Our Almost Interview w/ Evan Dando of The Lemonheads
It’s been a week since Evan Dando of Lemonheads fame said he would call Riffyou.com back for an interview to help promote upcoming 
dates on his 2014 Canadian tour.
“Hi Adam – service is intermittent/dodgy. Can I call u later?” Read a text sent, presumably by Dando, from his tour mate Sara Johnston’s phone en route to a gig in Thunder Bay, ON. This was at 3:04pm EST, about an hour after our scheduled time together was to begin. I replied, thanking him for the heads up and saying that he can place a call when ready.
I maintained hope until about 6pm EST, when it was assumed that the duo would be pulling up to, or closing in on their venue for the night. Beyond that point, cooking dinner became the focus.
I don’t hold a grudge against Dando for his interview abandoning, nor did I lose any sleep that night over the missed opportunity. What did become a bother, however, was that he proved himself worthy of much of the Internet chatter that suggests his penchant for erratic, sometimes sketchy, in-concert or in-interview antics.
Many in the music press brethren have written many things about Dando that are far meaner than anything that’ll be said in this piece. He’s been framed as a lucky-to-be-alive, drug-addled, handsome, talented figure that is tough to rely on, and when approached a shade outside of his oddly-shaped comfort zone, can pull out the asshole card pretty quick. This isn’t Riffyou.com coming up with these assessments and assertions – it’s what Google brings back upon a name search.
I wanted Dando to prove the Internet wrong. I wanted to get this cordial, thoughtful musician on the line and have him dispel the harsh reputation he has received – warranted, or otherwise. This reputation he now has hanging on his front door is what kept me up the night before as my train attempted to prepare itself for any scenario Dando could toss at it.
Of course, I could’ve called and harassed the individual handling Dando’s Canadian press requests, but at a certain point it’s up to the artist to decide if he really wants to speak with someone. That and it’s tough to make these calls when it’s assumed – based on all you’ve read – that the interviewee would rather be an absentee and let the whole thing blow past him.
Mr. Evan Dando, if you happen to find this story through whatever type of Internet travel you may embark upon, again, do know that there aren’t any hard feelings here. Instead, what you’ve left behind is another person and media outlet that can’t help but wonder why you’d like to directly, or indirectly, continue to promote the bad rap that’s been bestowed upon you.
We wanted to provide an opportunity to clear the air, but apparently your signal is still intermittent and dodgy.
Until next time…possibly.
-Adam Grant
Please be sure to follow us on Twitter @riffyou and at Facebook.com/riffyou.
