CRANBERRIES IN OSLO
Ill start this of saying it was a great show. A show Ive been wanting to see the last seven years. For some reason I wasnt invited when they played the Nobels Peace price concert a while ago. Depicted here is a chronic of what I perceived. In the sober rush of joy I might have gotten something wrong. But their sheer stage presence is hard hitting. If you stare - they stare right back at you!
The band came on and started playing Wake up and smell the coffee.
Dolores enters the stage wearing something looking like a S/M top with the shortest skirt ever. Sporting a carnival mask of black leather and nails (One can actually unintentionally see her underwear). She comes through with good sound and the crowd gives her a warm welcoming. She knows how to get the irony across saying shes so pretty. But she didnt get us to shut up.
After this first song she puts on the guitar for the first time. By now she has a nice collection of Candy Apple red Gibson ES335s and a stunning green Paul Reed Smith. Not to mention the "costs more than a house" Taylor acoustic. Her tech swaps her a freshly tuned guitar between each song. Shes a multi instrumentalist also tackling a keyboard several times.
Oslos not the first stop on this tour but it still takes them a few songs to warm up to the room. A crowd which really doesnt know what to expect. Dolores gives her all and moulds the response throughout the night. Several singalongs really brought the spirits high. A true Freddie Mercuryish approach of crowd control.
In keeping with tour customs they all have learned the appropriate Norwegian word for thank you. A well served trick for these masters of the stage trade. And so every other song is followed by a "takk takk" with the embarrassed smile. Even Michael Hogan gives the barbaric language a go.
Norway seemingly isnt great Cranberries ground. But the crow surely knows the words and sings along to the simple but profound musical statements. Everyone stopping to hear if shell sing "and Kosovo or Afghanistan to" in Salvation.
The concert was surprisingly long, an hour and fifty! Musically ranged from lush ballads such as Joe to the fast and direct I just shot John Lennon. Dolores said JOE is a song "I love very much" and really gave a heartfelt performance. The band comes across much harder than youd expect after their last album. I for one do not think theyve "grown old".
Striding about the stage while thrashing her strings she gave us a hard time taking pictures. Dolores referred to Rockefeller as somewhat "returning to their roots" By playing this "intimate venue" they show theyre in it to entertain, not capitalise on eager fans. Who got really close to the stage making us all feel part of the show. She said this was the type of place theyd be performing at when they started out. It held about 1300, packed both nights. And even she was a bit uncertain about when they did start up. In the end she narrowed it down to 91-92. Depends on how you see it apparently.
CRANBERRIES IN OSLO
Ill start this of saying it was a great show. A show Ive been wanting to see the last seven years. For some reason I wasnt invited when they played the Nobels Peace price concert a while ago. Depicted here is a chronic of what I perceived. In the sober rush of joy I might have gotten something wrong. But their sheer stage presence is hard hitting. If you stare - they stare right back at you!
The band came on and started playing Wake up and smell the coffee.
Dolores enters the stage wearing something looking like a S/M top with the shortest skirt ever. Sporting a carnival mask of black leather and nails (One can actually unintentionally see her underwear). She comes through with good sound and the crowd gives her a warm welcoming. She knows how to get the irony across saying shes so pretty. But she didnt get us to shut up.
After this first song she puts on the guitar for the first time. By now she has a nice collection of Candy Apple red Gibson ES335s and a stunning green Paul Reed Smith. Not to mention the "costs more than a house" Taylor acoustic. Her tech swaps her a freshly tuned guitar between each song. Shes a multi instrumentalist also tackling a keyboard several times.
Oslos not the first stop on this tour but it still takes them a few songs to warm up to the room. A crowd which really doesnt know what to expect. Dolores gives her all and moulds the response throughout the night. Several singalongs really brought the spirits high. A true Freddie Mercuryish approach of crowd control.
