I was at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo. The lights were dimmed, the host started talking and I just sat there in the dark, I couldn’t believe that I was finally going to see them live. My friend and I were there with our parents, and they thought we were going crazy (which was quite true). Then Phil Collins started talking, he was in the spot light, the rest of the stage was dark… but there we saw four people we thought looked an awful lot like them. My friend and I started talking hysterically to each other: “It’s them! I know it’s them! But why does Phil Collins speak if it’s them??? It has to be them!” And then Phil Collins said: “Welcome to our friends from Ireland, the Cranberries!” I thought I was going to explode. Then Dreams started, it was fantastic, that beat, it gets me every time. Dolores walked around in her funny way, and eventually she started singing. And it was absolutely beautiful. And I actually started crying. I had looked so much forward to it (since the day I read in the newspaper that the Cranberries were going to perform at the Nobel Concert), and there they were. Great feeling. Sad though, I bet a lot of the people who was there was there because of A-ha and Phil Collins or maybe even Shania Twain, and that they didn’t know what kind of greatness they had before their eyes… anyway, I sat there crying uncontrollably, listening to Dreams and when it ended I was looking sooo much forward to Promises, which no one had yet heard. When the first “Oooh-oooh”s came, I thought for myself: “Ah. A nice, calm song”, but then all the drums and guitars set in, and it really rocked. I could feel the beat so well, it was like someone hit me on the chest. I just wished I could have seen the king, sitting up there at front lol. The expression at his face would have been fun. Too soon it was over, and they disappeared…. I felt so empty (“something has left my life”). But it was AMAZING, it really was. And because I love them so much I hold it as my number one concert experience… even though I saw Alanis in concert and I’m a big fan of her, it didn’t send me to heaven like the Nobel Peace Prize Concert.

—Marianne

I was yesterday at “The Zenith” in Paris. The support act began at 7.30 and THE CRANBERRIES began at 8.30 after a musical intro. The set list was the same than in London. After the intro , they arrived and Dolores said : (In French !!!) It’s our new song : Promises. She sang this song very seriously but for the others songs she was smiling. She had black leather trousers and jacket. During “Wanted” “Still Can’t” and “Salvation” the audience moved a lot. I was caught up in the rush but it’s was wonderful. Daffodil lament was the most emotional song of the gig. After that : 3 rhythmic songs and all the audience moved, danced, sang, ….Then “Zombie” : I think it wasn’t the best version ( It was better in 1995 -1996) After a short interruption (Who ho oh ho , clap clap clap , Dolores Dolores Dolores … ) they came back and the two last songs were very very good (This version of dreams was splendid and wonderful) For the second part she wore a little pink top and a colored skirt (like in the 70’s). It was a great show but a little short (only 1h35min)

P.S. excuse me for the grammatical/spelling mistakes but English is not my first language. If you have any question about the gig , you can mail me.

—Noe

A very long time I had waited of the 16th of April 1999, the day I`d go to my first Cranberries-concert. That concert was in Hamburg, Grosse Freiheit. A lot of (good) bands have already played there.

I was there two hours before the concert began. Full of hope to see Dolores I sat down in front of the backstage – entrance. I asked some guys if it was possible to go in to see Dolores. Of course not. Through the wall I heard the Cranberries soundcheck. Suddenly the drummer Fergal came out. I took the chance to give him a letter for Dolores. He took the letter and disappeared. The Cranberries began with their new Single “Promises”. Dolores was dressed in a miniskirt, a T-shirt with a big black ” 5 ” on it and amazing cowboy boots. After “Animal Instinct” she played the keyboard to “Ode To My Family”. Dolores accompanied the songs “Sunday”and “Linger” with her acoustic guitar. Now and then Dolores asked her fans to sing. After ” Wanted”, “Saving Grace”, “You And Me” and a few other Songs , she played “Salvation”. She jumped down from the stage and invited the fans again to sing, on this occasion she rocked. When they played “I Can`t Be With You” and “Waltzing Back” Dolores stood at the mike again. When the first beats from “Zombie” sounded, all the fans rejoiced and sang every line together with her. The Cranberries played their songs brilliantly. Before “Pretty” Dolores changed her clothes. She sang ” Shattered” sitting on a chair in the middle of the stage. A spotlight shinned at Dolores and she sang the song quitely and with feeling. “This is the last song, thank you all” Dolores shouted before the Cranberries began playing “Dreams”. I waved to Dolores and screamed her name again and again. Singing the line: “I want more” she looked at me and waved back.

I was so happy. Dolores and her fans sang the rest of “Dreams” and at the end she said: “Thank you, Hamburg”. Then Dolores ran off the stage. I saw a white towel around her shoulder. Then Dolores , Mike, Noel and Fergal disappeared through a door.

—Anita Frolow

Review #2 from Dreams Never End (Grosse Freiheit, Hamburg, Germany, 16.04.99)

Having bought my ticket on the first day, it was a long wait to finally see the Berries…With high expectations I went to the show, and when I entered the arena (Freiheit is really small just 1500 people or so), I was a bit disappointed, cause due to the internet broadcast, they set up a moving camera in front of the first row, which is a bit annoying (other bands don’t allow this…), so I decided to go up on the balcony and see the show from up there, which was a good decision…After a short set of the support band, which was okay, although they should invest in some new drum samples (always the same…) Cranberries entered the stage at 21.30 and opened the show as expected with ‘Promises’, which makes a real good opener and gets the crowd going…

The set was the same as the shows before, so it was nothing of a surprise, but, hell, I know it is just a small tour and not many people will see 2 shows or more, so there is no need for exchanging the set veryday…Personal faves of the day included besides some of the new songs (like ‘Shattered’), ‘Daffodil lament’, which was nice to have back in the set and ‘I can’t be with you’ which was delivered in a great version. One thing though, I would’ve liked more of a mixture instead of the 3new songs / 3 very old songs scheme…I think that would’ve fitted better in such a location, although you couldn’t complain about the audience that was into the show, at one time, Dolores was sick of the cameras, she jumped from the stage, directly in front of the fans and sang ‘Salvation’ from there, which made very one go wild…All in all a good gig, although all this promotion and TV-stuff was a bit of a let-down, cause you don’t expect that, when you buy the tickets at normal price, which is a bit of a shame…Anyway, hope the Berries will return soon and play more gigs!

