The Lemonheads - “It's A Shame About Ray" Live on Letterman

[@brysimm404]

Evan was blessed with a great smooth voice - one of the best of his generation.

[@thefeeps]

100% ...he is so underrated...and in terms of writing perfect pop rock that has a soul...he was on a par with Kurt Cobain during this era, but overlooked in terms of his original songs

[@avidadolares]

@@thefeeps No one is underrated or overrated just because you happen to like them more than others. Thats not how it works. You dont get to decide "ratings" for just things you think are good.

[@paulyplatinum127]

@@avidadolaresyeah it is. yes they do.

[@4336aaa]

@@thefeeps Please stop the underrated proclamations.

[@esmith2313]

Frankly, this is one of the best songs ever and this live performance is truly and plainly amazing.

[@coldium]

Frankly one of the best power pop albums of all time

[@underwater_and_randoms]

Well said

[@avidadolares]

Its a good song... but the best ever? I think theres a ton of songs you havent heard then.

[@gar137]

Several weeks prior to this performance my girlfriend and I went to the old RCKNDY music venue in Portland, Oregon to see Soul Asylum with the Lemonheads and the Jayhawks. My girlfriend was all giddy about seeing Evan Dando perform. When we got there the Jayhawks were already onstage and we made a beeline for the beer garden. While I was waiting to place an order she tapped me on the shoulder with some urgency and whispered very loudly in my ear: “Oh, my God! He’s right behind us!” Sure enough, standing at the edge of the beer garden with a brew in one hand and a cigarette in the other was Evan Dando. He was bopping his head to the music with the loopiest grin on his face and as Jehovah is my witness, wearing the same outfit that he wore on Letterman- complete with that brightly-colored faux-fur parka. She even bummed a smoke off of him which he gladly gave up and continued grooving to the Jayhawks. Later on the Lemonheads tore up the stage with a stellar performance that help set the tone for Soul Asylum. True story. Honest.

[@jeffreybarkin3177]

Did He behave himself, as 'The SHADOWS' were There Too and we need to be Human and Friendly... 😂

[@RoseanneSeason7]

Thanks for that little glimpse of your life

[@gar137]

@@RoseanneSeason7 it’s all I have left in this world. That and the time I saw Tony Randall at an airport.

[@RoseanneSeason7]

@@gar137 I ran away to Hollywood in 96 when I was 16. I used to see pat smear walking along sunset Blvd all the time with his gf. Would say hi pat and he always smiled and said hi back. Once I was deep down Melrose waking one night at like 4am and saw Beck with a back pack on walking with a friend. Didn't say shit. Hollywood was weird back then. Had lots of weird encounters with men trying to hook up with me. The weirdest encounter was I was waking by Tower records and this well dressed guy got locked out of his car and I helped him get into it with a coat hanger. For some reason I ended up at his house and he was in the music business and told me how Kurt Cobain was bi and had seen him giving a guy head. Thank God I ended up just hanging out and he drove me home in one piece. On a lighter note I used to give this homeless guy who I would see all over West Hollywood money to buy me porn magazines.

[@basedsouljah]

Rosanne youre a fucking hollywood legend my friend. What a cool ass story!! You ever thought about telling em and uploading the stories to KZbin? Id sure subscribe haha

[@leslierobertson1823]

Back in the days, when i was young I'm not a kid anymore But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again

[@LasseIndonesisch-nh2ji]

Why? Do you have regrets?

[@leslierobertson1823]

@@LasseIndonesisch-nh2ji no do YOU

[@leslierobertson1823]

@@LasseIndonesisch-nh2ji no, do YOU

[@LasseIndonesisch-nh2ji]

@@leslierobertson1823 too many

[@a11an72]

@@LasseIndonesisch-nh2ji Amen to that!

[@beetlerunner]

This was such an incredible time to be alive. Right before music got really bad and the internet. The end of an era. Letterman was the best.

[@bubmaterial]

lol

[@hazysativa3045]

1990-1995 was the best era of music...

[@BassPlayerSusan]

@@hazysativa3045 A great era, I'll agree. I was born in '77 so I grew up on this stuff.

[@cameronprior5227]

I think I worked with his dad at a law firm in the 80s in Boston.

[@BassPlayerSusan]

"Right before music got really bad and the internet." Yet here we are viewing it on the internet watching it. And thanks to You Tube we can again see great stuff like this. But yeah, Matterhune, I'll agree that most modern stuff is disposable cr@p. My now 75-year-old father calls the 1990s "The last great era of music" (secretly he liked Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc.) Some good bands emerged in the early 2000s: White Stripes, early Coldplay, Arcade Fire, My Morning Jacket, Death Cab for Cutie, Vampire Weekend, Cage the Elephant, etc. But much of today's stuff makes atrocities like "We Built This City", "Disco Duck", "Escape, the Pina Colada Song", "Kokomo", "Don't Worry, Be Happy", and "We Didn't Start the Fire" seem downright tolerable.

