No Doubt Tour 2009

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Sacramento Bee
by Carla Meyer


No Doubt at vintage best

On the road after a five-year hiatus but without new songs to push, No Doubt wowed a packed Sleep Train Amphitheater on Friday night with a straightforward greatest-hits set.

Opening with the jaunty, jagged "Spiderwebs" from its 1995 mega-seller "Tragic Kingdom," No Doubt set a tone of good-time familiarity that kept a rare sellout crowd at the 18,500-capacity Wheatland venue on its feet.

Frontwoman Gwen Stefani continually stoked the audience, separating out male audience members to sing about how they were "just a girl" only to playfully mock the inevitably silly result.

Stefani also ventured into the audience on a few occasions to perform the mildest stage dives ever: dropping from the stage to the amphitheater floor, she allowed herself to be gently lifted for a moment or two.

The greatest show of love, however, was among the people on the stage, where a sparkling-white, Space Age set gave way to a video montage of Stefani, bassist Tony Kanal, guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young that harked back to the band's early days in Anaheim.

The footage - and onstage interactions between Stefani and her long-ago boyfriend Kanal - underscored the iconic singer's loyalty to the band that spawned her.

So did a lack of Stefani solo hits. On this tour, Stefani ain't no "Hollaback Girl," but rather one-quarter of a band she's belonged to since she was practically a kid.

And that was fine, since the best Stefani songs are No Doubt songs anyway, from the slink of "Hella Good" to the lush pop of "Simple Kind of Life." Strutting and shoulder-sashaying her way across the stage, Stefani demonstrated, nearly a decade and a half into superstardom as a singer and inventive fashionista, that she's still one of the guys.

Dressed in low-slung, military-style white pants, black boots and a white sports bra, Stefani, at 39, still looked the part of skate-punk girl. That was in no small part due to the abs - washboard perfect even after a couple of kids.

Stefani changed twice, into increasingly odder outfits that hewed to the white-and-black scheme of the night.

Merging ska, reggae and pop, No Doubt has grown more sophisticated over the years while remaining, in essence, a party band. And that party spirit is what packed the house during a summer concert season in which big acts with more current hits aren't coming close to selling out. It also helped that No Doubt was supported by a bona-fide hit maker Paramore.

In her black T-shirt and jeans, Paramore singer Hayley Williams reflected the fashion sense of the many audience members in their 20s raised on No Doubt's hits but currently more engaged by Paramore's power pop.

Maja Ivarsson, by contrast, was nothing but snarl in leading the harder-edged Swedish band the Sounds, the first of the night's three female-fronted groups. All legs and European sexpot swagger in a 1970s-era black wrap dress, Ivarsson nearly equaled Stefani's charisma during No Doubt's encore performance of Adam Ant's "Stand and Deliver."

But it was clear that Stefani, though ever-gracious in allowing Ivarsson and the Sounds to share the spotlight, was the frontwoman no matter how many bands were on stage.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Los Angeles Times
by August Brown

No Doubt at Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal City
The O.C. band still has its edge.

Of all the people who deserve credit for making No Doubt's return tour such a giddy success, singer Gwen Stefani's trainer merits extra kudos. When Stefani took the Gibson Amphitheatre stage Wednesday night in a brash outfit that seemed equal parts chola swagger and Hamptons riding crop, women in the audience gasped at the impeccable tone of her abdominal muscles.

Less than a year after giving birth to her second child, the 39-year-old Stefani looked every bit the insouciant Anaheim daughter, equally quick with a toothy smile or a kick in the shins. The message was clear: No Doubt is in great, great shape today.

The band's round of summer touring -- its first after a five-year hiatus -- isn't exactly a reunion, as the inventive ska-pop band never truly broke up. But it was an occasion to reconsider the impact of the Orange County band on the tastes of an in-between generation too young for grunge, but one that swapped MP3s via dial-up modem.

For many twentysomething women today, No Doubt's early-'90s hits such as "Just a Girl" and "Spiderwebs" were first clues that summer fun and speaking your mind could go hand in hand. Their boyfriends could skateboard to the punkier moments of the band's breakout album, "Tragic Kingdom," and its singles were correctives to Seattle's gloomy stranglehold on rock radio. Even the band's late-career turn toward dark and sugary club-bangers anticipated rock and rap's turn toward dance beats and collaborations. No Doubt might have been rock's first undercover poptimists.

The most surprising thing about Wednesday's show was the breadth of sounds No Doubt commanded during its long and hit-heavy set. Noirish surf-rock preceded breezy reggae; New Wave rave-ups led to gum-smacking ghettotech.

Though Stefani gets much of the camera time, much of No Doubt's power comes from its instrumental prowess. Guitarist Tom Dumont played with the precision of a metalhead and the try-everything ethic of today's eclectic pop producers, while bassist Tony Kanal and ever-lipsticked drummer Adrian Young gave the tunes a syncopated swing that still sounds like little else on rock radio. The band's two multi-instrumentalist utility men provided necessary textures, from regal horns to cued drum samples and deep funk synthesizers.

Stefani's solo success as an R&B-leaning singer and fashion label owner seems to have rubbed off on her band. Their stage set, with its sleek ascending catwalks, had a John Lautner-esque retro-futurism that might have startled a younger, scruffier No Doubt.

But the band avoided trademark Stefani singles such as "Hollaback Girl" for a good reason: It didn't need them. With a career arc from the sand-in-your-toes dub of "Different People" to the James Bond-flick rock of "Ex-Girlfriend" and '80s hat tip to Talk Talk's "It's My Life," No Doubt had quite the genre slalom run all on its own.