Review by Dreams Never End

About the concert, it really rocked in spite of everybody knows in Madrid that La Riviera is an awful place to do concerts because it sounds very bad. Anyway, the concert was sold out a week before the concert, which is a very unusual thing in Spain where everybody waits until the last moment to buy the tickets, but it’s normal because The Cranberries didn’t play here since NNTA tour in July 1995.

The morning of the concert I met The Cranberries again in a famous record shop in Madrid where they were interviewed by a lot of journalists. I was there and I must say that Dolores was a little bit unkind with the journalists. Opening band for The Cranberries was The Hormones (classical pop) and they were good. At 22.00 all the lights went off and all the band came out. The audience got completely crazy at seeing them for the first time ever or for the first time in four years.

Dolores wore jeans and a black jacket and said “Hello, Madrid. What are you doing?”. People just couldn’t stop shouting hysterical like I never had listened to in a concert. The 2800 people who were there looked very happy to see the band again. These are the songs they played:

PROMISES: It rocked, but it wasn’t as cool as other versions alive because the people shout so loud that sometimes I couldn’t even hear the song in spite of I was at row 3. There was so much noise that I think that the band couldn’t hear themselves and so they got wrong twice. There was above all one big mistake by Fergal on drums. I don’t know how to explain it, but Dolores was shocked and got quiet when she had to sing and Mike laughed and looked at her and then to Fergal. Anyway, nobody noticed this mistake in the concert because I think The Cranberries are very professional and very speedily they were back on the right part of the song. We just noticed this mistake when we watch the concert on TV, not in La Riviera.

ANIMAL INSTINCT: Surprisingly a lot of people knew the lyrics and everybody put their hands together. Let me remind you that BTH was on sale on April 19th and the concert was on April 22nd. After that song, Dolores took off the jacket and showed a pink shirt. She also threw their socks to the audience and a friend of mine got them. I don’t know if it’s true, but he says that Dolores’ feet smell quite good!

DESPERATE ANDY: It was quite good. Dolores didn’t sing it as well as in the album but sang it very well too. I must say that this was one of my favorite songs then and I noticed that again they did another mistake. This time was Dolores, who didn’t sing the sentence “Have yourself another shandy” and instead, she sang the next sentence. Noel got a little nervous, but Dolores laughed, got near to him and touched his bottom happily. I was the only one to notice this mistake, but then we watched it on the video.

ODE TO MY FAMILY: Everyone got crazy since the first “doo”.

SUNDAY: Dolores was very nice with her acoustic guitar.

LINGER: This is not a popular song in Spain. I was worrying about the people here that didn’t know the lyrics and didn’t appreciate the song, but I was wrong. Everybody got crazy since the beginning.

WANTED: Everybody sang the classical chorus and Dolores came to me and stared in “oh-ooh-oh” part. She couldn’t just stop quiet. She couldn’t stop dancing from here to there asking the people to sing.

SALVATION: Again the audience went crazy. I can’t believe the audience in the USA could stay sit down. Here everybody jumps and dances until everybody is asphyxiated. I must say that Mike looked very impressed watching how a lot of people had to be taken off the crowd because they were asphyxiated.

SAVING GRACE: Very quiet song, but the people knew the lyric too and Dolores was so impressed that she said at the end: “You know all the lyrics, you’re so cool. Spain rocks, men. Madrid rocks, OK?”. It was very cool.

YOU AND ME: Dolores introduced it as a song for her only song and she came down from the stage to touch people’s hands.

DAFFODIL LAMENT: In spite of it never was a single for obvious reasons, it’s one of the favorites of the audience and everyone knew the lyrics. It was one of the highlights of the night.

I CAN’T BE WITH YOU: It definitely rocks alive. It’s cool.

WALTZING BACK: The light effects were excellent, but The Cranberries should understand that this is always the song that the people like least of all they play alive. I like it, but I prefer they play another ones.

RIDICULOUS THOUGHTS: As always, one of the highlights of the night. It was fantastic!

DELILAH: Definitely rocking. It sounds alive much better than on the album.

ZOMBIE: I think that everybody can imagine it. Everybody knows how Zombie sounds alive and how the people sing it. At the end, Dolores did peace sign and asked for it.

[ENCORE] Dolores came back in a long dress. These were the songs:

PRETTY: The new version, something like Pret a porter version. At the beginning people didn’t recognized it, but then when the guitar started, everyone sang along.

SHATTERED. Before starting, Dolores said that this was the last show of the European tour and that we had been the best. She was obviously very impressed of people sing the songs from BTH album. Then, people sang Shattered bridge too and I remember Dolores’ face astonished when people shout “Move over, move over”. I think she was like “YOU REALLY KNOW THE LYRICS?”. Shattered is really good alive, played in an acoustic set.

WHEN YOU’RE GONE: Very very well received too.

LIAR: This was the surprise, because they didn’t play it in the other European gigs and I asked for it a lot of times during the concert. Dolores did her dance like in the video from London.

