The Lemonheads performing at Thalia Hall in Chicago on May 10, 2019
The Lemonheads took to the stage on Friday, May 10, at Chicago’s Thalia Hall for a crowd-pleasing set, which saw founding member Evan Dando and company playing an eclectic mix of fan favs, solo tracks and twangy covers. The Chicago stop was part of a larger North American tour in support of the slack rockers’ latest studio release, Varshons 2 — released last February — which sees the laid back Dando covering a wide range of artists, from Yo La Tengo to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds to Florida Georgia Line.
Likewise, there were a number of covers played throughout the night from the new LP (and its predecessor Varshons 1) including enjoyable country-tinged renditions of John Prine’s “Speed of The Sound of Loneliness” and Lucinda Williams’ “Abandoned.” A light and airy performance of Gram Parsons’ “I Just Can’t Take It Anymore” had fans bopping, while an earlier cover of “Old Man Blank” (The Bevis Frond) gave the band’s drummer a chance to let loose.
The Lemonheads performing at Thalia Hall in Chicago on May 10, 2019
Nostalgia seekers were not left hanging as Dando single-handedly resurrected the ’90s with a healthy serving of treasured tracks from the band’s most beloved albums. Fans took a welcome trip back with forgotten favorites from 1992’s It’s A Shame About Ray with spot-on renditions of “The Turnpike Down,” Rudderless” and “My Drug Buddy,” among others. Not surprisingly, the album’s melancholy title track prompted one of the show’s many highlights, uniting fans in a reminiscent venue-wide sing-along.
Come On Feel The Lemonheads also received a lot of love over the course of the night, acting as a sort of through-line for the group’s performance. Set opener “Down About It” had fans moving right out of the gates, prior to segueing into the more mellow “It’s About Time.” A catchy rendition of “The Great Big No” entranced listeners, while the more aggressive “Style” saw the group exploring their darker side.
The Lemonheads performing at Thalia Hall in Chicago on May 10, 2019
Deeper in the set, the band left the stage, giving Dando a moment to spread his wings in true solo fashion. The infectious “Being Around” and Smudge original “Outdoor Type” were among the handful of tunes performed without accompaniment, along with an interesting interpretation of the Eagles’ “Take it Easy,” which featured some intermittent distorted jamming from the frontman.
Earlier in the night, former Replacements’ bassist Tommy Stinson warmed things up with a stripped down set including solo material as well as some tunes from his Cowboys In The Campfire project.
The Lemonheads, with opener Stinson, will continue their tour across the U.S. through June.
Check out our gallery of Friday night’s show at Chicago’s Thalia Hall below.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
