“AN EVENING WITH EVAN DANDO” proclaimed the ticket, not initially letting me into the secret of three fine supporting acts in what was eventually an epic 3 hour gig.
First up, local hero NIALL CONNOLLY in fine form on the verge of a busy summer of touring to promote his recent debut “Songs From A Corner” CD.
The all-standing crowd in the Half Moon may not have been Niall’s most attentive audience, yet he fared well during a solo set (no TOKEN MELLOW BAND tonight) consisting of mainly his quieter moments. Highlights included the sweet fingerpicking of “I Will Make A King Out Of You” (a homage to his father) and “Old Post Office Lane” – a timely meditation on street bound violence. His invitation to sing along on the closing “6 For A Fiver” was only taken up by a few audience members – your reviewer included – but he undoubtedly held his own on this bill.
With his previous credits including work with STEVE WYNN, COME, THALIA ZEDEK and WILLARD GRANT CONSPIRACY, CHRIS BROKAW is a man much in demand. Later, he will re-emerge as Mr. Dando’s electric guitarist, but first he’s here to present us with 6 solo songs. These included 3 instrumentals, a vaguely Turkish sounding opener, some pleasant countrified jangle and a heavily-distorted metal-ly solo reminiscent of LOU REED’S “Dorita.”
These were interspersed with 2 originals – PAVEMENT’S meandering mid-paced moments springing to mind – and a brooding cover of THE BAND/ DYLAN classic “This Wheel’s On Fire”. My mind wasn’t exactly blown, but piqued enough to think about examining his solo catalogue.
“I used to play in a band called THE VASELINES” announces EUGENE KELLY after his first number: “this was one of our songs.” He launches into “Molly’s Lips”; one of three tunes he plays made famous by KURT and the boys. Naturally, though, the biggest cheer is reserved for the recognition of the harmonica intro to “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam”, but at least half of us are zoned into “Son Of A Gun.”
However, there’s more to this Scotsman than his NIRVANA associations. There’s also “celebrity stalker anthem” “You Have My Sex”, and the sweet, touching, but fictional (his words) “I’m Done With Drugs”. By the end of his warmly-received set, Eugene feels we’ve bonded so well he wants to drink cheap wine from a brown paper bag in a car park with us afterwards. The old charmer.
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It’s around midnight when EVAN DANDO and CHRIS BROKAW launch into opener “Confetti”, leading us to fear of a truncated main set. All such worries prove groundless, though, as Evan and Chris deliver a 20+song, 2-encore set, exceeding 100 minutes.
Like EUGENE KELLY earlier on, Dando proves he has no problem playing songs made famous in a previous incarnation and tonight was heaven sent for any LEMONHEADS, er, heads, with the songs culled mostly from “It’s A Shame About Ray”, “Come On Feel The Lemonheads” and “Car Button Cloth”. He even apologises for playing new songs!
This apology is unnecessary, though, as his new material – often quite countrified and showing a definite HANDSOME FAMILY influence according to a friend of your reviewer – stands up confidently enough.
But, hell, it’s the oldies that stir strong vocal support from the crowd and the best moments included (deep breath): “Big Gay Heart”, “Into Your Arms,” “Buddy”, “The Turnpike Down”, the made for sing-along title-track of THE LEMONHEADS’ finest (half) hour and many more. Your reviewer’s personal fave? “The Outdoor Type” for the record.
Mr. Kelly returned to join in the first encore (“The Clyde River Song”) but Evan wasn’t gonna let go so quickly and succumbed a second time with “Frank Mills” for the hardcore fans and finally threw in the towel after a jubilant “Being Around.”
In all fairness, his set didn’t truly catch fire until 30 minutes in (circa “Great Big No”), but as the clock ticked towards 2AM, departing punters – long time fans and casuals alike – were united in hoping EVAN DANDO’S first Cork performance won’t be his last.
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