Dolores O'Riordan

Showbox - Seattle Washington

July 22, 2007 

On Sunday, July 22nd the Showbox in Seattle was alive with the sounds of the Irish. Dolores O’Riordan, former lead singer of the Cranberries, arrived at the Showbox with a new backing band in tow. The concert was meant to showcase her new solo album, Are You Listening?, as well as the mega-hits of Cranberries past. The show delivered on both accounts.

With a Jameson and Coke in one hand I eagerly anticipated the start of O’Riordan’s set. The crowd erupted in cheers as the intro to “Zombie” gave way to bone-crushing guitar riffs. Dolores’ voice sounded great and hit nearly every note. Ten songs from the new album were interspersed throughout the show with the strongest performances being the first single “Ordinary Day,” a haunting “Stay With Me” and a reflective “When We Were Young.”

However, of all the new songs, the most impressive performance belonged to “Human Spirit.” The song started with almost a galloping hip-hop piano and drum beat then O’Riordan broke out the tin whistle giving the song a distinct Celtic flavor.

Even though the show was meant to showcase and introduce the new songs to the fans, many came to see Dolores perform the songs they remembered from the Cranberries hey-day. It was evident looking around at all the thirty-something fans packing the Showbox that this was the case. Honestly, at 24, I believe I was one of the youngest concert-goers in attendance.

O’Riordan stuck mainly to material from the first three Cranberries albums playing one song, “Animal Instinct,” from the Bury the Hatchet album. Some of the strongest performances belonged to “Free To Decide” and “When Your Gone” from To the Faithful Departed along with “Ode To My Family” and “I Can’t Be With You” from No Need to Argue.

The two songs that everyone was there to see came from the Cranberries debut Everyone Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?. “Linger” showed up about five songs into the show. Grabbing the attention of everyone that still wasn’t quite into the new material. Not only is the song the Cranberries best known, it is also one of the iconic songs of the 90's alternative-rock scene. Many in the audience grew up with this song part of the soundtrack of their formative years and it showed in the reception that the performance received. 

After about twenty songs, half old, half new and another pint of Guinness, the show was coming to a close. “Dreams,” was a fitting end to the show. A song looking back on the past and toward the future. In many ways that’s what this show represented. O’Riordan looking back on her past with the Cranberries yet looking forward to the future with her new solo material. This show rocked ten times harder than I thought it would. If you have ever been a Dolores O’Riordan and Cranberries fan this is one show you should not pass up. Especially if the show is in a venue as small and perfect as the Showbox.