Lemonheads live at Duchess of York, Leeds
Review by Ian Cheek from Sounds 21st July 1990
LEMONHEADS/
SHUDDER TO THINK
Leeds Duchess Of York
"WE'RE GODDAM pissed off
now!" announces Shudder To
Think's extraordinary vocalist
Craig Wedren as their version
of Hendrix' 'Crosstown
Traffic' becomes ensnared in
some guitar technicality.
When they successfully
return to it, the song is an
immense, reverent tribute,
yet barely a patch on their
own compositions.
As far as enjoying an equal
sense of power, Shudder To
Think do share an affinity with
hardcore, but there the
similarity ends. They are
distinguished by Wedren's
classically-trained voice, a
soaring, exquisite creation
offset by adrenal in-charged
rhythms and scorching
guitars. A forty minute set
restricts their opportunities
but the sheer escapist delight
of 'Vacation Brain' and the
lyrical dream-sequence'Rag',
quivering with perverse logic,
are both happily included. For
tonight at the very least,
Shudder To Think are the
finest band in the whole
damned world.
Lemonheads are in equally
sparkling yet understandably
moody form. The animation
of the audience could easily
be mistaken for hostility so
the band take few chances:
Evan Dando's mic is clattered
to the ground seconds into
the opening song, followed
quickly by his guitar, thrown
away in disgust.
The band look forlorn,
having to consciously stand
away from the crowd to avoid possible injury, yet almost
miraculously their set hardly
suffers. It's a strange breed of
new and old; unannounced
tracks from the next LP mingle
with 'Hate Your Friends' and 'I
Don't Wanna' from '87's first,
hysterical fervour greeting
everything.
They wouldn't be The
Lemonheads without a few
covers though, and tonight
sees some inspired choices.
'Different Drum' is harder
than its recorded twin, guitar
and bass all but drowning the
vocal, whilst'Luka' is given a
strength and poise lacking
from the original. They close
with a brilliant, spellbinding
version of Madonna's
'Borderline' before retiring
with a look of obvious relief,
having uttered barely a word
throughout.
Few of the audience were
aware this was the current
Lemonheads' last ever show.
When the dust has died and
the realisation dawned, many
will doubtless feel privileged
to have been there.
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