DREAMS: Everybody sang it. It’s an excellent song to finish a concert, it’s just an excellent choice, the best one.

After the concert, Ave Maria was played (Dolores version).

And that’s all. I promise a review for Madrid and Barcelona concerts in December as I’ll be there in both of them. I can’t wait!!!

—Sebastian Alonso Casado

Review #2 from Sebastian Alonso (La Riviera, Madrid, Spain, 22.04.99)

The Cranberries couldn’t fill the stadium in spite of BTH success in Spain and I’m sure it’s because this concert was the most expensive of the year besides Bruce Springsteen and they played in Madrid in April, so a lot of people had already seen them. The show was very good. The stage was simply wonderful. I think it was much more interesting than U2’s Popmart. I love U2 and The Cranberries show was cheaper and easier, you know, but it wasn’t as cold as U2’s. And of course, it was much better than the other concerts I have been: R.E.M., Oasis, Alanis…

The light effects were very good during all the concert, the towers, the different heights and all that was correct, but sincerely, I liked more the first leg of this tour, when we could see Dolores nearer, hear her loud and clear in those small places. I don’t know if she is tired of touring or anything, but she looked happier in the first leg of the tour. She smiled and danced more, she looked at the people in every song, made them sing… This time, it’s But in spite of this, the show rocked and everybody liked it, especially people who had never seen them live. The band that supported The Cranberries was an awful Spanish band, and at 22.00, lights went off.

It has been ignored, but I think that one of the highlights of the night is that at first, there are two curtains that hide The Cranberries stage. You don’t know how it is until the last moment. When that strange music intro is played (it’s true it’s too long), blue lights are projected and then SUDDENLY the curtains are opened and THEY are there, on that wonderful stage, rocking the start of Promises. Everybody went mad when the curtains were opened. It’s not the same as seeing them coming slowly and seeing the stage from the beginning when you arrive. It’s all a big surprise and it was a strong highlight. Dolores was very sexy, with a furry long overcoat showing her leg to the audience sometimes.

These were the songs they played:

PROMISES: A short version, without the slow “ooh” intro, without the third chorus and with a double solo guitar at the end like on the album. At the end, Dolores said “Thank you” in Spanish (“gracias”). She said other things in Spanish but I won’t bore you with that.

ANIMAL INSTINCT: It’s one of the favorites of Spanish people, maybe because it has been used in a TV ad. The light effects were like CD-SG cover. Dolores took off the overcoat and she was in a very short skirt. I don’t want to disturb anyone, neither Dolores nor her husband, but I must say that a lot of people can give details of her lingerie that night…

LOUD AND CLEAR: It rocked. It seemed keyboards weren’t there. I could only hear guitars. Dolores danced a lot in this one, moving her arms and hips.

ODE TO MY FAMILY: I don’t think it is a song for big stadiums. THE ICICLE MELTS: The only surprise, it was good to hear it alive. I’m fed up with Sunday.

LINGER: People sang it but not as so much as in April. Dolores didn’t play her guitar. After Linger, Dolores shouted “One, two… One, two, three”, I mean, the beginning of Salvation, but Noel looked at her and stopped her because they had to play Wanted before.

WANTED: Noel started playing suddenly when Dolores stopped the “one, two, three”. She was a little confused, I think, and didn’t make the people sing as much as the other times. Anyway, she danced and did her sexiest moves ever.

SALVATION: With Dolores saying first “OK, this time, this time is the one, two, three, four… One, two… one, two, three, four” DESPERATE ANDY: It was quite good. BTH has been a success in Spain, being the second best-selling album of The Cranberries, and the people welcome the songs from the last album and knew all the lyrics. They played a very long version, with solo guitars in the end meanwhile Dolores changed her clothes.

PRETTY: The 99 version, you know. Dolores came back with awful silver trousers.

WHEN YOU’RE GONE: People shouted the “hey, baby” part.

DAFFODIL LAMENT: Some people were disappointed because they didn’t play Go your own way, but the effects with the flowers were, for me, one of the best things of the show, as it is one of my favorites.

I CAN’T BE WITH YOU: Really good live, as always. Dolores did new dances, which were little and strange jumps up and down.

WALTZING BACK: Again and again. I like how it’s introduced when Dolores shouts “BACK” at the same time electric guitar starts to sound, but I’m a little bit tired of hearing it live.

FREE TO DECIDE: It was not as welcome as I thought. It’s obvious that TTFD isn’t the best album, although there was a lot of people who missed songs from this album in the show.

ZOMBIE: Dolores played the final solo so perfect that she smiled at the other guitarists very proud. As in the old tours, she asked for peace in North Ireland.

RIDICULOUS THOUGHTS: Very good, an excellent choice to finish the first part.
———————–

Before the encore, a lot of people started to sing Shattered, but they didn’t play it.

DYING IN THE SUN: I didn’t think the piano and the sun show were so good. I was at first row and I almost cried. Dolores sang and played perfectly as the sun moved from one side to another. Fergal played keyboards very well too.

YOU AND ME: We didn’t know it was going to be the fourth single, but it was welcome, as it had been the first one. Everybody shouted since the guitar started and knew the entire lyric.

JUST MY IMAGINATION: Dolores introduced it as a song about being young. It has been a success in Spain and people sang it all along. Stars effects were really good. Dolores sang more than in The Jay Leno Show. She sang the “Not my (x18)” part and a little bit of “la, ra, laaaa”

DELILAH: Dolores and the people all shouting angrily together. DREAMS: Before this one, Dolores said she was very thankful to Spanish people for supporting The Cranberries and so, they were going to be back in Spain in April to play in Esparrago Festival. You know, BTH is around double platinum in Spain, was top 1 and it’s still on the charts, and she knows it… Everybody went crazy with Dreams and as always, Ave Maria was played after it.

