A couple of months ago, when news broke that The Cranberries were getting back together for a tour, I did wonder if the band would be able to meet fans' expectations. Judging by Friday night's show at Toronto's Queen Elizabeth Theatre—the first in a two-night run—the reunion tour is undeniably a success.
There are a few reasons why the show was so fantastic. Two of the reasons are the band and the fans.
The place was packed—sidenote: the sound is so good at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre that I think it's tied Massey Hall for my favourite venue with chairs—and everyone seemed genuinely excited (there was no evidence of people attending for novelty's sake). Once the lights had gone down and the intro music was playing, cheers arose every time a tech walked onstage. The band then entered and started into "How" from their 1993 debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?.
Before singing a note, Dolores O'Riordan began her ongoing engagement with the crowd by saying "Stand up" and claiming, "Toronto is my home away from home." The crowd remained on their feet for the duration of the show.
It's clear that Dolores is as excited to be playing with the guys again and that she was as excited to be at this show as the crowd was excited to see the band. She did that dance she does—all over the stage, she whooped when songs finished, she explained some songs' origins, and she occasionally traded off lines with the audience. She seemed like a thrilled little kid.
Dolores sounds a bit older than she did the last time The Cranberries played, which makes sense since she is a bit older. It's possible that her voice can't quite level cities the way it used to, but it can still bring down a house. She hit every note and the audience was happy to sing along when she specifically asked them to and when she didn't.
Back to the set...after the opening number, Dolores introduced "Animal Instinct" from 1999's Bury the Hatchet by making reference to the birth of her soon-to-be twelve-year-old son, who was in attendance—she mentioned her daughters a couple of songs later before "Ordinary Day." She brought one enthusiastic fan onstage as the band started up "Linger," also from the debut. The fan sang the opening vocal part before falling to one knee.
Probably all the Cranberries songs that fans hoped the most to hear were played—there was nothing from their final (so far?) album, Wake Up and Smell the Coffee.
The set reached its peak several times (the first being the band's entrance and the first trio of songs). "Daffodil Lament" reached a feverish level and it was followed by "I Can't Be With You," "Ode to My Family," and "Free to Decide." Three songs later came "Salvation" followed by "Ridiculous Thoughts,"—with Dolores singing the intro lying on her back and apparently getting a headrush from sitting up too quickly—and "Zombie." During the instrumental portion near the end of the latter, she said "This is our song," and I think she was claiming ownership for many more than just those onstage.
The first encore was "Lunatic" from Dolores's recently released second solo album, No Baggage. She sang it very dramatically, accompanied only by touring musician Denny DeMarchi on keyboards, and it was honestly a little weird, though by no means terrible. "Switch Off the Moment" from the same album and "Ordinary Day" from her solo debut, 2007's Are You Listening?, had fit better into the set of otherwise Cranberries material. Next came "Empty" from 1994's No Need to Argue and Dolores's current single, "The Journey," No Baggage producer Dan Brodbeck joining the group on guitar for the latter.
The Cranberries ended the show the way they started it, with a song from their debut album. This one was "Dreams," and it was perfect.
In conclusion, the songs by one of the biggest bands from the 90s hold up today and there is room in the band's set for some of their frontwoman's solo material. Also, Dolores O'Riordan seems rejuvenated and very happy to be playing the old songs with the band again. Her performance at the November 20th show in Toronto ranks her in my mind as one of the best, most genuine frontpeople around. We'll just have to wait and see whether or not this reunion tour turns into a full on Cranberries reunion...
Set List:
How
Animal Instinct
Linger
Ordinary Day
Wanted
Just My Imagination
Dreaming My Dreams
When You're Gone
Daffodil Lament
I Can't Be With You
Ode To My Family
Free To Decide
Waltzing Back
Switch Off The Moment
Salvation
Ridiculous Thoughts
Zombie
Encore:
Lunatic
Empty
The Journey
Dreams