WERS 88.9 fm Performance Wrap-Up: The Cranberries

November 17^th, 2009

The Cranberries proved that it's not hard to dust off your Doc Martins, bust out that flannel and time travel back to a place where quality grunge was ever-present. Dreams came true when The Cranberries announced their international 20^th anniversary tour. Boston's Orpheum Theatre was the second date on their U.S. tour and they rocked a sold-out house full of loyal fans. Their six and a half year hiatus was everything but apparent—for those with a ticket, it was 1993 all over again that night.

Famed and unforgettable 90's front woman, Dolores O'Riordan, hit the stage with the same intense energy that she's always brought. The Cranberries are a classic example of that dirty, grungy and gritty sound that is both loved and missed. It was an archaic breath of fresh air, when you consider the manufactured nonsense we're typically fed these days, and the crowd flew out of their seats and screamed, as the first few bass lines crept out of the speakers.

Fans whipped their necks back and forth with every beat drummer Fergal Lawler hit. These remarkable Ireland natives took alternative rock by storm decades ago with O'Riordan's unmistakably haunting voice, which has ruminated with fans long after the group went their separate ways.

The group didn't tease fans for long, and quickly delved into the hits. "Linger," coming from their 1993 chart-topping, debut album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? was second on the set list. Naturally, the crowd had these lyrics buried in their 90's treasure chests and sang along word for word, even emulating O'Riordan's trademark vocal inflexions—or at least, trying to. Of course, "Zombie," caused controlled mayhem at The Orpheum and the crowd even mimicked the, "ay-uh, ay-uh, ay-uh's" that O'Riordan sang in the 1994 alternative rock relic.

Based on their performance, it's safe to say that The Cranberries are not a "band," but a stand out woman, backed by three powerful musicians. Sweet and personable, O'Riordan stopped every few songs to thank the fans and jokingly commented on Boston's liberal nature stating, "I love Boston—I love hanging with the squirrels and hugging the trees." O'Riordan shared the experience all night long, often singing a few lines then shoving the mic out into the crowd, giving them their turn to show her what twenty-year fanaticism is all about. They didn't disappoint.

She belted every word with that guttural, perfected voice of hers and to the fan's delight, played some new material that the band's been sitting on for some time now. Unfortunately, the newer stuff took a more commercial turn, but The Cranberries' hypnotic effect makes it hard to reject anything they produce.

Clearly a family woman, O'Riordan  sincerely asked, "What would the world be without the mamas and the dadas?" just before jumping into the heartfelt, "Ode to My Family." This marked get out your lighter time, and a flickering crowd swayed from side to side, shadowing the mesmerizing O'Riordan.

After the show, dedicated fans stalked out the venue's back alleys and alternative exits in hopes of catching a glimpse of The Cranberries. It came as no surprise that the band quickly fled the scene just after their final song, "Dreams." However, floods of people questioned security guards, roadies and Orpheum employees until well after midnight.

O'Riordan commented very little on The Cranberries' disappearance from public life. She briefly exposed the fact that she felt a good bit of pressure while trying to manage such a sought-after band, and raising her children simultaneously. Suffice to say, the band is back in action and better than ever—a true must see for anyone who considers the 90's music scene a gift to mankind.

-Words and photos by Jacquelin Voegtlin