—Sebastian Alonso Casado

Just a little note to tell you that I was at two of the shows on this tour. I was at the tower theater in philadelphia April 30 and at the orpheum theater on May 3. At the philly show I sat front row center. It was the best concert I ever saw them put on and I have seen them about 10 times. I actually got to touch dolores. The show in boston was also great on thier part but the crowd sucked. On the way home from boston me and my friends saw their buses so we followed them all through new york until we got to their hotel. There we met Fergel, Mike and Noel. Dolores was not there I think she was at a different hotel with her husband. Anyways, they are the best band on the face of the earth.

—Mike Markee

Review #2 from Dave (Tower Theater, Philadelphia PA, USA, 30.04.99)

Saw the show in Philly last night at the Tower – 5th row. It was excellent!!!!

—Dave

Review #3 from Ed (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 30.04.99)

Hi,

April 30th 1999 was my very first LIVE Cranberries experience, (I’ve been a fan since 1993) and it was amazing!!! The Tower Theater offered a great setting for an intimate show. I had 14 row seats and did not miss a thing!!! The set of 21 songs rocked. The Cranberries were pumped all the way through the 5 song encore, and Dolores…well, need I say more?

—Ed

I just got back from the show at the Orpheum in Boston. It was totally awesome. The night started off on a bad note. I had to wait out in the rain for 25 minutes to pick up my ticket, and I didn’t have an umbrella with me. It was like 7:45 when I got inside. Jude was already playing, but I didn’t care. My seat was a lot better than I had thought it would be. I was dead center about 20 rows back. I would have liked to have been closer, but I was still close enough to see their facial expressions pretty clearly. I don’t know exactly what the set list was. It was close to what they had been playing in the other shows, but I think they mixed it up a little. They opened with Promises and then two more new songs. For the most part, everyone was just sitting during these songs. Then they played Ode and Sunday and Linger. The crowd loved these, of course. Dolores had the crowd sing a couple parts of Linger. At that point, I realized that I hadn’t been singing along at all. I sang along with all the songs I knew after that (that means every non-BTH song). Some people sang all along, but most people only sang when Dolores told us to. They played a nice mix of new and old songs. The crowd cheered for their old favorites, but everyone responded well to the new songs too. They finished off with a great rendition of Zombie. Everyone cheered and clapped and stamped their feet continuously until they came back out a little while later. My hands hurt afterwards from clapping too much. They started the encore with Pretty. Dolores introduced it with “this is a song for women, about inner beauty” or something to that effect.

They followed it up with a song from BTH, When You’re Gone, and finally Dreams. When You’re Gone stands out as one of my favorites of tonight. I think the show was on the order of 105 minutes, including the dead time before the encore. The house lights came on almost right away after Dreams ended and everyone filed out. It took forever to get out. I bought a tour T-shirt for $25 and headed outside to wait for the band (more on that in a minute). I was surprised by how many old people there were at the show. By old I mean about 30 or older. There were also quite a few people there that were obviously still in high school. It was a good demographic mix. For the most part, everyone sat through the concert, but everyone stood during a few favorites like ICBWY and Zombie, and then during the encore. Out of respect for the people behind me, I only stood when the people in front of me stood up and blocked my view. But I didn’t hesitate to stand when the girl in front of me stood up and blocked Dolores. The people on either side of me (who were all old as per my earlier definition) only stood up during Zombie and Dreams. Even though the views of the band were certainly blocked during many of the songs, they wouldn’t stand. I don’t see the point in going to a concert if you won’t even try to see the band. Why not just buy a bootleg?

Dolores started off wearing a leather jacket and a tight, long leather skirt. She took the jacket off after a few songs to reveal a silvery sleeveless blouse. For the encore, she started off with a hooded long brown cape that looked like it might have been made of velvet. She took it off pretty quickly to expose a very pretty long pink dress. She was looking pretty damn good throughout the show. Mike was wearing all black. Fergal had a white T-shirt on that he took of at some point during the opening set. I can’t really recall what Noel was wearing. I think he may have had a blue shirt on, but that’s the best I can do. I have no idea what the two extras (keyboardist and backup vocalist/guitar player) were wearing. I thought that both of them did a good job. I didn’t think adding them detracted from the sound, but I don’t know if they were really necessary. I thought that Fergal did a great job tonight. He’s a very energetic drummer. Noel and Mike played well too. Dolores’s voice was great. I had heard that it wasn’t up to par, but it most certainly was. The crowd loved her unique dance moves. Everyone cheered whenever she started dancing. But anyway, I waited by the door after the concert. It was raining harder now, which really sucked. I counted about 35 people waiting for them.

To pass the time, we got to watch the roadies load all their equipment on to a big truck. After maybe 45 minutes Dolores and Don came out. We asked if she would sign things for us and she told us that she would do it over by the bus. We all ran over there and were kind of confused until we saw her open up a window. I figure that she probably stayed in the bus partly because it was raining and partly for security reasons. She looked even better from up close.

She really is a beautiful woman. She signed everything we handed her. Most people just got her to autograph their ticket stubs. I brought my NNTA CD along for all of them to sign. I handed it to her and told her that today was my 20th birthday and asked if she could write happy birthday on it. She asked what my name was and I told her. She signed it “To Paul/Happy Birthday/Dolores”. So, not only did I get a personalized message, she said happy birthday to me too, How awesome is that? Everyone in the crowd said happy birthday at that point too. There was one girl there that was totally freaking out about meeting and talking to Dolores. She was like “oh my god, I’m talking to Dolores O’Riordan” and started like hyperventilating.

