Lemonheads stopped at First Avenue with the likes of Bass Drum of Death and On Being an Angel. The VIP of the night, however, was elusive chanteuse Juliana Hatfield, who not only played a special solo set but guested on the ‘Heads beloved Ray track “Drug Buddy” … but let’s not get ahead of ourselves… Austin’s On Being an Angel kicked off the night, albeit a little late. Which is too bad because they only got through about 5 songs before ending their set. One of those songs though was an excellent cover of Lucinda William’s “Metal Firecracker.” Austin and Minneapolis are sister cities, right? So maybe we can get them back up here to play a longer show!
Next up was Oxford, Mississippi’s own masters of chug, Bass Drum of Death! It’s been a hot minute since we’ve heard from these guys. After announcing a hiatus in 2015, frontman John Barrett and company released their last full length album in 2018 Just Business. In the last few years, there has been a steady trickling of EPs and singles from the band but January of 2023 will see the release of their 5th studio record Say I Won’t. The band is back on Fat Possum and from the look and sound of their Friday night performance, they haven’t lost an ounce of their swampy garage rock swagger!
No shade to the very good bands that came before her, but Juliana Hatfield really knows how to knock the wind out of you. I was lucky to catch her and her band back in 2015 playing all of 1993’s explosive Become What You Are but it’s a different vibe without a noisy band sharing the stage. Hers was a staggering solo performance with just an electric guitar and those airy vocals. Beginning with “Everybody Loves Me But You” from 1992’s Hey Babe, Hatfield delicately flowed through songs from her 30-plus year catalogue. The occasional false start, awkward pause or runny nose could not dampen the sting and ache of her music and words: “Little Pieces,” “I Got No Idols,” a searing “Candy Wrappers” (which my friend requested on Instagram!) and of course “Sister.”
She closed with “Bad Day” and after a tuning flub, recalled a tea mishap earlier at the Depot, where the tea was spilled 3 different times. Like Dando, Juliana Hatfield works outside and against the difficult and cynical churn of the music industry. She’s as prolific as ever, releasing new music nearly every year and collaborating with other musicians like Matthew Caws (Minor Alps) and Paul Westerberg (The I Don’t Cares). Along with two covers albums (she sings Olivia Newton-John AND The Police), her last solo venture was 2021’s Blood and you should absolutely listen to it (especially the jaunty, piercing “Mouthful of Blood”).
The last time I saw The Lemonheads was at a disastrous gig at the Fine Line in November of 2021. Evan lost his voice early into the set and the people in the audience were so drunk and stupid, I wonder if they even knew where they were and who they paid money to see. This time around was mercifully better: a sold-out and amiable crowd who heaped adoration onto Dando and the band (the formidable Lee Falco and Farley Glavin, on drums and bass respectively) and did what any diehard fan should do: sing every single word! (Now, did that stop folks from getting their Friday night jollies? Heck no! Two inebriated ladies were grinding against each other in front of their chiropractor husbands during, of all songs, “My Drug Buddy” but I reserve my judgment. Even trophy wives need to have a night out of the domestic pen!)
Tall flanneled Evan Dando and his fantastic rhythm section wasted no time and unleashed a treasure trove of delicious catchy gems: “Into Your Arms,” “It’s About Time,” “Great Big No,” “Dawn Can’t Decide,” “Hospital.” Solo Dando tunes like “Hard Drive” and “It Looks Like You” were stand-outs as well as heavy drug dirge “Style” which saw Evan and Farley exchange instruments and Farley absolutely wailed all over the place! Following “Style” was an acoustic Evan set that put his warm, Fred Neil-style baritone front and center. And it wouldn’t be a proper Dando show without a generous helping of amazing country or folk covers like Townes van Zandt’s “I’ll Be Here in the Morning” and “Withered and Died” by Richard and Linda Thompson amongst ‘Heads classics like “Being Around” and “The Outdoor Type.”
At long last it was Ray time, with each glorious melody as bright and infectious as the first time I heard them. The band did pummel through them quickly, but for an album that is a hair under 30 minutes, maybe it just felt that way. I would listen to this CD in my car on trips back to Wisconsin like 300 times because of its seamless balance of starry-eyed guitar pop and bittersweet countrified ballads. Did I white-knuckle every time I heard the siren on “Kitchen”? Why, yes I did. It gets me every single time. This is a goddamned perfect album and the best song is “Hannah and Gabi” and I will fight you if you disagree.