No Doubt's choice of openers showcased the band's influence on young female musicians. The Swedish band the Sounds played a boilerplate and over-carbonated kind of dance-punk, but won points for the unapologetic overtures of singer Maja Ivarsson. The very promising young band Paramore previewed tracks from its forthcoming album "brand new eyes" that suggested the group has been crate-digging for old Jawbreaker LPs.

Paramore singer Hayley Williams could probably see a bit of herself in the video montage of early No Doubt footage that accompanied part of the headliner's set. It showed Stefani making goofy faces while leading crowds in madcap dancing. No Doubt's set proved the resonance of the band's career, but more important, it proved the power of an artist staying one step ahead of its audience. It almost made you want to hit the gym to keep up.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: San Jose Mercury News
by Jim Harrington

Review: No Doubt in concert

No Doubt's current reunion tour underscores three things.
No. 1: The band's vast popularity can't be explained entirely by its songbook.
No. 2: No Doubt was one of the most influential acts of the last 20 years.
No. 3: Vocalist Gwen Stefani needed to leave the group.

The Orange County quartet's 90-minute offering on Tuesday at the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord, which will be repeated on Saturday at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, certainly pleased the near-capacity crowd. Yet, it was even more enlightening than it was entertaining.

The 19-song set included just about every No Doubt tune that the casual fan would want to hear _ all the big hits from 1995's 10-million-plus-selling "Tragic Kingdom" and other, more recent singles _ yet it still came up feeling a bit empty. Perhaps that's because this tank of tunes, although radio friendly to the extreme, doesn't contain much fuel for thought.

That was part of No Doubt's original appeal. It burst onto the national scene at exactly the right time and offered up an appealingly lightweight and breezy alternative to grunge, rap-rock and all the other heavy sounds going down in the mid-'90s. The band's happy-go-lucky brand of ska-pop didn't really ask much, if anything, of the listener, other than to sing along with the chorus.

It was a style that would prove immensely influential, not only in its day (with such No Doubt clones as Save Ferris), but more than a decade later. The band paved the way for young power-pop acts like Paramore, which opened the Concord show, as well as for probably half the bubblegum rock heard in 2009 on Radio Disney.

Ska-pop, however, is a tremendously limited genre _ there really is only so much that can be done with it. In Concord, as No Doubt bounced from one ska-pop ditty to another, it became clear that Stefani needed to leave the band in order to mature as an artist.

And she certainly accomplished that feat once No Doubt went on hiatus in 2004. In the course of two solo records, "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." and "The Sweet Escape," Stefani was able to surpass what No Doubt had accomplished artistically and transform herself into a dance-pop queen.

She left her crown, as well as her own individual songbook, at home on this night, in favor of being "Just a Girl" in the band. It was an ego-less performance, quite impressive for a star of Stefani's magnitude, and the vocalist shared the spotlight generously with the other No Doubt members _ bassist Tony Kanal, drummer Adrian Young and guitarist Tom Dumont _ and side musicians Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair.

The sextet kicked off the show in upbeat fashion with a double shot of the "Tragic Kingdom" favorite "Spiderwebs" and the dance number "Hella Good," from 2001's "Rock Steady." From there, the group moved into the slower "Underneath It All" and then bounced right back up with "Ex-Girlfriend." That pattern _ a couple of fast numbers, then a softer one, followed by more speed _ would repeat throughout the concert.

The visuals were quite dramatic. The entire band was dressed in black and white, and the stage matched. Young's drum set was lifted off the floor, with runways snaking down from it to the main stage, and the whole design, intentionally or not, resembled the famed elevated restaurant at Los Angeles International Airport.

Then, of course, there was the 39-year-old Stefani. She was a striking presence, appearing first in something like a jockey's outfit, complete with a long jacket and black riding boots. Her shirt was cut to reveal her abs, which _ even after giving birth to two children _ remain one of the most impressive six-packs in the industry.

The main set ended with the anthem "Just a Girl," and the band would return for an encore that peaked with "Sunday Morning." That was a fine way to close the show, but the band left without providing many clues to what the next No Doubt record will sound like when it is released next year.

On the other hand, the concert did leave no doubt as to why most people are speculating that the band's forthcoming album will be its last.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning

Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Seattle Times
by Marian Liu
No Doubt all energy and hits at White River show

Before she arrived in the Seattle area, Gwen Stefani remarked that she would give her all at the No Doubt concert Sunday night at Auburn's White River Amphitheatre, and she made good on her promise.

Through three glittery outfit changes and lots of kicking, dancing and rocking, Stefani and the rest of No Doubt transported the packed audience through many of their classics, such as "Spiderwebs," "Don't Speak" and "Just a Girl."

The Anaheim ska band has been around since 1987, and recently came back on the scene after a five-year hiatus. The break didn't hamper their style. Stefani, sporting a sculpted abdomen, is still as cut as can be after popping out two kids, and drummer Adrian Young was up to his usual antics, topless with a bright red tutu.

Stefani was also as charismatic as ever - getting into the audience, signing a fan's arm and grabbing a fan's camera to take a picture. The rest of the band - Young, bassist Tony Kanal and guitarist-keyboard player Tom Dumont - matched her never-ending energy.

Most of the show went exactly as what Stefani said during the show that they'd deliver - "nice and juicy," prepared after some 40 shows on tour. But a few songs, including "It's My Life" and "Simple Kind of Life," were either badly mixed or strangely updated, causing the audience - who were rocking along - to stand silently confused.

Paramore, who opened for No Doubt, was a nice fit. No Doubt has a tradition of showcasing female-fronted bands as openers - such as Garbage and the Distillers - and lead singer Haley Williams of Paramour could well be a future pint-size version of Stefani. She certainly has the energy. Time will tell if Paramore has the same staying power.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Vancouver Sun
by Joshua Kloke

Hits come early and often as No Doubt thrills crowd

Lights, camera and an insanely toned 39-year old blonde bombshell: No Doubt is back.


