Lemonheads still sweet, not sour with new album
THEY started as friends, became bandmates and were the platonic power pop couple of the '90s even as they fronted their own bands.
THEY started as friends, became bandmates and were the platonic power pop couple of the '90s even as they fronted their own bands.
On the 20th anniversary of the Lemonheads' hit album It's A Shame About Ray, Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield are back on the road together.
Ryan Adams has tweeted he is hooking up with you guys to produce a new Lemonheads record.
Evan: Yeah, we are going to do it. It's not a good idea to talk about it.
Juliana: Evan and I are going to talk about it.
Evan: I don't really need to talk about it.
Juliana: It makes me a little nervous talking about something that hasn't happened yet.
OK. Let's talk about how you reunited for this tour. You first played together again a couple of years ago, right?
E: The way I tell it, I said I was kind of done with music and Juliana said, 'Before you finish, let's do some music together.' I thought it would be fun.
J: I never thought about that, but I think it's so great we can do stuff like this. I think we're really lucky we have an idea and can go and do it.
Is music the key to your friendship?
J: We don't talk much about feelings. We have this thing in common, we like to make music and it's a language we both can speak. We don't really have to connect in other ways.
E: We were teenagers when we first met. We were idealistic fans and it's a beautiful thing to write a song together.
J: There have been long periods of years where we didn't talk to each other and see each other.
E: I like hanging out with Juliana. I am excited to hang out with you again, my old friend.
So have you decided on the perfect set list for this duelling solo, but together, acoustic show?
J: It has just kind of evolved to whatever we feel like doing, but I do like to know the songs before I get on stage.
E: You can't remember any songs! You have to have the songs written down before.
J: Sometimes you just can't remember a song at all. I need a set list. A lot of people have stuff written down, but you don't see it, it's hidden.
E: It's worse if you have forgotten the name of the city you are in.
J: Which is why I make it a point to never mention the city.
E: I don't want to jinx us here, but we have a natural stage patter between me and Jules - we get into these mini tiffs.
No kidding. What do you tiff about?
J: What tiffs?
E: What song to play next. Funny little jokes that happen. It's much easier to make stage patter when you are with an old friend. It's a little bit dysfunctional, like brothers and sisters. And I'm the oldest.
J: Just by two months.
Is it daunting to think that you have known each other - and each other's music - for 25 years?
E: I am OK with it.
J: I love playing Evan's songs from all eras because they are really good songs.
E: There are some I have to work harder on to get it right and Juliana won't play them with me unless I do them right.
You will be pleased to know you aren't the only alternative rock gods playing in Australia again.
E: Ratcat are back, right? I love them and Tumbleweed.
J: I could feel something in the air just recently about our generation of artists realising we now have the freedom to do what we want. There are no labels breathing down our necks. We're not trying to recapture anything. We're just trying to do some fun stuff.
SEE Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield, Corner Hotel, Richmond, Tuesday, Wednesday, $45 +bf, cornerhotel.com
Sydney: Metro Theatre, Thursday, $49, metrotheatre.com.au