Dolores was incredibly nice. She seemed just like any ordinary woman, not a big rock star. She signed whatever people gave her. She shook everyone’s hands (including mine , and yes, she does have a firm handshake). And she was talking to us throughout. She said that Taylor is doing well. One guy asked her if she was going to go drinking tonight. She said no, she had to go to bed early. She asked us what our favorite songs were. One girl said Daffodil Lament, another said What’s on My Mind, but the consensus was that they were all our favorites. I tried to think of what my favorite song was, but I couldn’t pick one, so stupidly I didn’t say anything. We asked her if the lads would sign stuff for us and she said that Fergal would, but that she didn’t know about the Hogan brothers since they’re kind of shy. I hung around until she was done signing everyone else’s stuff just to hear what she had to say. Then I went over to the other bus, where the guys were supposed to be. Noel and Mike were just finishing signing things when I got there.

I only had time to shake Noel’s hand before they shut the windows. Noel said that Fergal wasn’t out there yet, so we waited near the bus for him (there were probably about 15 people left at this time). A few minutes later, one guy got them to open the windows again. I got Noel and Mike to sign my NNTA booklet. A few minutes later Fergal appeared in the window. I’m thinking he had probably been in the bathroom when we asked about him before, or something like that. He also signed everything that people gave him.

They were all very nice to us. It’s nice to know that fame and fortune don’t change everyone for the worse. They conversed with us throughout, but I think it was mostly Noel doing the talking. He said that they were going back to Ireland in a month and that they’d be back in the area to play Greatwoods on August 21st. He also said they’d be driving down to New York overnight to get ready for their next show. After they finished signing things, Mike started throwing candy bars out the window to us. I got a Chocolate Chip Rice Krispies Treat. After that, everyone in the crowd headed home. As far as best nights of my life go, this one ranks up there. I got to see a kick-ass show.

I got to talk to the band. I got to shake all of their hands. And I got all of their signatures, including a happy birthday message from Dolores herself. I’m actually going to frame the CD along with my ticket stub. Basically, the only thing that would have made it be better is if they had invited me on to the bus with them. I would like to be able to relive this concert again. If anyone knows how I could get a hold of a CD-R or even just a cassette tape of it, please, please, please let me know. Also, if anyone knows what the set list was, please let me know. As I was leaving, I saw a guy holding a set list from the stage. I wish I had thought to try to get one.

Well, that’s it for the concert recap. Now for my personal commentary. Actually I doubt anyone read down this far, but who cares? A few years ago, I was totally obsessed with the band. I spent money on cranberries items at a sickening rate. I was totally psyched to see them in Philly in September of ‘96. When they canceled the show at the last minute, I was really disappointed. I wasn’t mad at them, since I couldn’t blame Dolores for being sick, but I slowly lost interest in them. I didn’t think TTFD was quite as good as the other two, but I still liked it. After they dropped off the face of the Earth for a couple years, I started listening to them less and less. I wasn’t thrilled when I started hearing mp3’s from the upcoming BTH. I had heard that it would sound like EEIDISWCW, but it wasn’t what I expected. I started getting sick of this list, and considered unsubscribing. I knew they were playing Boston soon, and of course I was going to go, but I wasn’t too excited about it. In fact, I was pissed that the concert was tonight since that meant I had to have my birthday party last night and not actually on my birthday. I went with low expectations since I knew they were playing lots of new songs. I hadn’t heard them all (I still haven’t bought BTH), but I just didn’t think they’d be any good. Well, I was wrong. As I described above, this was a truly great experience. It has rekindled my interest in the cranberries (maybe I’ll even update my web page now ). I’m going to buy BTH tomorrow. Maybe the new songs will suck. Maybe I only liked them tonight because of the live experience. But I doubt it. I feel a rebirth in my interest in this wonderful band.

So, the moral of this story is…..GO TO THE CONCERT. If they are playing anywhere remotely near you, make sure you go. You’ll thank me afterwards. I promise you won’t be disappointed. I’m already planning on going to at least two shows this summer, even if it means going to the Greatwoods show in August (even though I’ll be at home then, six hours away).

—Paul Bowen

I first heard about the concert on K-rock and I went totally crazy it was an amazing feeling since this is by far my favorite band and the whole idea that they will be touring again was unbelievable. I bought 7 tickets via the internet and we got section floor. Anyways Hammerstein Ballroom is located 311 West 34 street and it was F-n Packed. it was unreal how many fans showed up. I was so psyched. Sponge opened the concert up at 8:15 and to tell u the truth they were pretty good however I thought the singer was gay.. anyways.. they were better than Cracker (opened up for the cranberries at Fee to Decide Tour on Sept 6 1996). At about 9:00 the cranberries came out and opened up with Promises then Animal Instinct, Loud and Clear then Ode To My Family. What really made this concert so awesome was that the fans loved the new songs. It was Amazing it was like everyone heard the songs for years( unreal). The New album got dogged by critics especially from Spin and that mag sucks any way but who cares this album is excellent and has definitely found a spot with its predecessors. The Cranberries played many favorites such as Linger, Dreams, Zombie, When Your Gone, Can’t be with u, Sunday, Salvation and so on . I really wanted to hear Hollywood live and Free to Decide but it was not on the set list I guess. Dolores wore a black jacket with a metallic-like sports bra and black cargo pants. She later took her jacket to show off her physique. After the encore se came out wit a see tru dress it was red. It was see thru however she was wearing a body suit under it. This was definitely the best concert I ‘v been to not because they are my favorite band( Trust me I have been to Korn, U2, radiohead, 311, Dream Theater and they were not even close) Other bands try to distract you with flashy light bulbs but the cranberries distract you with Dolores’ beautiful voice and you can throw in her bra too.. Out of 10 I give this concert a 9. The set list was amazing because they played a lot of the old songs and a lot of the current songs. I hope this review will be on your web site I would appreciate it a lot if it is THANK YOU. THE CRANBERRIES ARE THE BEST AND I AM ALREADY WAITING FOR THE NEXT SHOW AT JONES BEACH ON AUGUST 14, 1999.

