The Lemonheads – live at Sheffield Lead Mill, Sheffield – August 4, 1993 – Band soundboard –
The Lemonheads tonight. Beginning life in 1986 and going on hiatus in 1997 before picking it up again in 2005, the one consistent member of the band in all this time has been vocalist and guitarist Evan Dando.
That’s not to say it’s been tough keeping a band together; it’s just a lot of talent has come in and out and gone on to other things, and there have been a number of successful off-shoots in the process.
Forming in 1986 as a heavily punk-influenced band, The Lemonheads transitioned over to Alternative and made a huge dent with college audiences in the late 80s. They made their performing debut on August 19, 1986
After getting good word of mouth, and heavy airplay of their initial albums via College Radio, their debut album for a major label (Atlantic) yielded Lovey, which became laid the groundwork for their breakthrough album, It’s A Shame About Ray, which was enthusiastically received by the Press as a successful milestone for the band.
As time went on, problems started to crop up with the band and with founder Dando, who admitted in the mid-1990’s to a crack-cocaine habit. The Lemonheads would go on hiatus at the end of 1997 and reunite in 2005 with a rejuvenated Evan Dando back at the helm.
Tonight’s concert comes from their It’s A Shame About Ray period. Having released their milestone album in June of 1992, with the single Mrs. Robinson, originally done by Simon and Garfunkel, released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film The Graduate. They are on tour of Europe when this gig at Sheffield in the UK manages to be recorded for posterity.
One of the bands at the tip of the Grunge tsunami in the late 1980s, The Lemonheads have weathered a number of changes and storms and are still very much around, having released their latest album, Varshons in 2009.
if you haven’t come into contact with them yet, here is a good place to get started on your familiarity with The Lemonheads.
From August 4, 1993 – it’s suggested you play this one loud, just to get the feel of it.
