Cranberries Singer Trades 'SpongeBob' for Snow Patrol

Shortly after releasing her first solo album, 'Are You Listening?' Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan is going at it alone on the road, beginning July 7 in Toronto. While her last jaunt found her headlining arenas with her fellow Cranberries, this trek will be back to basics. And yes, O'Riordan is just fine with that.

"In a way, there's a freshness," she tells Spinner. "It's like starting again 'cause you're [playing] in small venues -- 2,000-seaters -- and that's all exciting. It's brilliant."

While the hardest part of touring is arguably the actual travel, a rejuvenated O'Riordan is enjoying the city trots. "When you've had four years off, you're excited to see all the cities again," she says, "and go back and see everybody again. Go back to your old restaurants, your old haunts. I've been shopping -- a bit of retail therapy -- like all girls."

As for the time spent during the recording of 'Are You Listening?' O'Riordan reveled in the joys of her newfound motherhood -- even if it was at the expense of broadening her pop culture horizons. "I was watching 'Regis and Kelly' and 'The View ' -- all those talk shows that mommies watch," she says. "Otherwise it was 'Dora the Explorer' or 'SpongeBob.' I didn't really have the time to [listen to music]."

However, there is one band she stumbled across, thanks to her husband. "I love Snow Patrol's album," she says. "My husband bought that for me. I loved the lyrics and his voice is really lovely."