Live Report: The Lemonheads leave The Academy with mixed emotions

On Sunday night, The Lemonheads came to The Academy for what was a highly anticipated show, seeing as it was the cult band's first performance in Dublin since 2022.

The group, lead by singer Evan Dando, formed in Boston in 1986. They're perhaps best known for their 1992 breakthrough record It’s a Shame About Ray, and their distinct mix of alternative rock with pop elements.

If social media reaction is anything to go by, it's fair to say that fans' expectations were soured. The Lemonheads exited the stage after just an hour. The whole venue seemed to linger, expecting an encore, as 'Evan' was chanted throughout The Academy.

To everyone's surprise (especially looking at by previous setlists on this tour) the band never returned, and grumbling fans finally started to file out of the venue as the realisation sunk in.

It meant that punters missed out on a number of favourites as 'The Outdoor Type', 'Confetti', 'It's a Shame About Ray', 'My Drug Buddy' and 'If I Could Talk I'd Tell You' were never performed.

The Lemonheads at the Academy on August 24th, 2025. Copyright Grace Swartout/ hotpress.com

It was a dampener on an otherwise positive evening - for the time The Lemonheads were up there, they played pretty well.

Flashing green and purple lights filled the stage as organ sounds blared before the band marched out. Early in the set, they played hits like 'It's About Time', with it's snappy bass line; and 'Paid to Smile', carrying a soft tone. Dando's voice soared over the rest of the band as he reflected on the fake niceties celebrities receive.

Both songs shone with a fuzzed-up Dinosaur Jr-adjacent sound, and it's clear the band focus on digging into jams in the live setting.

The venue was packed too. Fans sang along to the raw 'Big Gay Heart', and it felt as if an earthquake filled the room from the heavy bass line on 'Style', as Dando sang the track's conflicting lyrics about struggles with addiction.

Before moving onto the next section of the show, the lead singer smashed his hands up and down on the keyboard, rilling up the audience.

The Lemonheads at the Academy on August 24th, 2025. Copyright Grace Swartout/ hotpress.com

The night then took on a more personal feel as Dando was left alone on stage with just an acoustic guitar. Shifting from his rock star persona, the artists delivered a heartfelt, soft rendition of 'Into Your Arms'; the romantic lyrics sounding drastically different form their usual style.

The calm didn't last for long. Dando told fans who didn't like his "rough voice" to "fuck off" immediately after finishing the track.

To finish out the night, the singer plunged back into thundering tunes as his band returned including the popular Pixies-infused 'The Great Big No'. Drum notes reverberated off the walls as the group abandoned their music's all pop sensibilities.

Despite the night's abrupt end, The Lemonheads managed to play their 1993 album Come on Feel The Lemonheads almost in it's entirely. Either way, the band gave fans something to remember.