This past Saturday night, The Lemonheads made a stop at The Town Ballroom in Buffalo, NY. The trio was scheduled to play their 1992 album “There’s Something About Ray,” in it’s entirety.
When it was time for the band to take the stage, Evan Dando walked out with a paper plate and an acoustic guitar. He plopped the paper plate (setlist) on the stage and mumbled, “I need to warm up.” When he started into “The Outdoor Type,” the crowd on cue, joined right in.
They played through the 12-song album in under a half an hour, after which they continued with another 13 songs, some in bits and pieces. Picking songs as they went along, similar to a garage band jam session, Evan had to continually count the band in. The last 5 or 6 songs (I couldn’t tell when one song finished and another began) Evan again played alone.
When he finished up, he thanked the crowd and hurried off the stage, The crowd began chanting “Lemonheads!” and “We want more!” The house lights came up, the venue began to empty, and I headed for the exit. Had I not stopped to talk to a friend for 15 minutes, I would’ve missed the encore! Evan came back out and stumbled through another 11 songs, forgetting lyrics as he went along and needing the crowd to remind him. He jumped from one song to the next, never finishing one before starting the next, or abruptly stopping and saying “fuck it.”
At the end of the night, the show turned out to be a disappointment, Evan was a mess and the band was sloppy. I was hoping for a bit of nostalgia, I guess for some those days are gone for good.
Set List:
The Outdoor Type
Into Your Arms
All My Life
Being Around
Rockin Stroll
Confetti
It’s a Shame About Ray
Rudderless
My Drug Buddy
The Turnpike Down
Bit Part
Alison’s Starting To Happen
Hannah & Gabi
Kitchen
Ceiling Fan In My Spoon
Frank Mills
Hospital
The Great Big No
Down About It
Big Gay Heart
Style
If I Could Talk I’d Tell You
Tenderfoot
My Idea
Into Your Arms
Divan
Repeat
Ride With Me
It’s About Time
Encore:
Different Drum
Shaky Ground
Clang Bang Clang (aka Left For Dead)
Green Eyes (failed attempt at the Husker Du song)
Mallo Cup
1000 Dollar Wedding
Long Black Limousine
Frying Pan
Favorite T
Repeat
In The Grass All Wine Colored
Why Do You Do This To Yourself
We would like to thank Amy Welch of Charm School PR for allowing BackstageAxxess to review the show.
