Evan Dando and the Lemonheads bring "It's a Shame About Ray" to Grand Rapids this week.
THE LEMONHEADS
7 p.m. Thursday
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Special guest: Radiator Hospital
The Intersection (front lounge)
$15 in advance, $17 at the door day of show
I sat down last night and listened to The Lemonheads’ “It’s a Shame About Ray,” which I haven’t dug up since, well, the early ’90s, when it made a splash of sorts and found itself in regular rotation in my stereo system. I quickly began to understand why Evan Dando and his bandmates have chosen to play the album in its entirety on their current U.S. tour, which stops Thursday at The Intersection in Grand Rapids.
This is that rare sort of ’90s recording that actually holds up well; in fact, The Lemonheads sound like they could be 2012’s latest indie-rock sensation. So while the album may have made its biggest impact with a pretty groovy cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson,” Dando’s songwriting shines in much the same way as Paul Westerberg or Michael Stipe or even Elvis Costello, meshing punk and pop in a rootsy way.
The band has just released a career-spanning, 47-track set in the U.K., and will release the acoustic “Hotel Sessions” in February. Might be the resurgence of something special almost two decades after “Ray,” and Grand Rapidians can catch it all in intimate fashion in The Intersection’s front lounge this week. (Sure, bluesman and consummate stage performer Keb’ Mo’ plays the ‘Section’s main showroom on Saturday, but that’s clearly an above-the-radar affair, don’t you think? In any case, for those who’ve never seen Keb’, you won’t be disappointed.)
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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPwM2kjAguI&w=640&h=480]Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
Thanks for reminding me about these guys. Its a Shame About Ray was released when I was in high school and I’ve always loved the song but haven’t bought the album for my collection, yet. I will have to go out and get it soon.