The Lemonheads youngest punk fan alive

OK. I am aware that some of you won’t agree with the title of this article. But I accept the discussion. The fact is that I say from my own sad experience that many of the current Lemonheads fans were teenagers in the 90’s and today we struggle, among other things, with baldness and visceral fat. Even as those same fans pass on their love for albums like “It’s a shame about Ray” to their children, tell me how many times have you met an 18-year-old who loves the band so much that can play virtually every song from the Lemonheads’ punk era?

“*Hello, Evan? I’ve been trying to reach you but it looks like you lost another cell phone*“. (Will’s Instagram)

Yep, not so much “Into your Arms” here! When it comes to William Kvicala, or just Will as he preffer, we are talking about songs like: “Second Chance” (see bellow), “Uhhh” and “Mallo Cup”, all of them from the Taang! era. “I wasn’t even aware that they had a heavier sound until I’d found their earlier stuff“, says Will, who especially identified with the seminal “Hate your Friends“. Those classics, along with “Paid to Smile”, “Style”, and even a cover of “Hope” by Descendants, were all part of the Atlanta show’s setlist, played and performed magnificently by Evan and … Will.

“I can’t tell you how gracious and kind both Evan and Antonia were to me and what an incredible experience it was to play one of my hero’s songs with him in front of an audience”, says Will of the glorious Atlanta night. The youngest fan of the Lemonheads’ punk phase, as we already anticipated, was graduating high school the same week, but his biggest “diploma” turned out to be Evan Dando’s autograph.

I hate to say it but playing with Evan definitely beat out my actual graduation.

Will

2 3 Things about Will Kvicala encounter with Evan Dando

RC – How did you end up playing with Evan onstage in Atlanta?

W – Well I’d been a fan of the Lemonheads and Evan for a while but I was doing a deeper dive into their discography and found the punk classic that is the “Hate Your Friends” album. Every song on it was a brilliant hit to me and I was amazed that it was as underrated as it is. I wasn’t even aware that they had a heavier sound until I’d found their earlier stuff. Punk is my personal favorite style of music, and I played the album on repeat for about a month. Second Chance was the one I wore out the most. Once I’d learned it on guitar, I played it nonstop. One day, I filmed myself doing a short cover of it. I wanted to post it but I debated back and forth about tagging the Lemonheads account because I wasn’t sure if it was even that good. I landed on tagging them, kind of forgetting about after posting it. I ended up getting a direct message from the account saying Evan loved it and even cried when he watched it. This blew my mind.

RC – So, you and Antonia planned the performance together?

W – Antonia asked if I wanted to do some harmonies online, which I was thrilled to, but then asked where I lived. I said i lived in Atlanta, which I have since I was born, and she told me that Evan was coming to my city on tour and offered for me to play on stage with Evan in a months time. I can’t even describe how ecstatic I was. The entire month leading up I was jumping for joy. I can’t tell you how gracious and kind both Evan and Antonia were to me and what an incredible experience it was to play one of my hero’s songs with him in front of an audience. I was also graduating high school the same week, so he signed my graduation mortar board and yearbook! I hate to say it but playing with Evan definitely beat out my actual graduation.

RC – And what did you think of Evan when you first met him in person?

W – Well immediately I was super nervous. My first real meeting was at soundcheck with him and he could tell I was understandably shaky and was so insanely kind when I messed up. He tried to cater to me and my abilities and when I messed up some lyrics he was super patient and told me inside details about writing the song, which actually helped me remember them. After the show I congratulated him on such an entertaining and fun experience and we hugged backstage and went out to say hello to everyone. He was just as nice as everybody always says he is and he clearly enjoys doing what he does.