Without the hype of a new record to hide behind, the Southern California foursome that redefined summer hits in the 90s showed the crowd at GM Place what they were made of on Saturday night. The hits came early and they came often. And with those hits came the kind of energy young bands could only dream of. Thankfully, the crowd threw that energy back at the stage in spades.


A white curtain rose to the wild adoration of a nearly sold-out crowd and No Doubt, clad in white, appeared in the form of intergalactic rock stars. Spiderwebs as an opener was fitting, considering it was the tune that hooked many fans back in the days of their legendary Tragic Kingdom record. Its funky ska-like feel echoes the Police, but Sting could only pray of replicating the energy Gwen Stefani and company brought to the table. Stefani refused to let her microphone go unused; when she wasn't singing, she was begging and pleading with the crowd to get up and get active while traipsing the stage like a woman possessed. Therein lies the secret to her abs.


By Hella Good, the high-octane second number of the night, a normally reserved Vancouver crowd was pogo-ing in unison, drawing gigantic smiles from the band. No Doubt, an eternally unclassifiable band, proved that the best formula for success is sweat and showmanship. Even the video playing behind the stage during Underneath It All showed the band sweating buckets.

Reasons for No Doubt's return to the spotlight have been well documented, with Stefani herself calling this the "Procrastination tour," though this tour could easily be an attempt to get the creative juices and collective chemistry flowing after five No Doubt-less years. After witnessing the pure energy of Ex-Girlfriend, here's hoping the SoCal foursome don't procrastinate much longer before dropping a new record on the masses.


No Doubt relied on their strengths, especially Tragic Kingdom, a record that so many who grew up in the 90s hold dear to their heart. Simply put, No Doubt is the kind of person you want to have at a party: They know how to have a good time and they encourage everyone around them to do the same.


"What an amazing place you guys live in. Gorgeous. This is show number 42. I'm just searching every night to find my favourite person of the tour. Someone I will remember for the rest of my life" marked Stefani mid-way through the set. Thousands of fans wanted the honour, though Stefani refused to pick one. Instead, she smiled, hopefully blown away and guided the crowd through the swaying Simple Kind Of Life. It's doubtful anyone minded that much.


Though No Doubt's future remains uncertain, the moments forged on Saturday night will forever remain indelible. "I'm going to eat you all. You look so delicious," a panting Stefani remarked to the front rows early in the set. It was all the crowd could do but shout back, "Awesome. Would you like seconds?"

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Edmonton Journal
by Francois Marchand

Review: No Doubt in Edmonton

Reunion shows have become such an easy cash grab, especially in recent years, that it's often a little easy to pre-judge before they even happen.

Usually, it goes like this - band releases some kind of "greatest hits" compilation and tacks on some kind of half-assed new single to generate radio buzz and CD sales, and promptly hits the road for a gargantuan worldwide touring extravaganza.

So when it was announced that ska-punk-pop favourites No Doubt, a band that had been officially inactive for over five years, were to get rolling once again, one could've easily rolled something else - their eyes, perhaps - and written off the whole escapade as a good way to make a quick buck.

Fair enough, some will argue No Doubt's current road venture isn't really a "reunion" but simply getting back to business after a long hiatus.

If so, then why tour now?

No Doubt's next album won't be finished until 2010 and the band doesn't have a single new song to show for yet.

Could it be that - gasp - Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Adrian Young and Tom Dumont actually had a real desire to get back on stage as fast as they could, just because it's a lot more fun than sitting in a studio?

Judging by the brilliant display of showmanship the band gave 11,500 fans gathered at Rexall Place on Thursday night, the evening itself was the "greatest hits" compilation.

As far as No Doubt is concerned, that's already more than enough to make for quite a show.

It was fairly obvious very early on that the band's performance would be something big.

Wedged at the front of a deep stage and cut off by tall, black curtains not-so-subtly hiding No Doubt's enormous stage, Toronto-based ska-pop outfit Bedouin Soundclash used the few minutes it had to perform a solid (if perfunctory) set.

While there was no real surprise there - the highlight moment was a number (When The Night Feels My Song) that's already over four years old - you could only be left dumbfounded by following act Paramore's sheer intensity and the spellbinding voice of its fiery, orange-haired frontwoman Hayley Williams.

The Nashville-based pop-rock band - which was partly responsible for gathering a fair share of the younger cross-section of the audience - came out guns blazing, delivering a performance where Williams's pitch-perfect vocals aimed straight for your spine, the tiny 20-year-old jumping and headbanging her way through impossibly high notes without ever missing a step.

For a moment, it looked like Paramore was almost poised to steal the show, the crowd really clamoring hits like That's What You Get, material from their upcoming album Brand New Eyes (set to be released in September) and, of course, the Twilight soundtrack favourite Decode.

Ultimately, however, it was really No Doubt's night.

As a white curtain fell down, the band's ultra-stylized set was finally revealed - everything including clothing and most instruments in classic white and black - the stage featuring a giant, spaceship-like apparatus supporting Young's drum kit and tour members Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair's keyboard rigs.

Without hesitation Stefani and Co. jumped right into classic cut Spiderwebs, whipping the dancefloor into a mess of frenzied, bumping bodies.

It would remain like this for most of the evening as No Doubt re-visited a catalog that doesn't seemed to have aged at all - Hella Good's funk explosion, Underneath It All's dancehall grind, Excuse Me Mr. morphing into Ex-Girlfriend, the bittersweet Simple Kind of Life, the lighter-friendly Don't Speak and the show-stopper I'm Just a Girl - all of it served up with a Clockwork Orange-meets-James Bond-meets-sci-fi flair on screen and in lights, and with a solid sound quality that was both crisp and beefy.