—Sal Iovine

Review #2 from Thomas P. Morgan (Hammersmith Ballroom, New York NY, USA, 05.05.1999)

WHEN waiflike Dolores O’Riordan gets in front of an audience, any inhibitions she has about performing are stripped from her psyche, and she lets her animal instincts take over. Wednesday at the Hammerstein Ballroom, Miss O’ and her band, the Cranberries, served up a terrific (albeit short) set. That program included all of the Irish quartet’s past hits, but it really made its mark when the band worked the songs from their just-released disc “Bury the Hatchet.” Although there are no tin whistles, pipes or fiddles in the arrangements, O’Riordan’s vocal inflections – which climb from her earthy mid-range to a tightly controlled soprano in yodel leaps – are very traditional. The boys in the band complement her warbling with jangly guitar pop that often intertwines with the drumming to the point where it seems every bit of its energy is aimed at rhythm, leaving O’Riordan alone to provide the melody.

In spite of O’Riordan dressing to thrill – first in a flashy metallic bra top and later in a see-through red dress – the real excitement was conjured when she and her band mates dove into the new songs, such as the vocally demanding “Saving Grace,” their inspired version of “Animal Instincts” and rocking “Loud and Clear.” Without question, the fans were wrapped in rapture for oldies such as “Linger,” “Zombie,” and the final encore tune “Dreams,” but it’s a rare rock show that features so much new material and gets such a heated, welcoming reception. The Cranberries as a band are also charming rock stars, since they project nearly zero pretentiousness on stage. There is no posing, and even though O’Riordan dominates as she prances across the stage with a hint of tomboy awkwardness, there is little question that the band is a band, rather than merely backup for her. Rumors were circulating at the Hammer that The Cranberries would be playing a return engagement later this summer. If they do, count that show among the season’s must-see concerts.

—Thomas

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Review 3 from Vanessa (Hammersmith Ballroom, New York NY, USA, 05.05.1999)

HI, everybody fans and “cultors” of my GREATEST AND “LOVEST” FAVOURITE GROUP!!!!! DOLORES, FERGAL, MIKE, NOEL , YOU’RE GREAT!!!!!!!! And, Dolores, you’re my “idol” since I was teen-ager. I cut my hair quite like you at 16een and now (24 ) quite again: I love your song and you’re way of singing, and the music that all the group is able to create.. what such a feelings listening to your music!!!! what energy and also what sweetness!!!! My entusiasm is again at the top because I was at your concert in PRAHA, the 23rd of April, at PAEGAS ARENA: IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE !!!!

Once time again you’ve been gaving me something special.. for my soul!!

Thank you Dolores for your sweetness.. Do you remember? .. Do you still have the map of PRAHA on which a wrote to you a message , and also the other small block notes?.. I wanted to express you that you’ve been important for me, your songs , while I was a little teen-ager rebel in “her” soul. I found in your song a lot of what I felt.. and also I find a lot of what I feel , till now. Thanks.. what say? GREAT!!!!!

( Maybe One day we can take a coffe togheter, chatting and talking a little bit.. I ‘d really like to meet and talk a little bit with you… Maybe, Maybe..

I like so much Ireland, ( i’ve been there at 14een), and celtic music and traditions…and .. the Guinnes is my favourite beer.. ah aha haa… What more??!! ) MY friend are also enthusiasthic of the concert !! A great show!! SURE!!!!

And now , we ,all, have a little “Cranberries’ fever”.. They and me search fotos, videos, shows, and lives, discs, songs.. ehehhehe

Maybe we’re going to make a little music band ( i’ll try to be the singer.. because a like it.. and if so .. They MUST make me singing some of your songs.. I’m joking.. : Dolores .. you had a really great voice and energy, “expressivity”.. and the band all is great in music!!! )

I read on the official web site .. Fergal “toughts” about Praha.. I didn’t know you’ve been stay there for some days..maybe we were along the same streets.. mmmm .. It’s a romantic and melancholy city, nice.. don’t you think?

I liked the band-support who opened the show : brain-storms ( is it correct?): .. and When we listened … the intro of “Wake up..” our adrenalina become to rise.. and .. then the voice of Dolores starts.. and then WAKE UP _ WAKE UP :: it was an EXPLOSION!!!!!!!!!!! OF ENERGY !!!! GREAT!!!!!!

ALL THE SONGS , FOR ALL THE CONCERTS.. IN THE SWEET SONGS AND IN THE EXPLOSIVE ONES!!!!! and she was dancing really near us.. in front of us..running from one side to the another, and swinging her legs , and moving her hands, as she always do,( and nobody else does it), and as we see in the videos .. ( that for me was really great .. an emotion!!!) .. ( You ‘ve got beautiful legs!! ) , and your boots are your print!!) Fergal , you’re nice!.. and your drums really exciting :O) … Noel and Mike, greats!!!!!! guitars and bass: really flashes of adrenalina!!!!

I wished you gave us “some feathers ” of Dolores’ violet-boa.. ) ehe eheh

Thank you for making so great music!!!!! And being so kindly!!!

