Try some fresh-squeezed Lemonheads

Group project: After going solo, Evan Dando is with the Lemonheads again. (Courtesy photo)

SAN FRANCISCO — For the time being, Evan Dando is happily living in the past. After going solo with the 2003 album “Baby I’m Bored,” the singer/guitarist has: revived his old Lemonheads band moniker; hired members from one of his fave punk combos the Zero Boys — bassist Vess Ruhtenberg and drummer Mark Cutsinger — to back him on tour and issued “Varshons,” a new all-covers Lemonheads set produced by Gibby Haynes. He plays Slim’s next week.

So how do you feel at 42? Well, so far, so good for me. It’s all about how old you feel, and I’m really enjoying life. I’m getting ready for this show in Boston, and I hope it goes well, ’cause it’s a big thing for me. I used to live right across the street from this venue, which was where I saw my first concert, Heart, in 1976. It was the first time I ever saw a Hells Angel or bikers. I was 9 and they played “Barracuda” and it was amazing.

And you’ve loved the Zero Boys for ages, right? Yeah. And there’s always been a Boston-Indianapolis connection. We used to always make that 22-hour drive from Boston to Indy, and it was always fun. And I was a huge Zero Boys fan — we did their “Living in the ’80s” in ’86, live on the radio. That was one of our first covers.

What, exactly, is a “Varshon”? It’s how English people say “version,” like “Ello, let’s record a new varshon.” It’s phonetic.
 
You disappeared for a few drug years, right? Yeah. And I was told this a couple of years ago, that when I was making “Come On Feel the Lemonheads,” people were saying “Let’s get this record in the can, man, ’cause this guy is not going to make it.” They thought I was going to die or something. But they didn’t know that I liked drugs too much to overdose. If you really love drugs, you’re careful about enjoying them.
 
Did your wife Elizabeth help you out of your tailspin? Oh, yeah. She did everything. She was there at the right time in ’98 when I was hitting rock bottom.

And you have great well-wishing friends, like Kate Moss and Liv Tyler, who duet with you on “Varshons”? Kate’s an old, old friend, who I met through Liv. And she was the perfect voice for that disdainful track, “Dirty Robot.” And the duet with Liv was something I’ve been meaning to do for a long time. I put her on the B-side of a “Baby I’m Bored” single, and she said, “Why did I get on a B-side?” So I said. “Don’t worry! I’ll put you on the album next time.”

IF YOU GO

The Lemonheads

Where: Slim’s, 333 11th St., S.F.
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Tickets: $21
Contact: www.slimstickets.com