Plus, there were the tender moments - old, grainy video of the band projected during Running, a couple of fans being allowed on stage to mingle with Stefani, one even challenging her to a push-up contest.

For a "greatest hits" kind of night, you couldn't really ask for more except, perhaps, for an encore that didn't feel so flat.

Sure, you had a heartfelt (but pretty boring) Rock Steady, Adam and the Ants' Stand and Deliver (which No Doubt covered for a recent episode of Gossip Girl) and the obligatory Sunday Morning.

However, it was as if the band had already run out of steam, tutu-clad Young notwithstanding.

Actually, the encore begged for one more Hella Good, but it was already long gone.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Calgary Sun
by Lisa Wilton

Back without a Doubt
Underneath It All, Gwen and Co. are still Hella Good!


No Doubt never officially broke up, but there were many who didn't think the band would ever play together again after singer Gwen Stefani's solo career took off.

But there they stood, a vision in crisp white and black colours, showing the almost 12,000 local fans who took in their Saddledome concert last that they are back in a big way.

I wondered what shape No Doubt would be in. They haven't had a proper tour since the release of their last studio album, 2001's Rock Steady.

But any worries I might have had vanished almost as soon as Stefani & Co. launched into the spunky single Spiderwebs, from their 1995 breakthrough album Tragic Kingdom.

While Stefani's voice sounded a little strained at first, she quickly recovered and managed to belt out tune after tune while jumping, running and dancing across the stark, futuristic white stage.

Bassist Tony Kanal, guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young were balls of sonic energy as they tore through what was essentially a best-of set list.

No Doubt demonstrated their ability to slide effortlessly between SoCal ska-punk, reggae-pop balladry and thunderous, dance-floor friendly funk within the first four songs -- Spiderwebs, Hella Good, Underneath It All and Excuse Me, Mr.

It was exciting to watch Stefani sing and dance along to deep dub grooves and get down to some '80s-style ska rather than the abysmal R&B she's been peddling in her solo career.

The ska-punk sound that brought No Doubt fame almost 15 years ago didn't seem dated.

And the addition of Gabrial McNair and Stephen Bradley on keyboards, percussion and horns added even more depth and muscle to an already rocking performance.

Not surprisingly, Stefani looked incredibly stylish in a militaristic outfit of white pants, black boots, midriff-baring tank top and matching jacket, which she got rid of fairly early on.

It defies logic that this woman is 39 years old. Even after two kids, Stefani has a body that would make a teenage gymnast jealous.

Dumont, Kanal and Young, who are roughly the same age, were equally buff and vigorous.

All eyes were definitely on Stefani, but she was generous with the spotlight.

As of deadline, the band had yet to play Just a Girl, their cover of Talk Talk's It's My Life and the monster ballad, Don't Speak.

In previous concerts they have invited openers Bedouin Soundclash and Paramore onstage to help with percussion and backing vocals on a lively rendition of Adam Ant's Stand & Deliver during the encore.

Other than Stand & Deliver, No Doubt had no new material to play.

Apparently the tour is a way to get their creative juices flowing to write songs for a new album. As long as there aren't any Harajuku Girls involved, I'm happy.

Grammy-nominated Nashville rockers Paramore nearly brought the house down with their spirited set.

Flame-haired singer Hayley Williams is a knockout performer. She's not as slick or polished as Stefani, but she's just as charismatic.

That said, Paramore's music is pretty standard fare. Other than a couple of cracking numbers (the sparkling punky-pop single That's What You Get, in particular), it was run-of-the-mill alternative rock with a dash of emo haphazardly thrown in.

Judging by the amount Paramore T-shirts and identikit Hayleys in the crowd, the band obviously strikes a chord.

Kicking off the evening was Canadian roots/reggae/ska band Bedouin Soundclash.

The group sounded much more vivid and visceral than I'd ever heard them before.

Fedora-sporting singer Jay Malinowski looked like a young Joe Strummer as he thumped his foot against the floor, making sure every word he sang counted.

At times, his vocals were even reminiscent of Strummer's growl, but Malinowski's voice is much too soulful to really compare the two.

It's a shame more people didn't show up early to see their set. They are really becoming one of the country's premiere live acts.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Winnipeg Sun
by Darryl Sterdan

No Doubt hella good

Sun Rating: 4 out of 5

Not gonna lie: I had my doubts going into No Doubt's reunion tour stop at MTS Centre on Monday night.

First and foremost, of course, Gwen Stefani and her ska-punk cohorts don't have a new album, despite having spent months toiling in the studio - which isn't a good sign. They've been off the road for several years, which doesn't inspire confidence. Gwen has spent that time making solo CDs, touring and starting a family with hubby Gavin Rossdale, which suggests No Doubt is no longer her first (or even second) priority. To make matters worse, their sound of choice - ska-punk - isn't exactly burning up the charts these days. And, from my own perspective, after five nights (and three solid days) of Folk Festing, the prospect of enduring yet another concert was not all that appealing (though I must admit, the idea of watching music while sitting down inside a bug-free environment had its charms).

Clearly, I was not alone in my trepidation: Despite this being the SoCal foursome's first visit to our fair city, only 9,000 fans - the vast majority of them 20-something women travelling in pairs and trios - shelled out for tickets. Compare that to the 12,500 who packed the venue for country-pop It Girl Taylor Swift's show two nights ago and you see what I mean. No Doubt had an uphill battle.

Turns out there was nothing to fear. Unless you have a phobia about seeing a seasoned band deliver an undeniably entertaining, strikingly well-designed show chock full of infectious grooves and irresistible pop-rock nuggets. In a nutshell: No Doubt didn't just bring it - they carried up it the walk, rang the doorbell, unpacked it and installed it.