[@oswaldnunag5400]

im already 47years old but im still listening to the lemonheads song..❤❤❤great cool band.

[@rayc.8555]

I'm 71 and still listening to them. Great songs are timeless.

[@charleswhite9242]

I’m 46. I would have been about 16 / 17 when this song came out. Takes me back to a more carefree time

[@BassPlayerSusan]

@@charleswhite9242 47 y/o here and I feel the same way.

[@RepublicanClooney]

Only 47!

[@snowblind229]

The test of time. This song endures. One of the best since the birth of rock and roll. And I'm so old my first rock song I ever heard was I Want to Hold Your Hand. The first thing on the radio that got my attention was Hey Jude, in 1968. Dando is fiercely underrated.

[@damotheman4196]

Agreed.. Hes got loadsa little "beatles-y" sounding chord progressions...he's got a hell of a way with melody.

[@patrickbyron8952]

His phrasing and how he can subtly change a melody is so interesting.

[@igordewit7357]

Snowblind?? Love that song!!

[@camduncan8694]

This is my all-time favourite version! What a great time in music ‘92 was. Letterman had all the best bands on weekly. I saw Nirvana in Melbourne Australia in January ‘92 and for me that was where it all began.

[@skullduggery3377]

definitely in the top 10 performances on the geek's show.

[@timothylewis2450]

Dave had THE best music, bands you rarely got to see on tv then.

[@douglasmcconnell8116]

Awesome Love Classic Late night & Paul Schaeffer was playing guitar even.

[@thaumaston7]

Great performance, cool harmonies with vocals and guitars, lots of nice nuances for a live performance.

[@JClaus1221]

Being a late boomer, I consider the 70's/80's/90's the music of my life. The innocence of my youth, the blast of my twenties, the darkness of my thirties. I can pinpoint my whole life during that time in tunes. Wouldn't trade it for anything.

[@Skibbidyboobop]

Well said. As an elder millenial at 42, the same musical decades shaped my life. I can relate to those periods in the way you described.

[@stephenweber8694]

Dang! Evan's voice! Born with a gift.

[@superbug1977]

Dando is a stoned out fool! Love it.

[@kimbeauty000]

Always

[@buddyhughen8375]

I just saw The Lemonheads last week and it ruled.

[@robertcoulter7592]

One of the most perfect and beautiful albums of all time.

[@johnlambert7124]

I wanna time travel back to the summer of my youth- all the mystery's and the adventures ahead- and nothing in between but a fools lust for living an entire life in just one moment

[@timoraymo]

I like to believe we all get that time of great art/music. Many had the 50’s (Elvis, Berry) then the 60’s. Skip a few decades and the late 80’s to the 90’s came. Amazing. I’m hoping this magic happens again soon for the kids growing up today.

[@pewpewTN]

I bet this would have been a cool era to grow up in.

[@tagacale1733]

It was magical. I lived it as a kid

[@davidmoss9461]

Amazing era. But I am biased.

[@eddygsmusicworld1708]

@@davidmoss9461 me too.Saw these guys live.

[@namtilal]

One friend knew some girls from a town over, we went and picked them up. Another friend had a brother in college radio and put in a tape. First song was the first time any of us heard Smells Like Teen Spirit. We drove around, 3 guys and 3 girls in my big Olds and listened to the song over and over all night and life was never the same again.

[@eddygsmusicworld1708]

@@namtilal great memories CB. I remember Nirvana came to my town and I didn`t go. I wish I did.

[@cswanson4476]

The sentiment in this song is rich and heavy with the tragic grain of everyday life, the compassion we have for people we don’t know well enough to save. I’ve known so many who’ve taken their own lives after drifting away socially. Like he says in the song, I remember faces.

[@oppothumbs1]

By save, do you mean Jesus saves? How can you know so many who take their own lives? Are you a social worker? I don't trust anything you say, but I'm skeptical.

[@cswanson4476]

@ I am an atheist. By save, I mean somehow keep from spiraling out of this world. As for the people I know who’ve done it, I guess I owe it to them to at least say their names, as is done in the song, and I have to thank you for prompting me to do it: Tony. Eric. Marusela. Matt. John. Greg. Ellen. All so young. A real shame about them.

