Being in the USA at the same time as Evan Dando is doing a solo tour, always seemed like too good an opportunity to miss. So, I headed up from Philadelphia to an absolutely freezing cold New York - to see Evan Dando play, then to catch the Arsenal vs Man U game in Nevada Smiths the following morning. The gig was in Joe's Pub, a weird gig venue that was almost like a dinner show - doors opened at 6, most of the audience had a dinner reservation (with a minimum $12 spend per person), the show ran from 7 until 8:15, then we all got thrown out so that another show (with another set of dinner reservations) could kick off at 9pm. Very strange indeed.
So, without any support act, Evan Dando walked on stage just after 7pm, tuned his guitar for a minute or two, then started playing Confetti. This was very well received, so he played a number of other songs - Lemonheads songs, his solo songs, and the now expected covers. All of this was played with an excellent sounding Fender guitar, and for some of the songs he had Chris Brokaw helping him as well. Obvious highlights were his versions of Style, No Backbone, Tenderfoot and the set closer Layin Up With Linda - but really, the whole set was packed with great songs.As an Evan Dando gig, this was fairly standard, the songs came thick and fast, he barely said a word as he fell straight from one song into the next, and it all sounded excellent. It struck me as a strange place to be playing, as people ate their pasta for dinner, but there we go. I enjoyed the set very much - but still think that nothing beats a full, electric, plugged in Lemonheads set. So, whilst this was very good, it left me wanting more - and thinking about just how good the full band are.
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