March 24, 1988: Jeff Johns review of Sinead O'Connor's U.S. debut at Buff State

 

Too soon gone, Sinéad O’Connor. When she made her first U.S. appearance at Buffalo State College in 1988, the reviewing duties fell upon one of the stringers, Jeff Johns. Here’s his report: 

March 24, 1988

Sinéad O’Connor Impressive in U.S. Debut 

          “The Lion and the Cobra” proved to be a fitting title for Sinead O’Connor’s debut album, as she embodied those mystical beasts Wednesday night in her U.S. concert tour debut in Buffalo State College’s Student Union Social Hall.

          Although the stage setting is minimalist in approach, O’Connor’s stage presence is massive. With a stunning voice and delivery, she is at once sly and smooth, like the cobra, and then she strikes out with the strength of a lion’s roar.

          Although her movements are kept to a minimum, she proves to be a charismatic focal point, decked out in black from head to toe. The flash and spark to the entire show is left to her vocal pyrotechnics. The dynamics here run the gamut from plaintive, to the point of being almost tentative, to a rasp that culminates in a roar. In this case, the voice even overshadows her “skinhead” look.

          Just as she does on vinyl, this startlingly talented 20-year-old opened her set with “Jackie,” followed by “Mandinka.” While the first leans more to a solo vocal workout, the second is laced with a driving metallic-edged guitar and throbbing bottom end. This also proved to be a compelling introduction to O’Connor’s vocal prowess.

          While on her self-produced vinyl the vocals are layers on double tracks – often ending up just this side of Phil Spector’s “All of Mud” sound – live, it is all Sinead, with no backing vocal help. While most of what is heard on vinyl proves to be eminently listenable and interesting, when brought to the stage it infused with new intensity and life.

          The first indications of a funky undercurrent came during “Just Like U Said It Would B.” Next, O’Connor charged into the vocal gymnastics of “Jerusalem.” Here she clasped her arms around herself for a low, stark introduction. Then she marched in place to a careening caterwaul by midsong.

          After tossing off an as-yet untitled new song, it was on to “Call Me Joe.” This one suffered in the live setting with its odd distorted and distended opening and its thrashing close. Leaning more toward the first album’s better uptempo tracks was the new song, “Jump into the River.”

          Bringing the set to a close, after an all-too-brief 45 minutes, was “I Want Your (Hands on Me),” which confirmed the United Kingdom’s current fascination with funk. This danceable throw-down gave the rhythm section – former Smiths Andy Rourke on bass and Mike Joyce on drums – a chance to work out.

          O’Connor’s encore was the acoustic solo “Troy.” This was the perfect capper, with her anguished, intense vocal talents being placed in the spotlight.

          Given the necessary commercial exposure, O’Connor proved in concert she has the talent to take her far beyond the critical and college acclaim she has received thus far.

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IN THE PHOTO: Dave Meinzer’s marvelously minimal poster for the show, lifted from his Facebook posting of the version that appeared in the Record, the campus newspaper. He noted in his post that it actually was printed in dark blue ink.

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FOOTNOTE: There’s no mention of this date on setlist.fm. Here’s what she played three nights later at The World in New York City: 

          Jackie

          Mandinka

          Just Like U Said It Would B

          Jerusalem

          The Value of Ignorance

          The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (Smiths cover)

          Just Call Me Joe

          Jump in the River

          Troy

          The following week at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, Mass., it was still a nine-song set, but with a few alterations. “Never Get Old” was her third song, she omitted “Value of Ignorance” and she substituted “I Want Your (Hands on Me)” for “Jump in the River.”