[@EricaBassi99]

Wow. That's it. You nailed it beautifully.

[@dannyboy1990]

This make me so happy. 💓

[@jamestracey5958]

Nice request Dave

[@mattmacneil3424]

such a great performance. i love how he really belts it in the chorus

[@kgilliagorilla2761]

Always loved this song.

[@freddiewadling2090]

great banter tbh

[@pauljimenez2799]

The SOUND MIX is PERFECT!

[@AlohaBlade]

Proto Grunge. We all miss you, Ray.

[@michaelbanaszak7775]

David Letterman and Evan Dando equal comedy gold!

[@r3d5ive87]

I didn’t appreciate what we had until it was gone.

[@whiteyfisk9769]

None of us do

[@willporter9620]

I knew we were on to something special. I grew up in the 70s and had a pretty good perspective on rock music by the 90s. So when Nirvana etc kicked things off in 1991, I was loving it. I knew it was extraordinary.

[@matthewbuxton4476]

LOVE THIS SONG🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🎙 The GROG SHOP COVENTRY, IN CLEVELAND 🎙

[@Dmab661]

That performance is absolutely amazing!!

[@igordewit7357]

Obviously a fun day for all on stage....great stuff. Reminds me of some good good times,playing with my first band,when i was 14 or 15 years old. Turned 50 rec3ntly🎉🤯🥳🤷🙄....time DOES fly🛸when you re having fun. 😊🖐️😽

[@rickdelagarza4ever]

Superb selection❗❣

[@jhchooo]

Criminally underrated band from the 90's.... two seminal albums It's A Same About Ray and Come On Feel the Lemonheads

[@TIGERSDFW]

December 92 ? second year at the university. what i would do to revisit December 92

[@Primus-ue4th]

Me, too! I was seven. Great times😂

[@thinkingallowed7042]

Same with me, second year at University in 1992. If I only knew then what I know now.

[@jimjohnson-p6b]

that whole album was great... bit part , rudderless....

[@belturbet4]

the house band contribution was perfect.

[@Lunch_Box_74_]

Amazing!!!

[@jimpatsouris2171]

always found it very cool & satisfying that ED wore an Eastern Dark t shirt ..

[@thomaskeegan2179]

Cool band

[@BearIslandComics]

That is one hell of a performance. Wow

[@Loggy3025]

A video EXACTLY for me!

[@t23001]

Matched Letterman on the sarcasm scale! (Great music, too!)

[@carlcasoco710]

My all time favorite band that has heads on their name.

[@scottmwatts2109]

Aaaaarh!!! I love this more than peanut butter!!!!

[@Worm-ex9vq]

3:52 mosquitos at my terrace in the evening

[@richardmanley2072]

Evan dando is a awesome musician and a genius songwriter

[@darbylarsen9547]

Who else misses Letterman in 2024? When late night was entertaining.

[@Aiwendil99]

I do. Late night was dying when Letterman retired, but it flatlined with the exits of Conan O'Brian and Craig Ferguson.

[@Truthmoses]

"some things need to go away..."

[@freddiewadling2090]

great magician's hoodie too tbh

[@bijibadness]

how many acoustic guitars does one song need? apparently 1, 2, 3 and then the additional electric rhythm, so . . . many. many, many, MANY acoustic guitars all doing the same part. I can imagine the sound mixer just going "What. How many you want? Three? Three big-body acoustic guitars . . . all doing the same part? And where do you suggest I place these guitars in the mix? Just everywhere? Check. Gotcha. It'll be great." moderation and musical temperance -- not something the early '90s were famous for. probably beats Cyndi Lauper, though. (though not if she's doing _Time After Time,_ that song fucking rules, man!!)

[@nolagospeltracts8264]

even Paul playing guitar.

[@JClaus1221]

If you think they are all doing the same part, please get your ears checked.

[@user-et2fj8xm5l]

I was a year out of high school when this was released. What a great time for music and Rocks last gasp.

[@donenzoworld-canada9460]

Im here because i too am curious about the intro of the song Alapaap by Eraserheads..it really sounded the same..oh man..pinagtagpi tagpi nga nila pagka compose ng song taken from different songs..what the...anyhow, how i wish noon ko pa nalaman..but they are still one of my favorite filipino rock band. Cheers

[@prisonersforprofit]

cool tune, probably a good choice to switch it at the last moment, keeps things fresh that way.

[@colorfields]

Seems like yesterday

[@RemoWilliams-jg4yb]

This is a GREAT live perfomance. Why is it live sound started to decline on tv after the 90's?

