Evan Dando takes the stage perhaps finally beginning to look something like his age, but still sporting that handsome face which graced so many covers in the mid-nineties, and retaining the effortlessly smooth vocals that charmed their way into the UK top twenty, back then.
Before the billed run through 1992’s classic ‘It’s a Shame About Ray’ album, Dando warms up with a with a solo rendition of ‘Being Around’ from ‘Come On Feel the Lemonheads’. It’s another well-loved album of which we will hear plenty more, this evening.
After welcoming his bandmates on bass and drums, it’s onto the main event and they crack into ‘Rockin Stroll,’ which goes down a storm. For a long time the Lemonheads have been all but an alias for Evan Dando, but the hired hands put all they can into tonight’s show from the very start. Both borrowed from American Hi-Fi, drummer Brian Nolan is excellent, while bassist Drew Parsons puts plenty of dynamism into his performance, and adds colour to the songs through vocal harmonies.
The title track is delivered perfectly with Dando’s lungs impressively sustaining him through the extended “Raaaaaaay” chorus, matching the recorded version. Less revered tracks such as ‘Rudderless’ and ‘The Turnpike Down’ benefit from the live sound mix and are all received equally well, as old friends.
Dando concentrates so hard that at times he seems to be going cross-eyed and almost into some sort of trance. It’s easy to wonder whether this relates to some weariness from touring an album which was first given the ‘play in full’ treatment back in 2005, and again in 2008. Nevertheless, if he’s not overjoyed to play it, the audience are to hear it, and the songs all sound lively and fresh.
Having raced through ‘It’s A Shame About Ray,’ it’s onto the greatest hits/misses set, which includes a short solo interlude from the main man. The joyful selection of fan favourites features ‘The Great Big No,’ ‘Hospital,’ ‘Down About it,’ ‘Tenderfoot,’ and the punk-thrash workout of ‘Style.’ For the real Lemonheads geeks there are a smattering of more obscure songs, including a sweetly sung ‘Different Drum’ and to be quite honest, some tunes I didn’t recognise.
Evan Dando says “it’s great to be back in Glasgow,” and certainly his affection for this city is no doubt, as opposed to his enjoyment of playing through his most acclaimed album, yet again. But regardless, his strong vocals and the band’s tight playing do not waver throughout a gig which closes with a warm, solo rendition of ‘The Outdoor Type,’ and in which we get more than our money’s worth.