The Lemonheads

On 25 September 2026 at O2 Academy Liverpool, The Lemonheads bring Evan Dando’s restless songbook back on stage. Formed in Boston in 1986 by Dando with Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz, the band grew from punk and college rock roots into a melodic strain of alternative rock, where jangle, power-pop bite and folk-tinged pauses share the same space. Early albums like Hate Your Friends, Creator, Lick and Lovey set the pace before It’s a Shame About Ray (1992) defined their balance of tight guitars, concise writing and a knack for reimagining classics, including their take on Mrs. Robinson. Around Dando, the only constant, the lineup has shifted — with Juliana Hatfield, Nic Dalton and others passing through — while Come on Feel the Lemonheads (1993) pushed brighter refrains and Car Button Cloth (1996) explored a darker corner.

After a pause at the end of the 1990s, the band restarted in 2005 with new players, released a self-titled album in 2006, and later opened the catalog to covers on Varshons (2009) and Varshons 2 (2019). On stage, that history becomes a set that moves from fuzzy rush to stripped-back confession, driven by Dando’s voice and an ear for melodies that stick without fuss.