The band wrapped up the title track and stage hands climbed aboard to set up a microphone stand next to Evan. This was it! Evan and Juliana! “My Drug Buddy”! And despite occasional disturbances from the horny middle-aged housewives next to me, the amber glow emanating from those two voices combined in holy musical harmony on the second best song on It’s a Shame About Ray, but probably the best Lemonheads song ever, “My Drug Buddy” could not be ignored. Goosebumps, my friends!
The bops didn’t stop, but Dando’s voice was starting to get a little hoarse. A minor inconvenience really considering 1500 people were singing along! The show came to a gentle close with the album’s quirky Hair cover “Frank Mills,” a song Evan did acapella, serenading a crowd already hungover from excitement. We left the house! We saw a great show! We didn’t get hit by a bus! Long live the Lemonheads! If you are interested in learning more about Evan Dando and his absolutely bonkers life in and out of the Lemonheads, I highly recommend you check out their episode on the excellent podcast Bandsplain.
In the early days of the pandemic, I found myself (like everyone else) scrolling through the Instagram feeds of celebrities, namely musicians. How were the ridiculously good looking and talented biding their time in lockdown? To my utter delight, I came across Evan Dando’s page and discovered a handful of photos. Photos featuring the 90s era dreamboat and power-pop troubadour in Jeremiah Johnson mode: fishing, carousing through the scenic wilderness, enjoying flannel-clad freedom. Dando was just like me! …well kind of. I was still at level 1 Outdoor Type and he was at 89. And though the comparison ends there he still has the power to get me to leave my house.
Deep into their tour celebrating 30 years (30 YEARS?) of the iconic album It’s a Shame About Ray, The Lemonheads stopped at First Avenue with the likes of Bass Drum of Death and On Being an Angel. The VIP of the night, however, was elusive chanteuse Juliana Hatfield, who not only played a special solo set but guested on the ‘Heads beloved Ray track “Drug Buddy” … but let’s not get ahead of ourselves… Austin’s On Being an Angel kicked off the night, albeit a little late. Which is too bad because they only got through about 5 songs before ending their set. One of those songs though was an excellent cover of Lucinda William’s “Metal Firecracker.” Austin and Minneapolis are sister cities, right? So maybe we can get them back up here to play a longer show!
Next up was Oxford, Mississippi’s own masters of chug, Bass Drum of Death! It’s been a hot minute since we’ve heard from these guys. After announcing a hiatus in 2015, frontman John Barrett and company released their last full length album in 2018 Just Business. In the last few years, there has been a steady trickling of EPs and singles from the band but January of 2023 will see the release of their 5th studio record Say I Won’t. The band is back on Fat Possum and from the look and sound of their Friday night performance, they haven’t lost an ounce of their swampy garage rock swagger!
No shade to the very good bands that came before her, but Juliana Hatfield really knows how to knock the wind out of you. I was lucky to catch her and her band back in 2015 playing all of 1993’s explosive Become What You Are but it’s a different vibe without a noisy band sharing the stage. Hers was a staggering solo performance with just an electric guitar and those airy vocals. Beginning with “Everybody Loves Me But You” from 1992’s Hey Babe, Hatfield delicately flowed through songs from her 30-plus year catalogue. The occasional false start, awkward pause or runny nose could not dampen the sting and ache of her music and words: “Little Pieces,” “I Got No Idols,” a searing “Candy Wrappers” (which my friend requested on Instagram!) and of course “Sister.”
She closed with “Bad Day” and after a tuning flub, recalled a tea mishap earlier at the Depot, where the tea was spilled 3 different times. Like Dando, Juliana Hatfield works outside and against the difficult and cynical churn of the music industry. She’s as prolific as ever, releasing new music nearly every year and collaborating with other musicians like Matthew Caws (Minor Alps) and Paul Westerberg (The I Don’t Cares). Along with two covers albums (she sings Olivia Newton-John AND The Police), her last solo venture was 2021’s Blood and you should absolutely listen to it (especially the jaunty, piercing “Mouthful of Blood”).
