Evan Dando – The Ambassador, Dublin – Live Review
by Killian Laher

Sat 12th Oct 2024

What a night. You never know which Evan Dando you’re gonna get: just about keeping it together Evan or car crash Evan. There was little information online to indicate whether he would be accompanied by a band or just solo.  The recently reopened Ambassador was the venue for the gig, and we arrived in time to catch support act Stefan Murphy, who described himself as another prick with an acoustic guitar.  His set was a serviceable set of guitar-based songs largely drawn from last year’s Hospital Verses album, throwing in an Alex Chilton cover, dedicated to Evan Dando.

Dando arrived, dishevelled, with John Perry of the Only Ones in tow, and after the duo opened with Hard Drive, they played a set of odd-sounding covers, many drawn from the Varshons album.  After Dando sang Mexico in a strange low register and a dodgy version of Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful, Perry left the stage.   This was when an already ropey night went rapidly downhill.

Dando’s sloppy singing and playing through cover after cover, often starting one song and then racing onto another after 90 seconds or so. In between these snatches of songs, he rambled about how he lives in Brazil and his alleged sobriety while brandishing what looked like a glass of milk. Mixing originals The Outdoor Type, My Idea with covers such as The Replacements and The Stones’ Back Street Girl, ignoring his most-loved material from the It’s A Shame About Ray album.

He raced through Being Around, mixed Paid To Smile with a cover of the Pretenders’ Kid.  You couldn’t say he did any of his own songs justice, rattling through them while yelping, guffawing and lurching all over the stage.  The night took a bad turn towards the end of the gig, with Dando tossing the mic stand about before turning on an audience member for his perceived lack of respect, saying “fuck you bitch” and giving the finger to a bemused crowd.  He bashed out Suzanne Vega’s Luka and Into Your Arms before summing up the night by playing Why Do You Do This To Yourself, which could have been directed at the audience or himself.

However, after this Dando’s mood darkened again, taking exception to a request for No Backbone.  Not sure what he thought he heard, but he got really angry, shouting “fuck you man!” and stormed off the stage.  It’s a shame about the night, many were stunned by such an awful performance and the general behaviour of Evan Dando.  It’s safe to say there were no queues for merchandise afterwards and it’s hard to see where he goes from here.  He hasn’t released original material in nearly 20 years and even his most ardent fans will have run out of patience with this.