Start with the set list. It included pretty much every hit and key track from the band's last three albums (which are the only ones most people have heard, anyway). There were seven cuts from their 1995 breakthrough Tragic Kingdom (including the punky Just a Girl and the pop ballad Don't Speak), four from 2000's Return of Saturn (including the rocking Gavin dig Ex-Girlfriend and the bouncy Bathwater), five from 2001's reggae-influenced Rock Steady (including the hard-grooving dance-floor fillers Hey Baby and Hella Good), plus a trio of covers (their 2003 remake of Talk Talk's It's My Life, their new revamp of Adam and the Ants' Stand and Deliver, and an instrumental band-spotlight take on The Skatalites' Guns of Navarone). Sure, if you were hoping for Trapped in a Box - and I know at least one fan who was - you might have been a little disappointed. But if you came for a greatest-hits show, you got pretty much everything you wanted.

Nobody got shortchanged on the visuals either. As their silhouettes were backlit onto a scrim across the proscenium, the band took the stage to the strains of a stately anthem that both trumpeted and subtly mocked their rock-royalty status. When the curtain was dropped, we got a real eyeful: The stage was all gleaming white, with drummer Adrian Young's kit mounted dead centre on a space-age spider-like pod that seemed inspired either by Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey or the control tower at LAX. Two ramps rose up from the front sides of the stage and curled behind him, supporting a pair of utility players. Behind them was a full-sized video screen playing everything from old home movies and graphics to new footage shot for the tour. Above were two racks of whirling VariLights - one at the front of the stage, one at the back - joined by five ladder like lighting trellises that flared up and out toward the audience. Bold primary colours, complementary shades, monochromatic washes and rich curtains of light predominated, making for a truly stylish presentation (which is, come to think of it, what you would expect from the fashionable Stefani). Read Full Review

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Chicago Tribune
by Althea Legaspi

Dynamic double bill: Girl power, nostalgia

No Doubt's Gwen Stefani and Paramore's Hayley Williams made a case for Girl Power at their show at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Saturday. Although the two come to their respective generations with different styles, each has carved a niche on the mainstream alternative airwaves primarily ruled by male-fronted rock.

Openers Paramore treaded pop-punk/emo terrain, but from Williams' female perspective, with lyrics fueled by teen crushes and boy woes. Coupled with her powerful voice and casual attire, it showcased that while she has taken a page from her male peers, she also held her own.

And though Williams' look and sound seem in stark contrast to Stefani's polish of the 2000s, they mirror Stefani's early band approach.

It has been eight years since No Doubt last released a full-length album (a new one was slated for this year, but the band reportedly is still working on it). During that time, Stefani remained in the spotlight, embarking on a solo career, marrying Bush's Gavin Rossdale, becoming a mother and launching a clothing line. Far from the Cali girl's relaxed, just-one-of-the-guys beginnings, Stefani solo was glammed up and clubbed out. Contrived or not, it helped keep her name and band circulating, despite no new No Doubt material.

Stefani displayed bits of both halves of her career on Saturday, changing into two different informal pantsuits and another glitzy tight and short-shorts outfit. No Doubt performed on a futuristic set, complete with a large video backdrop, white ramps and abundant lights. Band members used every bit of the stage, each bringing unbridled energy and bouncing about to the rhythms. Songs such as "Spiderwebs" and "Just A Girl" were crowd favorites. The band also began a fan request of "Squeal," before Stefani forgot the words. But it was its softer material, such as "Don't Speak" and "Running" -- played in front of touching, early band footage -- that showed its emotional depth.

No Doubt mined all of its hits during its

1½ -hour set, each a reminder that its reggae-tinged pop punk ruled the charts and were a large part of the '90s just into the century's turn. The question remains, can it bring it with new material a decade into the millennium?

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Kansas City Star
by Joel Francis

No Doubt serves up a high-energy show of its top hits

On its first tour in seven years, No Doubt might be packing large venues like Starlight Theatre on Monday night, but it's playing them like a hungry band working the crowd for a place to crash afterward.

The few times the band paused during its 95-minute set, singer Gwen Stefani read the crowd's homemade signs and called fans toting gifts up to the stage.

After tossing a sign spray-painted with a request for "Total Hate 95," one fan was rewarded with a performance of the rare number. Later, after accepting the cross-stitched logos another fan made, a genuinely touched Stefani hauled her admirer onstage for a quick photo op.

When she wasn't speaking to the crowd, Stefani and company were giving them exactly what they wanted: a heavy dose of the hits that made the band big in the first place. The setlist resembled the track list of the greatest hits album No Doubt released before going on hiatus, a celebration of the 11 years they've shared.

The opening ska bounce of "Spiderwebs" had the crowd eating out of Stefani's hand, singing, swaying and dancing on cue. That number fell into the electro pop of "Hella Good." The tempos may have changed throughout the night, but the energy never lagged. Through it all, Stefani was never still, dancing, spinning, jumping and unceasingly working the crowd.

The other five musicians onstage gave no evidence of any time apart. Drummer Adrian Young sat in the middle of the all-white stage, his kit the centerpiece of a six-legged platform that looked like a futuristic insect. He was flanked by multi-instrumentalists Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair, who handled horns, keyboards and backing vocals. Stefani, guitarist Tom Dumont and bass player Tony Kanal navigated the rest of the stage.

Behind them all, a large screen played videos during most songs. The best bits were the James Bond parody during "Ex-Girlfriend" and the homemade videos of the band's early days accompanying the ballad "Running."

"Don't Speak" drew the biggest response, but it was nearly matched by "Just a Girl," which closed the main set. As Dumont played its spidery opening riff, Stefani dropped to the floor and counted out push-ups with the crowd. After reaching 10, she sprung to her feet and launched into the verse. Both feats drew massive cheers.

