It's a Shame about Phones: An Interview with The Lemonheads' Evan Dando

Listen Up Toledo  |  01/16/2012 7:00 am

Early '90s rock legends The Lemonheads make a special visit to Frankie's this week. Celebrating 20 years since the release of his seminal album, It's a Shame about Ray, singer/songwriter and original Lemonhead Evan Dando is touring, playing the record in its entirety. As famous for his non-musical antics and brutal honesty as he is for them, Dando is a captivating figure, and an intimidating interview. Thankfully, Toledo.com caught up with him quick at his hotel in Connecticut before a show. Unfortunately, the interview was delayed and shrouded in phone troubles, so, here's what survived from our fuzzy, scratchy, choppy seven-minute conversation.

Be sure to catch The Lemonheads at Frankie's Inner City (308 Main St.) on Tuesday, January 17. Doors at 8pm, music at 9pm. Openers include Hound, and The Shining Twins. $15 advance, $17 at the door. www.frankiesinnercity.com

It's hard for me to believe this record is 20 years old, it's got to be weird for you. How's it been revisiting this album in total?

It's something to do while I finish my new record, I really don't mind playing the songs. They seem to stand up over the years. It's fun.

Going back through, have you learned much about your younger self? Is there anything in these that maybe you didn't see then that you see now?

That might be a stretch. … Wow, this is just crazy, I can't even talk, I just hear echoing … um, anyway, uh, yeah … No. These songs are just songs, I just sing 'em, I don't really think much about them.

I didn't know until recently that Juliana Hatfield was involved in the recording, and that the two of you have had a long-standing creative partnership. How did you meet?

We met in 1986, we were just starting our bands, both of us. We played together a lot at local shows. We were just best friends for a really long time, and still are. So, she helped me play bass on the record. We recently went on tour together.

I know you two did the Gram Parsons cover, and it got me thinking that for the time ? in the early '90s ? The Lemonheads were one of few groups bringing country into the kind of college/indie/alt-rock scene ? whatever yo want to call it ? was he the influence for that, was his influence always there?
Yeah, he's been a huge influence on me since like 1988. I wrote a song back them called “Ride with Me,” and my friends said it reminded him of Gram Parsons, so he gave me the records to listen to. So it was kind of a reverse getting into it. It was interesting.

That time was over-crowded with so much other stuff, it's interesting to see how bands with roots-based elements have stayed relevant, and stuff that was more commercially successful at the time has kind of wained.

Yeah.

That said, The Lemonheads somewhat got shrouded by the Seattle grunge scene and just how commercially mainstream that became. As opposed to, say, Nirvana, do you think that's helped you stick it out and maintain some longevity?

No, I think we got a really fair shake, and got a real shot. We've always been lucky. I don't think in terms of comparing myself to other bands. I'm just happy to be still doing it. And I have no complaints about whatever kind of popularity or whatever.

Sure, I ?

I cannot understand you at all, I can't make out your words, I'm sorry. The connection is too bad, I can't continue this, I'm sorry.

Alright, thanks.

I really can't hear you.
 

OK, thanks for your time.

Thank you.