[@Stralanista]

It’s a Shame About Ray Lyrics I've never been too good with names The cellar door was open, I could never stay away I know it's probably not my place It's either-or, I'm hoping for a simple way of saying It's a shame about Ray In the stone, under the dust, his name is still engraved Some things need to go away It's a shame about Ray (Put it away) If I make it through today I'll know tomorrow, not to leave my feelings out on display I'll put the cobwebs back in place I've never been too good with names, but I remember faces It's a shame about Ray In the stone, under the dust, his name is still engraved Some things need to go away (shame, shame) It's a shame about Ray (Put it away) Source: Musixmatch

[@briannugent7836]

These chords were quickly ripped by Dave Grohl and Courtney Love with Learn to Fly and Awful

[@jumalikorik]

Vastly underrated

[@cameronprior5227]

I think I worked with his father at a law firm in the 80s in Boston.

[@Marygane637]

Omg yes

[@corshawnhughes8325]

December 1992

[@maddimusicfan]

Ever wondered about the magic behind "It's A Shame About Ray"? Get the inside scoop from Bruce Robb himself as he details the recording process in a fresh interview on "Produce Like A Pro" shot at #CherokeeStudios kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGTCdpuCrpicp7s

[@MarkCranerium]

“You’re just the one to give it to me”

[@walterghent3162]

hilarious

[@chrisod22]

Killer song

[@larrydrozd2740]

I always thought if he was the lead singer for the Smithereens, they would have been the biggest band in the land.

[@darrenlew]

does anyone know what evan's reference to to edie brickell is about?

[@emmagarrard4841]

She is married to Paul Simon who wrote Ms. Robinson, so kind of teasing him by eluding his wife is a great/better song writer. Plus Evan really respects female singer/songwriters.

[@UltrafineDeluxe]

@@emmagarrard4841 Sounds like a feminist spin

[@brauliomtzoo]

Letterman was the goat

[@cotiaratv3651]

🌹

[@IFK55]

The Lemonheads at their best were lightning in a bottle

[@CruceEntertainment]

He was still doing the rock thing like from Lovey.

[@francisdejoya523]

Alapaap.

[@angelortiz732]

That "The Eastern Dark" shirt....

[@carljansen6896]

I had this song on a constant loop when it came out and it is still in my top 10 favorites. Evan was in top form vocally in this performance and it's the best live version I've seen on KZbin. The only downside is Paul Shaffer and the band ruined the moment when they tried to sing "Raaaaaaaaaay" between verses. They sounded like a bunch of kids going through puberty.

[@HDthis]

They were dragging it out intentionally... even Evan was singing it that way. It's art.

[@perrygrossman2008]

It's a shame about the GOP. They are going completely nuts.

[@scalzmoney]

Always an interesting moment when you get on Letterman but your drummer and guitarist aren't needed. 😬

[@johnmckeever4734]

It is a shame about Ray. Sad stuff

[@nicholasmartin297]

Is that a Takamine I see before me? Must be a quality band then.

[@freddiewadling2090]

Is that Tom Petty on guitarr...?

[@TR-yi8up]

Joe Walsh Jr

[@jg769]

That’s Will Lee. He was a long term member of Letterman’s house band.

[@stuartmackinnon6786]

Evan was clearly a teenage fan club fan when he write this

[@DeniseKelley-xw9tz]

I didn’t know Paul played guitar.

[@michaelturner6030]

Was Paul Schaffer and the band contractually obligated to perform with every artist that appeared?

[@garthkolbeck8674]

If the full band was not appearing

[@GSK4EVER]

Did I hear him say Edie Brickell?

[@daveclinton4945]

I always wanted to be Evan.

[@glennhubbard5008]

Was this about Ray Sharkey?

[@AnnetteMay1221]

I name my oldest son Evan in honor of Evan Dando. No regrets.

[@sumeursault]

It’s a shame about Evan

[@kantina4765]

Probably won’t be popular with the people in this comments section but this reminds me a lot of oasis in some ways

[@DestinoIncertorock]

enjoy my band on this channel

[@notpub]

Dave was kinda D to Evan

[@gcg2366]

This band, in my opinion, got lucky. Definitely a studio band. And that's because Evan really isn't very good live.

[@juliawirch2454]

I don't love when singers perform songs that are popular, that they have to sing harmony, or a half step up.

[@KaBoomChannel]

Evan Dildo

[@jacquesdemolay5171]

Singing in tune is optional? What an embarrassment.

[@frisbeeshawn5356]

He jammed the song proper .. no one cares about your Simon Cowel remark ...

[@cameronphlodge1293]

Trustfund indie. Glad they failed