Evan Dando live at Whelans, Dublin
15th February 2001
Review by Carol Keogh of cluas.com
By the time Evan Dando lollop(alooza)s
onto the stage the venue has become a fractious sweat-mart. Those who are
not fused by the elbow to their nearest neighbour put their hands together
in grateful applause for the man of the evening. Lifting his electric guitar,
with no time wasted - launching into an unrelenting slew of pop-country sherbets
to remind us of the quantity he has penned. Opening with 'It's A Shame About
Ray' and leading us through a medley of favourite Ts, in the midst of which
a new song is slyly inserted; a slow burner in keeping with the low-key personality
of Lemonheads' last album, 'Car Button Cloth'.
'I can't believe I slid so far…' So far the songs are given
an effectual and even-handed treatment, but suspicion arises that our protagonist
may be playing this one for himself alone - trashing out the middle eights,
leaning between songs into the next number, and staring ahead for the most
part - then… turning to skull two tequila shots, leaving the empty twin
glasses on the amp - back to the centre for 'My Drug Buddy', followed sharpish
by 'Big Gay Heart' and lo… it appears that Evan Dando is having fun.
On to the end, and an encore, joined by support act Ben Kwellor (and the remainder
of the Sauza bottle) for a warmly shared rendition of 'Knoxville Girl'. Two
swigs more and a shout for Mike Nesmith' s 'Different Drum' - a Lemonheads
live staple - yields a supple reading. A spat at the keyboard (Kwellor's),
an hilarious raggedy version of Hank William's 'Setting The Woods On Fire'
and… alas poor feet! Giving in to my bad choice of gig-shoes, I leave
sweet Evan still playing the lovin' crowd, to the words 'I don't wanna'
overstay my welcome'.
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