The Lemonheads / Meredith Sheldon / The Shining Twins

Unfortunately the stupid 50 mph limit which seems to stretch on longer every time I use the M62 means that I miss The Shining Twins, but a friend tells me they look like Biffy Clyro but sound like Death Cab For Cutie.



Interesting mix, somebody obviously went to see the Foo Fighters at Milton Keynes this year as they were both supporting.... I nearly miss main support Meredith Sheldon too, but catch a couple of beautiful solo songs with her strong deep vocals and electric guitar playing. Formally of The Ben Taylor Band, and Family of the Year, this young lass who has been playing over a decade will go far with her indie folk rock.

It's a very laid back gig, as Evan Dando gets on stage and does his own sound check. A few older ladies on the barrier are screaming at the former teen heartthrob like they are 15 year old Bieber fans at a show for the pop 'nugget'. Hair in his face, grungy clothes on, the guy dresses as he did back in 1992. Though aged slightly, we are talking aged like a fine whiskey, still tasty! Make way old lasses I'm joining ya down the front!

Testing the sound check Dando plays a solo version of 'Being Around' just to warm the crowd up. Then it's onto 'Rockin’ Stroll', the first track of the album they are playing in its entirety tonight, 'It's A Shame About Ray'. The title track urges a huge sing a long from the extremely varied crowd. There are young student types here, and quite old and dare I say "hard looking" blokes here creating a little pop mosh pit, which keeps me amused throughout the show. Wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alleyway, but stick a bit of Lemonheads on and he'll be your best friend! Talk about Frank Mills!



There is very little chatter between the songs and they are thrown at the crowd with great speed but sounding as well as they did in 1992. Dando is the only original Lemonhead left, but he is joined here by Brian Nolan (American Hi-Fi) on drums and Josh Lattanzi (The Candles) on bass, who do an excellent job of adding a rockier sound to these songs. Obviously ex-bassist Juliana Hatfield's sweet vocals are missing, and Lattanzi tries his best to fill in for them, as does the crowd on songs like 'My Drug Buddy'. 'Rudderless' and 'Alison's Starting To Happen' are stand outs from this album and come across excellent with this harder sound. 'Frank Mills', from the musical ‘Hair’ is sang by a solo Dando but he is backed by almost everyone in the room who can remember the words... "And on the back, were written the names... Mary, and Mum, and Hell's Angels!"

'Mrs Robinson' is gratefully not played tonight, as it wasn't on the original album release but was forced on by the record company when it was re-pressed. Wondering what would happen when all 38 minutes of 'It's A Shame...' had finished, Dando stays on stage to play more hits, both solo and with the band. Classics from 'Come On Feel The Lemonheads' and 'Car Button Cloth' go down a storm, plus 'No Backbone' from the later self-titled album.

To accompany the songs there are to screen above the band showing what looks like footage from their travels on tour, mainly a camera planted in the van windscreen capturing dark, wet roads (must be in the UK!). The best part is where there are multiple tries on a toy grabber machine, and just at the end of the current song a stuffed monkey is won!

For the encore Dando appears and brings Sheldon back to perform a duet of 'New Mexico' from the cover album 'Varshons', originally by FuckEmos. Both looking on a sheet for the words or chords and with a varying microphone level from Sheldon it's a bit of a ramshackle attempt but lovely to hear at the same time, their voices complement each other so well.



This is followed by a cover by all the band of 'Divan' by Australian 90's rock band Smudge, who's frontman Tom Morgan wrote and co-wrote a lot of the Lemonheads songs. What a thank you!

And there are more songs to come, like Dando solo again for 'Favourite T' and 'Ride with Me' from older Lemonheads album 'Lovey' (as the previous 'Stove' was). Funny enough but not surprisingly there is nothing from his solo album despite all these solo performances... nice to keep it all Lemonheads though.

And just when you think these songs are winding the set down, Lattanzi and Nolan return to rock it up again with 'The Great Big No', 'Style' (the faster version not the slower Rick James' 'Style') and ending with 'Into Your Arms'. What a set! Yes It does feel like the time has flown by with the no nonsense delivery, but for over an hour and a half we were all transported back to 1992, and loved every minute of it.

Set list:
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 and Gabi
Ceiling Fan In My Spoon
Kitchen
Frank Mills
The Outdoor Type
Frying Pan
It's About Time
All My Life
Down About It
Hospital
No Backbone
Tenderfoot
Stove
If I Could Talk I'd Tell You

New Mexico
Divan
Favorite T
Ride With Me
The Great Big No
Style
Into Your Arms

FUTURE GIGS

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