Evan Dando Is Living The Surreal Life (Or At Least Its ’90s Equivalent)

noah | April 27, 2009 3:00 pm

If reality TV had been as soul-crushing in the 1990s as it is in the era when The Real World‘s overarching message was more “too drunk to fuck” than “it wasn’t not funny” (OK maybe that’s a bad example there), a cast of that decade’s Surreal Life equivalent would have looked like this press release for the Lemonheads’ new all-covers album Varshons. Aside from Evan Dando, there is a serious cavalcade of stars aspect to the whole enterprise, which I suppose is part of the point. But–Gibby Haynes! Kate Moss! G.G. Allin–wait, isn’t he dead?

Varshons was produced by Gibby Haynes [ringmaster of the Butthole Surfers], mixed by ex-Cornershop guru Anthony Saffery, and features [Evan] Dando along with Vess Ruhtenburg (bass) and Devon Ashley (drums). The collection is filled with strange bedfellows – from 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, singing back up on Leonard Cohen’s “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye,” and 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.

If only this was really a starting point for some kind of TV series! I bet Lemon Of Love would be awesome.

The Lemonheads – a new covers album & 2009 Tour Dates [BV]