A big KISS
Vanessa

I attended the Massey Hall performance of the Cranberries in Toronto in April. Although it was a small venue I felt it was absolutely perfect to watch them perform. It was cozy and intimate and the sound was great. It was theater seating and although it didn’t accommodate many people it was really special. This was my second time watching them in concert & their sound/stage presence has improved (having first watched them on their first tour in 1996). Dolores’ energy was unmatched and superb…. her on stage outfits were really cute and original. The boys in the band were good & their drummer totally rocks and puts his all in to. I felt the variety in music selection was good, a mixture old stuff (like ‘Linger’,’ Dreams’, ‘Zombie’ among a few) and a bunch of their new released stuff (like ‘Shattered’ & a great version of ‘Animal Instinct’). This is a great band, and the fact that they played at such a small venue as opposed to a large arena restores my faith that it is really still about the music. Love the Cranberries!

thnx, Katia

Let me tell in a few words that some fans met The Cranberries in Barcelona near Hard Rock Cafe and they were very nice to us signing our albums and making photos with us.

Barcelona was crazy for seeing them alive again (they didn’t play since 1995), and the place where they were going to play had to be changed from the 9000 stadium to a 24000 one. The Cranberries couldn’t fill it, but there was about 17000 people there, one of their biggest audiences this year.

At 22.00, the curtains were opened and people shouted absolutely wild. The show was very similar to Madrid two days before, so you can read the review I wrote. Barcelona show was better because people was anxious for seeing them, but The Cranberries played better in Madrid.

Here’s what they played:
PROMISES: Everybody jumped up and down, completely wild, but nobody expected they did the short version except the people who were in both concerts in Spain. Dolores was in another short skirt.
ANIMAL INSTINCT: Dolores marked the rhythm at the start with those sticks used for play drums. The audience sang it from the start to the end.
LOUD AND CLEAR: It didn’t sound as strong as in Madrid, but still rocked.
ODE TO MY FAMILY
THE ICICLE MELTS
LINGER
WANTED
SALVATION
DESPERATE ANDY: People, like in Madrid, preferred these news songs and not classics like Linger and songs from the first album. They did a shorter version than in Madrid.
GO YOUR OWN WAY: It was well played, but young people in Spain have no idea about Fleet wood Mac, so when Dolores said “Sing it”, not a lot of people could do it, but everybody learned the chorus very soon. There were a lot of people who thought they were perfect fans and were a little shocked, like “What is this! Is it a new song for the next album?” And people were crazy for Dolores. When she came out, and the boys were playing so good (Fergal is a very good drummer), a lot of people just ignored them and started shouting for Dolores to come back. She is wonderful, but the boys play very well too so I want to ask the people to listen to them when they play. They do it very well.
PRETTY:…And she came back.
WHEN YOU’RE GONE: Why people don’t like TTFD? It’s not perfect, but it’s quite good. Only Salvation was heavily sang from this album by all.
I CAN’T BE WITH YOU: There was some special feeling. I have heard it live a lot of times, but this time it was special. For me it was the highlight of the night as everybody sang it and I could hear her loud and clear, which is a very difficult thing in Spain.
WALTZING BACK: Once more.
ZOMBIE: It was played as perfectly as in Madrid and Dolores asked for peace in North Ireland again.
RIDICULOUS THOUGHTS: It’s one of my favorites, but it was shattered. In the intro part, suddenly, Noel’s guitar stopped to sound, so Dolores had to stop singing and start again. Noel said sorry and so did her. But Noel’s guitar definitely didn’t work out and half of the song had to be played just with bass and drums. It sounded awful, but people just sang it the same and animated them in spite of technical problems. At the first chorus, Noel’s guitar was on again and he started dancing like a mad, moving completely crazy over the stage, as I had never seen him. I guess he wanted to say “I’m here and my guitar is on”. If anyone wants to hear this, I recorded it in a cassette, but the sound is awful.

————————–
DYING IN THE SUN: The piano and the sun show was better than in Madrid. Dolores was got nearer and nearer to the sun, that stayed quiet, so it seemed she was going to be burned by the fire… by the fire of fame, I think. It was wonderful, the best thing they have done live.
YOU AND ME: I don’t like it very much. It’s a shame they didn’t play Shattered, but people like it and sang it all along.
JUST MY IMAGINATION: Since the first guitar bit, everybody got crazy. It was one of the highlights because it sounded very strong and happy. It didn’t sound like a semi-country song. It was played like in the Jay Leno show, but the acoustic guitar was stronger. Everybody seemed very happy listening to this song and there was all kind of people: people who were about 30, Oasis fans, Korn fans, Back Street Boys fans… But we were all together and happy, feeling really free, living for the love we have and living not for reality. DELILAH:Welcome as all BTH songs were.
DREAMS: Dolores said that we had been the best of The Cranberries year (don’t know if it’s for BTH record sales, for the big audience or for the people singing almost every song) and so they are back in April to play in a Festival in the South. Dreams was as good as always. Ave Maria was played before the lights came back and some people thought she was singing it there alive.

A few days previous to May 19th, I managed to score 2 tix for the BTH tour date here in Los Angeles. Since my wife was pregnant at the time, she decided she’d better not go since possible pushing and shoving was a possibility. So, I decided to take my friend Mike with me, whose only enjoyment from The Cranberries was teasing me about liking them.

We left Fullerton, in Orange County, CA for Los Angeles about 5pm, and arrived about 6:30. Damn traffic. While we were sitting at the red light at the corner of Western and Wilshire I went ahead and dished out the $10 for a bootleg shirt. Hey- it was cool. After we found a decent *(and reasonable) parking rate right across the street, we walked over to the Wiltern Theatre. I was a little shocked to hear my name being called and ‘ZombieGuide!’ by a few people that recognized me from my site, but it was flattering all the same, and I stopped to say hello to the fellow net surfers.

