Sinead O'Connor - Cabaret Metro, Chicago, Illinois, April 11, 1988

Sinead O'Connor - Cabaret Metro, Chicago, Illinois, April 11, 1988OK, fine, another Aadam Jacobs tape — this one taking us back to a fiery gig on Sinead O'Connor’s first American tour. Sinead was just about 21 years old at this point, but she commands the stage effortlessly, whipping the Chicago crowd into a frenzy as though it’s no big thing. O'Connor kicks things off alone onstage with a proto-PJ Harvey rendition of “Jackie” before her band joins for an ecstatic “Mandinka.” Oh and the rhythm section of that band is worth mentioning — it’s made up of bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce, who had just recently wrapped up their duties in the Smiths. In tandem with guitarist Marco Pirroni (maybe best known for his work in Adam and the Ants), they provide a flexible, muscular backdrop for Sinead’s laser-sharp vocals. The kind of voice that pins you to the wall! Listening all these years later, it feels like you could comfortably place O'Connor amidst some of the classic…