This reviewer was six when It’s a Shame about Ray came out in 1992, whereas 90% of the crowd at this show were probably closer to 16. This was the softcore grunge soundtrack to their teenage years and they loved the gig.
It was like being an interloper at a religious ceremony. The Academy dancefloor was packed with acolytes singing along to every word. When Evan Dando picked up the acoustic for a solo set, he was greeted with reverent silence. The Shiny-Haired One is as pretty-looking as ever.
As reunion gigs go, this was pretty damn good. There was loads of new material, and you never felt you were listening to a band past their peak. And there were enough classic choons (from the ‘Confetti’ opener to singalong favourite ‘Style’) to please those who had resurrected ancient flannel shirts from their long hibernation in the bottom of the hot press.
Of the songs from the 2009 covers album Varshons, GG Allin’s ‘Layin’ up with Linda’ stands out. Dando is a charming enough stage presence to make even Allin’s piss-poor lyrics sound simultaneously menacing and funny (“Then one day I just got bored and killed her/ but she used to be fun”).
Whatever about old Ray, it’s a shame about that ‘Mrs Robinson’ cover. They didn’t play it, or their other really big hit, ‘Into Your Arms’. One moment of Simon & Garfunkel tribute madness has overshadowed Dando’s career, obscuring the fact that he’s a really excellent guitarist and can pen a quality song when he wants to. The current incarnation of The Lemonheads – Vess Ruhtenburg on bass and Devon Ashley on drums – is tighter than tight. A good time had by all, whether you remember the early ‘90s or not.