One got the feeling during Paramore's 40-minute set that the band brought as many fans as the headliners. The power pop quintet's set was marked by a constant stream of young fans rushing as close to the stage as their parents would let them to snap a photo.

The setlist tipped heavily toward the 2007 album "Riot," which delighted the devoted, who hung on singer Hayley Williams' every word. The two new songs, which blended almost too well with the older material, and set-closing "Decode" from the "Twilight" soundtrack, were extra treats.

Bedouin Soundclash opened the evening with a 30-minute set.

After No Doubt returned for "Rock Steady," Bedouin Soundclash and Paramore joined the band for "Stand and Deliver." Nearly all of the dozen musicians onstage pounded the various drums brought out while Stefani and Williams swapped verses. No Doubt drummer Young managed to stand out in the crowd by parading around wearing only a pink-and-white tutu, marching snare drum and calf-high athletic socks.

The night ended with "Sunday Morning," which, like so many No Doubt triumphs, hit the sweet spot between pop, ska, dance and rock. When the music ended, band members lingered onstage signing autographs, tossing souvenirs and shaking hands.

Just as they did in their native Southern California clubs a lifetime ago.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: to follow

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: to follow

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning

Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: to follow

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
Happy Now?
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Hartford Courant
by Eric R. Danton

Review: No Doubt at Mohegan Sun

There was no rancor behind No Doubt's 2004 decision to go on hiatus: Singer Gwen Stefani simply wanted to do normal things, like have kids and make solo records.

She accomplished each, the latter to great acclaim (in terms of sales, at least), before she and the rest of No Doubt reconvened last year to start work on a new record and plan the tour that stopped Wednesday at Mohegan Sun.

The break doesn't seem to have hurt.

Stefani and her band mates were full of energy and obviously enjoying themselves during a 90-minute set of hits spanning four of the group's five albums.

Formed as a ska band more than 20 years ago, that upbeat horn-laced reggae sound continues to flavor No Doubt's material, and stage presence: Opening song "Spiderwebs" found Stefani and bassist Tony Kanal skanking away (that's a dance move, not a value judgment), kicking their legs back and forth as part of a distinctive stylized hopping.

Kanal spent the show roaming the stage, often moving almost sideways and holding the neck of his bass in front of him as if it were a Tommy gun. His anchored a deep reggae backbeat on "Underneath It All," and locked in with guitarist Tom Dumont for a unison riff on the chorus to "It's My Life."

Stefani belted out her vocals over jangling guitar on "Hella Good," and sang as if the hurt were fresh on "Don't Speak," one of a good many break-up songs she wrote 15 years ago after the end of her relationship with Kanal (who held a lighter aloft at the start of the song).

"We might be having the time of our lives," she announced toward the end of the main set, which came two songs later on "Just a Girl," synthesizers burbling along with a barrage of stage lights.

No Doubt started its three-song encore with "Rock Steady," and turned a cover of Adam and the Ants' "Stand and Deliver" into a drum line of sorts, with drummer Adrian Young prancing around the stage wearing sneakers, tube socks, a tutu and a snare drum around his neck. The band finished with "Sunday Morning."

Paramore played before No Doubt, performing 45 minutes of angsty punk-ish songs, including a handful of new tunes from an album due later this year.

Janelle Monae opened with a set of high-energy funk rock jams, including one with a cinematic bass line and swirls of wah-wah guitar that sounded like a Bond tune that hasn't yet been commissioned. There's time.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: The Sun Chronicle
by Stephen Peterson

No Doubt's greatest hits strike chord

It was one of the more high-profile shows of the summer concert season at the Comcast Center, and it didn't disappoint.

No Doubt, back together touring after a five-year break, and their popular lead singer/songwriter, Gwen Stefani, 39, blasted the amphitheater Saturday night with mostly flashback songs.

The double Grammy winning pop/ska group from California that became one of the most popular musical acts in the 1990s and early 2000s, is coming out with a new album next year that is being recorded this summer while they are on a 60-show circuit of America - its first full-fledged tour in seven years.

No Doubt last came out with a studio album in 2001, though a greatest hits compilation led to a mini-tour in 2004. Most of the songs Saturday night were on that greatest hits album.

Opening with "Spiderwebs" and the danceable "Hella Good" from 2001's "Rock Steady," Stefani, dressed in a white midriff-bearing outfit, never seemed to stop dancing, jumping and prancing.

"Underneath It All," which hit No. 3 on the charts in 2002 and won No Doubt its second Grammy, was followed by "Excuse Me Mr." and "Ex-Girlfriend."
A surprise, the group played a song Stefani said they hadn't played in 12 years, "Tragic Kingdom," the title track off that debut 1995 album.

The soft "Simple Kind of Life" and horn-opening "Bathwater" preceded "New."

It was then on to "The rap-filled "Hey Baby," a No. 5 tune from 2001 that won the group its first Grammy for best pop vocal group, and ballad "Running."

Bassist Tony Kanal, guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young were joined by two keyboard/horn players.

An extended "Different People," which Stefani told the crowd was one of the first songs the group wrote, was dedicated to those getting wet on the lawn.

The No. 1 tune, "Don't Speak," played in concert with some acoustic guitar, is one of several hits off the No. 1 "Tragic Kingdom" that played a key part in No Doubt being named No. 1 Hot 100 Artist of 1996.

"It's My Life," the band's splendid cover of the Talk Talk song that became a No. 10 hit in 2003 and fan favorite "Just a Girl," in which Stefani did some pushups, wrapped up the opening song set before the encore of "Rock Steady" and "Sunday Morning."

