December 4, 2006

I know a place that’s safe and warm: Lemonheads @ the Bluebird Theatre

Somehow in my 12+ years of fandom, I’d never made it to see Evan Dando and Co. in concert before Saturday night’s show with “The Lemonheads” at the Bluebird Theatre in Denver. There was a deep sense of goodness & nostalgia permeating the show, which I was more excited about than any show I’ve seen recently.

The warm and golden voice of Evan Dando soundtracks many many good memories for me, and I’ve loved him from his early days of alternative poster-boyhood (with the flowing long hair), through his Oasis/party hearty/crack cocaine days (though I was with you on that ‘what’re you doin’ man?‘ train of thought), the solo albums, on up to this year with the fantastic new Lemonheads album.

(yes, that photo’s upside down)

On a freeeezing Saturday night, the venue was intimate, the setlist fabulously varied, and Dando was still rocking the stoner-sailor look with a striped long-sleeved shirt, although a bit older (aren’t we all?). The crowd was a mix of reminiscing fans in their 30s-40s and beyond, some barely 21-plus who probably were playing kickball on the blacktop when It’s A Shame About Ray came out, and the same enthusiastic Japanese girl from the Ben Kweller show a few months ago who brought presents for the performers and pom poms for cheering.

Check out some video: the stage was quite dark so photos didn’t turn out too hot.

GREAT BIG NO (loooooove the way this video turned out once the song starts – gorgeous lighting, sounds fantastic)

THE OUTDOOR TYPE (a divergence from the setlist, a happy surprise)

INTO YOUR ARMS (also a bonus, a lovely little acoustic version, just a minute and a half of sweet goodness)

MORE VIDEOS: It’s About Time (audio is pretty out-of-control fuzzy loud, sorry), Become The Enemy (love this from the new album, again watch the fuzz-audio), and a snippet of My Drug Buddy (which I think I may have been, uh, singing backup to as I filmed). Also very good were the renditions of Ride With Me and Rudderless, but I didn’t get video. And he did Being Around, which you either love or hate, eh?

The impending concert date inspired me to go into the basement and open my box of high school ephemera in search of a little tongue-in-cheek zine I ordered back in the day called “Die Evan Dando, Die.” At least I hope it’s a joke.

I think the author of this photocopied, hand-addressed bit of ’90s lore was just jealous of Evan’s sunny good looks, and annoyed with his sensitive-strummer persona.

If I had gotten to talk with Evan (I didn’t), I was considering asking him to sign it, but also a little worried that he’d think it was a bit scary (and me as well, by extension). So I think that maybe it worked out for the best for everyone involved that’s he’s a bit reclusive nowadays after shows.

Here is a helpful guide from the zine, which I hope you can read because it’s awesome:


LISTEN: Lemonheads on NPR last month

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11 Comments

  • According to the scan, he can’t listen to the Descendants?

    Ironic considering that half the Descendants members are his new backing band!

    Anonymous — December 4, 2006 @ 10:28 am

  • into your arms = perfect. the dando is coming to visit me in two weeks. i totally should have stayed.

    c — December 4, 2006 @ 12:53 pm

  • He opened with Hannah & Gabbi? Sigh. One of my all time favorite songs. Ever! Great post.

    Jesse a.k.a. The Vicar — December 4, 2006 @ 1:47 pm

  • jesse, I’m pretty sure he started with Big Gay Heart, actually. that setlist was moderately followed.

    heather — December 4, 2006 @ 2:55 pm

  • We’re practically the same person. I had a ticket to see this show in SLC last weekend, but decided to opt out at the last minute. Glad you enjoyed!

    Dainon — December 4, 2006 @ 3:09 pm

  • i am so jealous, that sounds so completely rad

    tad — December 4, 2006 @ 9:50 pm

  • the l’heads show i saw at roseland in new york, 1994 was an all time highlight – and would have been even if courtney love hadn’t shown up for a i’m-completely=cracked-out-my-husband-
    just-killed-himself
    duet on ‘miss world’ and ‘doll parts’.

    moe "simon metz" berg — December 5, 2006 @ 8:24 am

  • If Dando was a chick, he be the hottest chick ever. I mean, after my wife of course (love ya babe.)

    Ben — December 5, 2006 @ 3:42 pm

  • so, i redid my blog. just because i was up really late. i alterd the banner i made for you, i feel kinda bad, but you wern’t using it and i didn’t want all the hard work and time i spent on it go to waste. but please tell me what you think of my new design. hope you forgive me!

    Ledbelly — December 5, 2006 @ 5:43 pm

  • Nice work on the L-heads, Heather: thanks!

    Heck, I would have left after “Hannah & Gabi” — that song alone would have made for a perfect L-Heads gig :)

    Cheers!

    Anonymous — December 5, 2006 @ 8:25 pm

  • how was vietnam?

    Julio Enriquez — December 7, 2006 @ 10:53 am

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Bio Pic Name: Heather Browne
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California
Giving context to the torrent since 2005.

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel."
—Hunter S. Thompson

Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.

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