The last time I saw The Lemonheads was at a disastrous gig at the Fine Line in November of 2021. Evan lost his voice early into the set and the people in the audience were so drunk and stupid, I wonder if they even knew where they were and who they paid money to see. This time around was mercifully better: a sold-out and amiable crowd who heaped adoration onto Dando and the band (the formidable Lee Falco and Farley Glavin, on drums and bass respectively) and did what any diehard fan should do: sing every single word! (Now, did that stop folks from getting their Friday night jollies? Heck no! Two inebriated ladies were grinding against each other in front of their chiropractor husbands during, of all songs, “My Drug Buddy” but I reserve my judgment. Even trophy wives need to have a night out of the domestic pen!)
Tall flanneled Evan Dando and his fantastic rhythm section wasted no time and unleashed a treasure trove of delicious catchy gems: “Into Your Arms,” “It’s About Time,” “Great Big No,” “Dawn Can’t Decide,” “Hospital.” Solo Dando tunes like “Hard Drive” and “It Looks Like You” were stand-outs as well as heavy drug dirge “Style” which saw Evan and Farley exchange instruments and Farley absolutely wailed all over the place! Following “Style” was an acoustic Evan set that put his warm, Fred Neil-style baritone front and center. And it wouldn’t be a proper Dando show without a generous helping of amazing country or folk covers like Townes van Zandt’s “I’ll Be Here in the Morning” and “Withered and Died” by Richard and Linda Thompson amongst ‘Heads classics like “Being Around” and “The Outdoor Type.”
At long last it was Ray time, with each glorious melody as bright and infectious as the first time I heard them. The band did pummel through them quickly, but for an album that is a hair under 30 minutes, maybe it just felt that way. I would listen to this CD in my car on trips back to Wisconsin like 300 times because of its seamless balance of starry-eyed guitar pop and bittersweet countrified ballads. Did I white-knuckle every time I heard the siren on “Kitchen”? Why, yes I did. It gets me every single time. This is a goddamned perfect album and the best song is “Hannah and Gabi” and I will fight you if you disagree.
The band wrapped up the title track and stage hands climbed aboard to set up a microphone stand next to Evan. This was it! Evan and Juliana! “My Drug Buddy”! And despite occasional disturbances from the horny middle-aged housewives next to me, the amber glow emanating from those two voices combined in holy musical harmony on the second best song on It’s a Shame About Ray, but probably the best Lemonheads song ever, “My Drug Buddy” could not be ignored. Goosebumps, my friends!
The bops didn’t stop, but Dando’s voice was starting to get a little hoarse. A minor inconvenience really considering 1500 people were singing along! The show came to a gentle close with the album’s quirky Hair cover “Frank Mills,” a song Evan did acapella, serenading a crowd already hungover from excitement. We left the house! We saw a great show! We didn’t get hit by a bus! Long live the Lemonheads! If you are interested in learning more about Evan Dando and his absolutely bonkers life in and out of the Lemonheads, I highly recommend you check out their episode on the excellent podcast Bandsplain.
LEMONHEADS (KC) photo: John |
LEMONHEADS- BILL STEVENSON (KC) photo: John |
LEMONHEADS (KC) photo: John |
LEMONHEADS- FARLEY GLAVIN (KC) photo: John |
LEMONHEADS (KC) photo: John
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LEMONHEADS- BILL STEVENSON (KC) photo: John |
LEMONHEADS (KC) photo: John |
BASS DRUM OF DEATH (KC) photo: John |
BASS DRUM OF DEATH (KC) photo: John
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BASS DRUM OF DEATH (KC) photo: John |
ON BEING AN ANGEL (KC) photo: John |
ON BEING AN ANGEL (KC) photo: John |
Bass Drum of Death (MN) photo: Blaire and Dan
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On Being an Angel (MN) photo: Blaire and Dan |
On Being an Angel (MN) photo: Blaire and Dan |
Bass Drum of Death (MN) photo: Blaire and Dan |
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The Lemonheads, with Juliana Hatfield, at First Avenue, Minneapolis (09 Dec 2022) photo: Blaire and Dan
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| john + emily ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com |
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