It's a testament to the strength of Evan Dando's pull in the UK as an alternative pin-up that he's managed to sell out two dates at a 3,000 capacity venue. After all, it's a full decade ago that the former Lemonhead shot to fame from the US underground to something approaching a global phenomenon.
Since then Dando has dropped into obscurity - developing a near-fatal hard drug habit, finding a way out of the abyss and now, as he appears tonight, finding comfort in his sobriety. Almost alarmingly, appearance-wise he has changed little - the same long blonde mane and student-geek wardrobe. The crowd gives him away though - there are very few here below the age of thirty.
His general demeanour is certainly that of a man who has been given a second chance - he is polite, amiable and a perfectionist. "I didn't ask for the mic at this level", he informs us, grappling with it while tuning up his guitar. Starting off with just his guitar for company and reading music from a sheet, it would be tempting to criticise him for the simplicity of his four chord tunes if he didn't have such a talent for writing killer pop songs and wonderfully plaintive melodies.
He gives us a mixed bag of old and new material - and while it's favourites like 'Down About It' and 'It's A Shame About Ray' that get the crowd going - the country rock sounds of new album 'Baby I'm Bored' produce as many highlights. 'In the Grass All Wine Colored' floats along majestically reminding us of the wonderful summer day we'll never see in the month of May, while on 'All My Life', he rejoices in just being alive.
"All my life, I thought I needed all the things I didn't need at all," he drawls like a disappointed yet hopeful former drug addict/lover/born again. Similarly 'Big Gay Heart' from 1993's 'Come On...' album sounds as poignant and emotionally wrought today as it did ten years ago.
Here's to a revitalised, wiser, more philosophical but equally talented slacker.