Stefani, now a mother of two and known for her fashion line, came out with two multi-million selling solo albums during No Doubt's break. The group has sold 27 million records worldwide.
Paramore, a pop punk Grammy-nominated group from Tennessee, preceded No Doubt on stage and obviously have many fans. Their second album was certified platinum. Their most recent single, "Decode," was the lead single for the film "Twilight."

Singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe, a Kansas City, Kansas native, opened with quite an energetic performance that spanned funk to rock. Her latest single, "Open Happiness," was featured in the season finale of "American Idol."

Her debut album was last year, with the song "Many Moons" nominated for a Grammy. Rolling Stone and others peg Monae to become one of the most influential artists of the next few years.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Buffalo News
by Joe Sweeney

No Doubt brings gimmick-free flair

When a band embarks on a major tour without a new album to shill, it tends to be a "classic" act, with hair that matches the color of those platinum albums they put out ever so long ago.

So there's something refreshing about No Doubt's decision to hit the road again this summer. The Anaheim quartet's last album came out in 2001, but it's still on top of its game. As the group tore through its back catalog with obvious relish Friday night at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, the vibe was the opposite of an Eagles middle-aged money grab.

Sure, the dough doesn't hurt - judging by the huge, cacophonous audience that took in this show, No Doubt's drawing power hasn't waned one iota - but this band played off each other so naturally, and so clearly enjoys being on stage together, no matter how successful their lead singer is on her own. Hell didn't have to freeze over for this gig to happen.

The band, flanked by a pair of exuberant keyboardists/horn players, got things started with a fantastic rendition of "Spiderwebs," a song that best represents the appeal of mid-'90s No Doubt. Taking a Ric Ocasek riff and fleshing it out with dance hall horns and some snarky lyrical hooks (e.g., "It's all your fault/I screen my phone calls"), the song is 15 years old, yet sounded completely fresh.

In fact, very little of the band's set felt nostalgic. The stage design had a little to do with it-the stark, shimmering white setup looked like some kind of futuristic moon station - but No Doubt's still-significant coolness begins and ends with Gwen Stefani, who threw herself into these songs with her typical mix of energy and stylishness. Her voice honestly isn't all that remarkable, and certainly not made for over-the-top junk like "Don't Speak," but boy can she bite off a line, like the cathartic "I'm so jealous!" in the tune "Ex-Girlfriend," or the brilliant, tender metaphor that lies at the heart of the insanely catchy "Bathwater."

With Stefani's onstage horsepower leading the way, No Doubt did anything but mail this set in. Whether it was the snotty "Just a Girl," the blurp-and-bleep funk of "Hey Baby" or the slow-burning reggae love song "Underneath It All," they made it next to impossible not to get involved.

No Doubt never seemed like musical innovators to especially keep an eye on, but over the years, they've compiled a canon of boisterous, adventurous music that has a singular flair, and is completely free of gimmicks. They're a pop group for sure, but they've dressed the hooks so well - in So-Cal ska, new wave, dance hall and just a drop of mall-punk - that they're not only still catchy, but still relevant.

And as great as the headliner was on this night, they weren't the best band on the bill. Janelle Monae, the first opening act, put on the kind of performance that is so unique, visceral and true that it's awfully tough to put into words. Joined by an amazing three-piece band, the singer touched on thunderous, Outkast-like grooves, girl-group R&B and vocal jazz in her very brief set. Like James Brown fronting the JB's, her elastic voice, nimble dance moves and unbelievable energy made for an artistic force that stops you in your tracks.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Montreal Gazette
by T'Cha Dunleavy

No Doubt, Stefani at her best with the boys

You can take the girl out of the ska band, but you can't take the ska band outta the girl.

Those that thought you could - given Gwen Stefani's solo pop stardom makeover of the past half-decade - were proven wrong last night as the boisterous bombshell led her reunited old bandmates through a blazing set of old songs before 9,700 mostly female fans at the Bell Centre.

Having seen Stefani perform with No Doubt at Jean Drapeau Park back in the day, I have to say, she was at her best when surrounded by her boys.

The return visits of solo Stefani, while fun, were always a letdown in comparison. With No Doubt, she was loose, confident, carefree. On her own, she became stiff, her shows over-choreographed, her spirit stifled; it was as if she was trying to live up to some Madonna-esque image of what a female pop star should be.

She was up to her old tricks last night. In a word: swagger. Stefani was all about it last night, swinging her arms with exaggerated attitude as she sauntered about the stage.

Jumping around, spinning in circles, dancing all crazy and generally played the ham, Stefani was having a blast, and so was her band.

Opening song Spiderwebs (off No Doubt's 1995 breakthrough album Tragic Kingdom) kicked things off with familiar ska bounce. A giant white curtain dropped to reveal the players, clad all in white, surrounded by a retro-futuristic matching white backdrop. Think the Jetsons inside a giant iPod.

Hair in buns and her toned tummy bared for all to see, Stefani had the crowd pogoing, hands in the air from the get-go.

"Montreaaaaaaal!!!" she shouted.

Hella Good, next, rode a tight funk-disco groove, as Stefani cooed to the crowd to "Keep on dancin'."

Underneath It All brought things down with an easy reggae vibe. The only drawback was the song's colour-saturated video playing on the giant screen in the background. Pretty, yes, but distracting. Stefani was on fire, and the visuals were running interference.

But she was not to be deterred. "We love Montreal," she gushed. "This is a special, special treat."

For her and her bandmates of almost 20 years: Tony Kanal, Adrian Young and Tom Dumont, plus touring keyboardists/percussionists/horn players/backup-vocalists Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair.

From the James Bond-themed bounce of Ex-Girlfriend to the dreamy Simple Life, ragtime jam Bathwater and dance hall reggae-nodding Hey Baby, the band showed off the eclectic and infectious sound on which it built its name.

