The Lemonheads, with lead man and founding member Evan Dando, a Vineyard regular, will make the final stop of their recent New England summer concert tour at Flatbread Co. at the airport in Edgartown on July 26. The band played in Boston, Providence, and Brooklyn among other locations prior to their Vineyard show. The show will be opened by Island musicians, Erich Luening and Colin Ruel.
The alternative rock group made waves in the music world soon after their founding in 1986 with Dando’s spirited and often irreverent tunes. The band first achieved success with a mass audience in 1992 with the major label album, “It’s a Shame About Ray.”
The Lemonheads were joined on their most recent tour in Providence by a band led by Vineyard regular Colin Ruel. Mr. Ruel’s latest CD, produced by Junko Records and released last week, is called “Ocellus.” The CD is an indie, psych, rock, sound explosion that includes contributions from Island musicians Willy Mason, Nina Violet, Sam Mason, and Sam Decker.
Erich Luening’s latest CD, also a Junko Records production, is called “Red Flags.” It is a rollicking indie rock album that is a melodic and heartfelt exploration of ideas close to him. There are songs and videos of both Mr. Luening and Mr. Ruel at junkorecords.com.
The Lemonheads most recent album of new recordings is their 2009 “Varshons.” It is filled with an unusual collection of material and artists. From songs by G.G. Allin to Texas troubadour Townes Van Zandt and garage rockers The Green Fuz, the Lemonheads make each track their own, with help from actress Liv Tyler, who sings back up on Leonard Cohen’s “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye,” and model Kate Moss, who sings over the dance groove of Arling & Cameron’s “Dirty Robot.”
Also featured on lead guitar and backing vocals throughout most of the album is John Perry, on loan from The Only Ones. Filled with obscure nuggets, the tracks on “Varshons” cut a wide swath, jumping from early British psychedelic to Dutch electronica.
In December of 2011 a 47-song, two CD collection of Lemonheads recordings for Atlantic Records from the ’90s called Laughing All the Way to the Cleaners/Best of Lemon, was released to reviews that praised the consistency of Mr. Dando’s songwriting.
Music: The Lemonheads, Friday, July 26, 9 pm, Flatbread Co., Edgartown (M.V. Airport). Colin Ruel and Erich Luening opening. Presented by TPS Music. $20. flatbreadcompany.com.
