Live Review: The Lemonheads, Jen Cloher

The first thought as we enter this venue is, ‘Yeowsas! Grunge fans have not aged well’. The second, ‘Jeez, Jen Cloher packs a screechy punch,’ and then we spot Courtney Barnett, stage right, on guitar and get more than a bit excited.

Cloher probably wouldn’t mind being described as being in the same vein as Adalita in the sense that she rocks hard when it counts, is equally capable of sensitive songwriting and never dumbs down her artistic expression.

Discussing the grunge era, we reminisce about flannels, unruly hair, Chuck Taylors and facial piercings (particularly in noses and eyebrows). It was a hot look for the dudes, even if they were soap dodgers. The Lemonheads were often referred to as ‘bubblegrunge’ or grunge-lite and grunge poster boy Evan Dando strides out onto the stage then up to the mic wearing a classic western shirt. He kicks off the set solo and is still sexy in a slightly feral troubadour kinda way. Lyrics in Being Around (“If I was a booger, would you blow your nose?/Would you keep it?/Would you eat it?”) make us chuckle. A fanlady yells out, "That was awesome!"

Once the band join Dando onstage, a string of fan faves including Alison's Starting To Happen and My Drug Buddy see individual faces light up as they recognise intros to songs that provided the soundtrack to dancefloor domination (imagined or otherwise) and wooing crushes in uni dorm rooms with Do Not Disturb signs clearly in place.

Everywhere you look there’s a delighted punter mouthing every lyric. The gallivanting instrumentation of It's A Shame About Ray is one of many highlight moments. "We're getting it together here," Dando announces, blue eyes sparkling beneath surfer-blonde bangs. But what we get is authentic, perfection would feel disappointing somehow. Style is awesome – “Don’t wanna get stoned/Don’t wanna get stoned/But I don’t wanna not get stoned...” – and The Lemonheads really thrash it out. Dando switches to bass – show-off.

In duo mode, the encore incorporates Frying Pan (Dando’s contribution to Sweet Relief: A Benefit For Victoria Williams); such a tender song that never approaches Tweetown. We’re unsure whether our cheers are in vain, but then all The Lemonheads come back on for a second encore. Into Your Arms is carefree, sunny, nostalgic and gorgeous. And don't get us started on The Outdoor Type, now that's a contender for Perfect Song. Finishing with Frank Mills, Dando is last onstage and sings forlornly: "...don't want the two dollars back/Just him." Dando and co truly deliver onstage, who the fuck cares what their frontman does before and/or after?

While wandering past the venue’s stage door post-show, a punter is witnessed addressing Dando: "I didn't even miss I Am A Rabbit, 'cause everything else was awesome," he gushes. Don’t be caught resting/showering/medicating back at your campsite when The Lemonheads hit the Sup' this weekend.