In keeping with tour customs they all have learned the appropriate Norwegian word for thank you. A well served trick for these masters of the stage trade. And so every other song is followed by a "takk takk" with the embarrassed smile. Even Michael Hogan gives the barbaric language a go.
Norway seemingly isnt great Cranberries ground. But the crow surely knows the words and sings along to the simple but profound musical statements. Everyone stopping to hear if shell sing "and Kosovo or Afghanistan to" in Salvation.
The concert was surprisingly long, an hour and fifty! Musically ranged from lush ballads such as Joe to the fast and direct I just shot John Lennon. Dolores said JOE is a song "I love very much" and really gave a heartfelt performance. The band comes across much harder than youd expect after their last album. I for one do not think theyve "grown old".
Striding about the stage while thrashing her strings she gave us a hard time taking pictures. Dolores referred to Rockefeller as somewhat "returning to their roots" By playing this "intimate venue" they show theyre in it to entertain, not capitalise on eager fans. Who got really close to the stage making us all feel part of the show. She said this was the type of place theyd be performing at when they started out. It held about 1300, packed both nights. And even she was a bit uncertain about when they did start up. In the end she narrowed it down to 91-92. Depends on how you see it apparently.
Being known for their stand for peace Cranberries gives a light tone. An easy atmosphere in which you neednt be part of a movement in order to participate. Meanings are displayed and some might agree with them, some mightent. Still no one can argue with Cranberries knowledge of war. Her words are sincere and derived from experience. But this day she had peacefully enjoyed Norwegian seafood in the heart of Oslos historical centre. According to Dolores the Irish sort isnt all that great. This gives the Norwegian crowd a smirk grin.
Childbirth and family life redlines her lyrics lately. Introducing Animal Instinct saying "for you it can mean whatever you want" she tells us. Herself considering it a song about her fist pregnancy. During the first verse of this song the sound quality really strikes me. Being a sound tech myself I admit their crew really handles the MIDAS console brilliantly. What they need the five 19" racks of audio processors for I dont know. The band is tight and Dolores tunes herself like flute. PA sound is crisp and economically processed. Her vocal delivery power unequalled in the music business today.
The only event not planned for occurred while speeding through "I just shot John Lennon". For some reason the base player looses his phrasing and seems lost for a couple of bars. Maybe he got distracted from the fact that Fergal looses a drumstick. Amazingly Fergal managed to pick up another stick so fast he probably didnt miss more than four sixteenth notes.This man is a hard hitting mellow man. Perfect for the dynamic range of this awesome band. All in all nothing major but Dolores deals with it professionally. In the end she blames it on Michael (base) and they all laugh it off. Probably most of the audience didnt even notice. Im just a keen listener.
Moral seems high and we get a piece of advice from the young mother. Desperate Andy handles the subject of prejudging people you meet. -You shouldnt judge a book by its cover. First impressions last, but they shouldnt, should they?- Dolores declares. Ending the lesson with a sip from a thermo cuppa tea.(her tech also took a swig, to check the blend in preparations ha ha) Ending this song Dolores rushes of stage making everybody wonder if shes in "mood". The band doesnt seem to mind and plays on. The hired gun on guitar fretting up a wizardly phrased solo. Thankfully she came back having changed into another of her stunning outfit. In all she wore three different outfits in Oslo. The S/M, a blue overall with orange boa and a beautiful red dress with feathered hair peace.
After playing a mellow set part all stage lights go dim and the stage all empty. Not acceptable for a crowd which promptly demands an encore. Cranberries appreciate the gesture and return shortly fast and kicks ass for the last half hour. Flowing through a selection of the current album songs. Finishing off with Promises and Dreams while the crowd goes ape. Still not satisfied the crow stands ground and clapping wish for a second encore. A demand never met, but Cranberries surely must have gone off stage feeling this was a good night. A concert defining why time is relative-it went so fast!
Should they come back again they might even sell out three shows in a row. Have Cranberries underestimated their popularity in Norway? I think so!
Dag Blix - merqury5@hotmail.com
