The Lemonheads live at The 1865, Southampton (23.9.2026) with Bottlemoth supporting.
My last Lemonheads gig was here, October 2022 (blog), and it was a performance disaster. I thought, that’s it..but when the opportunity came round again, I thought OK I will give Evan Dando one more go, and I’m relieved to say that I’m very glad I did.
I continue to update my 1865 Venue Blog with every visit, for more background details on getting here and being here.
I get in about 7.30 pm and found somewhere to sit until the Lemonheads set. This isn’t easy usually but I take a bit of bench seat near the merch stand – on my own tonight. A well stocked merch stand it is to. Lemonheads’ rainwear, Evan Dando’s artwork and the ‘Outdoor Type’ pennants.
Support band, Bottlemoth, have their own merch stand, including copies of their first 2024 LP, Even Us Ghosts. They’ve been going a couple of years and hearing their set for the first time I was instantly impressed and yes I would book to see them separately.
Three-piece, guitar heavy but not thrashy. Very fitting to The Lemonheads most popular period. Their website and bios make reference to The Gaslight Anthem, a band who’s guitar sound I love.
I read that they are Bristol based and a five piece usually but playing tonight as a three. It’s a pretty full sound for three.
A slight nervousness in the room as The Lemonheads take the 1865 stage. Evan Dando doesn’t look entirely confident of what plugs in where, for such an experienced performer.
He looks trimmer and tidier than his last visit here four years ago. Smart jacket. The band is a three-piece but I don’t catch or find the drummer’s or bassist’s names – Dando is the sole original.
The bass and drums are tight. Dando’s guitar less so but it’s all working great. The Dando vocals have that distinct drawl, giving the classic Lemonheads’ sound.
So many engrained tunes in my head, but still I don’t know everything. The ones the stick have the memorable lyrics to go with them. There is a giant man stood in the way for a significant part of the far left hand side of the audience, so I moved around to the right side after a bit. It’s not that busy – in the just full enough bracket. People have come to see the legendary Dando and quietly sing along rather than go wild. It’s relaxing.
Bit Part saw some extra female vocals and the screamy entrée. Shame About Ray a classic.
The middle section is Dando solo – it’s the best bit, surprisingly. His mellow voice is still a beautiful thing, aged now and a little croaky in a rustic way.
The Outdoor Type was quite brilliant, with its clear and humourous lyrics. From the 1996 Car Button Cloth LP, it includes the lines:
“Too scared to let you know;
You knew what you were looking for;
I lied until I fit the bill;
God bless the great indoors;
I lied about being the outdoor type;
I’ve never owned a sleeping bag;
Let alone a mountain bike.
I can’t go away with you on a rock climbing weekend;
What if something’s on TV, and it’s never shown again?” Brilliant.
Big Gay Heart is another quietly sung along classic in the acoustic solo section. Great moments these. So glad I decided to give The Lemonheads another go.
The final section sees the band back on stage and the pace picks up again. I went home happy. No wildly cheered encores but a sense of calm…and in my case relief that Dando was on it tonight.