Anyway, I had never been inside the Wiltern before, just drove by it half a billion times. It appears that it is a very old playhouse, maybe capable of holding 800 people or so. It seemed to me that there was about 700-800 people there. So as we are seated, the lights go off, and the opening act, Jude, comes out…

And they sucked. As we fidgeted in out seats for 30 minutes or so, Jude finished off thier excuse for a show, and finally The Crans make thier appearance…now, I go to a lot of concerts, and the OVERWHELMING cheering as they entered and took their places on stage was deafening. We had decent seats about 12 feet from stage, so we could really appreaciate the show.

This had to be the BEST concert I’ve been to, and I must admit, I wasn’t a big fan of the Cranberries live material based on the 90+ bootleg shows I have, but I was absouletly blown away for the entire hour and half or whatever it was that they played. The sound was sooo loud that my ears literally rang for 2 days afterward. When old favorites such as ‘Salvation’, ‘Linger’ and ‘Zombie’ were played, the house nearly came down. The sound so incredibly loud, not only from the music, but from the crowd! I guess being in such a small venue, and so close to stage made it that more enjoyable as well.

After the show and encore, I had decided I WAS going to meet the band. I had brought all my 12″ vinyl with me, along with over 100 exposures of film, and a camera I didn’t know how to use. So after the show, we walked out to the back door to wait.

As we sat around waiting, I counted to see how many people were sticking around. Roughly 40. As the roadies loaded up the bands equiptment into the trucks, we waited in the cold Los Angeles night. Steve whatever his name is, the back up vocalist walked by about 2-3 times, and seemed bothered that no one knew who he was or asked for any autograph.

2 and 1/2 hours later, a grey van and a limo back down the alley down to the back door, and the guys- Mike, Noel and Ferg run and hop in. I yell at Mike to grab the camera and run over, we manage to get 1 crappy pic that later didn’t even develop cause it was too dark. By this time, only about 15 fans are left, the rest gave up thru out the night. So the van pulls up, slows down the guys wave as they drive by. No autographs, we’re bummed.

Then while we’re watching the van, the limo starts to pull up, then the window rolls down, ’tis Dolores. As the dozen or so of us stare like mental pateints, I reach toward the window, and she grabs my hand, and says’ Did you enjoy the show, lad?” And of course I say yes. Then she starts talking with the fans from within the car and signining. I managed to get my 12″ NNTA signed.

So overall a good experience. I suggest to anyone who can wait around after the show to do so. A couple of hours wait for a great story to share, and an opportunity to meet a very, very nice (and sexy) Irish chicky.

—John Armijo

Review #2 from Adam D. Lupercio (Wilturn Theatre, Los Angeles, California, 19.05.99)

I attended the Los Angeles show. There’s nothing like seeing The Cranberries again in concert. The aura that surrounds the band, and basically the expectations that needed to be met WERE met. They blew me away. I could see, well the people around me, knew almost every single song that the band performed, and that just made me a “happy camper”. Let’s see…hmm….

well for one, the sound was absolutely great, and what better place to get great sound than that of the Universal Amphitheatre. I know, yes, my review sounds so happy, well, as a matter of fact, there’s nothing that was (to me) significantly boring. My cousin, Joey, who is a fanatic just like me, had a great time. That was his first time EVER seeing his favorite band, and I bought his ticket cause I knew he wanted to see them but just didn’t have the cash. One thing I noticed, maybe it’s obvious being in L.A., I noticed there were many Mexican-American fans there *including me, my cousins Joey & David, and my friend Freddy*. All in all, the concert was great, and I think that The Cranberries put on a fantastic show. Maybe next time I will actually drive to see The Cranberries. =)

SETLIST
[Weird Intro Music]
1) Promises – while they were playing the intro Dolores said “How’s it going Los Angeles?”
2) Loud And Clear
3) Animal Instinct – before this one Dolores dedicated it to her son Taylor, how sweet =)
4) Ode To My Family – Dolores had the crowd clapping their hands, like in the Germany bootleg video from 1994
5) Sunday
6) Linger – Dolores got the crowd to wave their hands throughout most of the song
7) Wanted – MY favorite Cranberries song!!!
Salvation – they played this one as fast as the version they played on the 1996 MTV Music Awards
9) Desperate Andy – Sorry but this song sounded really dull live
10) Go Your Own Way [Fleetwood Mac song] – we all sang along with Dolores
11) Pretty – as always, Dolores dedicated it to women, of which she got an enormous applaud
12) When You’re Gone – this one brings alot of relief to me when I hear it, and hearing it live for the 1st time was even better relief
13) Free To Decide
14) I Can’t Be With You
15) Waltzing Back
16) Zombie – everyone sung along with this one (as always)
17) Ridiculous Thoughts
[ENCORE] – There was at least 10-12 minutes of cheering before the band finally took the stage again 18) Dying In The Sun - as said in some past reviews, Dolores DID come out with a white grand piano and Fergal played a keyboard, that was so cool 19) You And Me - Dolores came out in a “fur like” coat, although not fur, it was the same style 20) Just My Imagination – before this one, Dolores was stating that this song talks about the freedom of being a teenager, which most of the crowd yelled to, and how the freedom she has now as an adult 21) Delilah - when Noel striked the chord before they started to play this one, it sounded as if they were about to play Liar 22) Dreams - as ALWAYS, everybody was into it, SINGING EVERY SINGLE WORD!

[SIDE NOTE] : I bought a shirt and the tourbook. Why in the hell was it given to me open? There was a seal but it was like you had to lick it like a letter to close it]

—Adam D. Lupercio