Review of Lemonheads live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London

14th September 2005

by Lisa Verrico from The Times

 

The latest in the series of London shows at which bands play their best-known album in its entirety saw the Lemonheads at Shepherds Bush with It's A Shame About Ray. Or rather, the former grunge-pop pin-up Evan Dando (and two musicians he introduced simply as Josh and Bill) with a set that was more of a Lemonheads Best Of collection.

Released twice in 1992 - it failed to chart the first time, but became the band's breakthrough when their Top Ten cover of Simon and Garfunkel's Mrs Robinson was tagged on the end - It's A Shame About Ray is a charming album of laid-back pop-rock, notable mostly for Dando's simple, but smart, observational lyrics.

A classic that could sustain its own concert though? Not really, although so many people turned up to see Dando try that the Empire opened all thre of its tiers.

The obvious problem with Ray is its length. Clocking in at under half an hour, it was always more of a short, sweet stroll than a walk that went anywhere. Another hitch, that became apparent quite quickly, was that some of Ray's songs required female backing vocals, originally supplied by the Lemonheads member Juliana Hatfield.

Lastly - and this was the big disappointment for the thirty-something women in the audience - Dando is no longer the cute, dishevelled surfer-style dude he was when fame first came calling. His hair was still long, poker-straight and side-parted, but he no longer dyes it himbo blond and his buttoned-up bright red shirt and fawn cords had zero sex appeal.

Still, this was a night about songs, and much of Ray, played it its original running order, but minus Mrs Robinson, had stood the test of time.

The title track, the singalong single Confetti, a rocky Rudderless, daft ditty My Drug Buddy and the marvellous Alison's Starting To Happen were all greeted with whoops of goodwill and a warm wave of nostalgia. Bit Part allowed Dando to involve the audience in some call-and-response singing, but Turnpike Down, Hannah and Gabi and Kitchen fell flat and few fans appeared even to remember the album closer Frank Mills.

Dando redeemed himself by playing another half an hour of Lemonheads favourites, including Into Your Arms, Hospital and If I Could Talk I'd Tell You. Some chat would have been nice and an appearance by Hatfield a boost, but whatever Dando does next, his brief Nineties heyday will be remembered with affection.

3/5

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