The night's prettiest moment came during the nostalgic ballad Running, featuring a montage of behind-the-scenes footage from all stages of the group's career. It summarized the feeling of the night: No Doubt may be all grown up, but they're still kids at heart.

Montreal No Doubt Photos

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Toronto Star
by Ashante Infantry

There's No Doubt band is good but Gwen Stefani's the star

If that 90-minute workout No Doubt's touring across North America doesn't kick-start Gwen Stefani's writer's block, I don't know what will.

The California ska-pop group is back on the road for the first time in five years, seeking inspiration for the new album that didn't come together before the tour.

And it's a shame the quartet doesn't have any material newer than 2001's Rock Steady, because it is an arresting, relevant outfit worthy of more than a 45-city oldies tour.

Frontwoman Stefani has said the lyrics don't come easy now with the distractions of her family and solo endeavours. Her mates - bassist (and ex-boyfriend) Tony Kanal, guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young - are almost all parents as well and hovering on either side of 40.

It's hard to imagine her not being able to match mentally what she has accomplished physically. The impossibly cut abs and non-stop jumping, skipping and skanking are evidence of the mother-of-toddler-sons' gruelling workouts. She never sounded winded and I couldn't catch her out with any backing vocals.

She dropped to the floor for 10 non-girly push-ups near the end of the show, reiterating what we already knew: the perfume-shilling fashionista - who came out wearing a sheer belly-baring top with baggy pants and knee high boots - can still hang with the fellas.

And as good as the band was - bolstered by keyboardists/horn players Gabriel McNair and Stephen Bradley - eking out strong, stirring rhythms and melodies, you couldn't take your eyes off the luminous Stefani who was missed during two quick costume changes.

Not that the others didn't give it a shot: Young baring and slapping his bum after the opening tune and returning for the encore in a pink tutu; Kanal and Dumont delivering blistering solos and athletic dance moves.

With Stefani doing all the talking and bringing fans on stage to dance and take pictures, the show had a loose, playful feel. And she didn't perform any of her solo material, which seems now so insipid compared to No Doubt's muscular catalogue.

On their feet for the entire show, the capacity crowd inside the Air Canada Centre urged the band on, singing along to songs such as, "Hey Baby," "Just a Girl," and "Underneath It All."

Let's hope they head straight to the studio when the tour wraps up in August.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Washington Post
by Chris Klimek

No Doubt: Live Last Night

The band had seasoned its bright FM pop with just enough reggae to make it seem mildly exotic. It won them the world, then they retreated at the height of their fame. Their comeback roadshow dispensed with the usual, dreary half-dozen new songs (they hadn't written any), instead having their gorgeous blond singer ­- now a fully formed solo star - cut straight to the old favorites.

But the Police reunion was two years ago. Those guys are old. And Sting, frankly, had looked bored up there.

No Doubt's Gwen Stefani meanwhile, is many things: SoCal punk grrrl turned club diva. Fashionista. Mother of two, but still the owner of a superheroic, oft-exposed six-pack. Actress. (Well, she was in "The Aviator," anyway.)

But bored? Didn't look like it at Nissan last night. Boring? Not. A. Chance.

"Get your hands up in the air!" she commanded, sounding more like the leader of a bank-heist crew than a 39-year-old pop star reconnecting with some old friends.

We hear and obey, all 21,500 of us.

The Orange Country hitmakers are all their late 30s now -- except for guitarist Tom Dumont, who is 41 - but the summer's biggest comeback tour has youth very much on its mind. The musicians showed up for their aerobic 95-minute set sporting white-and-black couture seemingly modeled after the duds worn by the sociopathic narrator Alex and his gang of adolescent "droogs" in "A Clockwork Orange."

There was plenty else to viddy: The stage resembled a white plastic crab, or the LAX control tower as reimagined by Steve Jobs. Kicking off with the ska-punk confection "Spiderwebs," the first dozen songs purred along real horrorshow, each accompanied by a video. Some, like the '60s spy parody for "Ex-Girlfriend," or the nostalgic montage of home movies from the band's salad days that accompanied "Running," were more diverting than the flesh-and-blood performances happening in front of them.

So it was a almost a relief when the big telly finally went dark, allowing the band to rock the megahits "Don't Speak" and "Just a Girl" minus their virtual doppelgangers.

Mind you, Stefani & Co. are not easily upstaged. The gig was as free of tedium as it was of spontaneity; calculated, but a good entertainment value. Touring for the first time in half a decade, and absent a new album to push, No Doubt sweetened the deal by offering a free download of its complete discography with tickets at the $42.50 price point or above.

The show didn't go anywhere near that deep: 14 of the 19 songs performed are on the band's "Singles 1992-2003" compilation. But one, a cover of Adam & the Ants' "Stand and Deliver," was exclusive to the download. Openers Paramore and the Sounds joined the headliners to bang it out during the encore; the night's sloppiest performance, and one of its best.

There were a few other serendipitous moments. When one lucky comer caught Stefani's eye with an arrow-shaped sign reading simply "Hug," she said, "Come and get it!" Embracing him as promised, she then put her mike down to take a snapshot of the two of them with the audience in the background.

It was a sweet, if theatrical gesture, the pop diva allowing a charming mortal to touch the hem of her garment. A night to remember for him, No Doubt. And at least for a little while, for us, too.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
by Scott Mervis

Stefani, No Doubt give fans great party

It's hard to watch No Doubt for 90 minutes and not end up at least mildly in awe of Gwen Stefani.

The singer who gave us "Just a Girl" not only has big pipes but she seems like the kind of girl who could hold her own in a ska-punk circle pit.

She's also a 39-year-old mom with a toddler and a baby, and she somehow managed to show up for this reunion run with a perfectly flat belly and a full reserve of energy.

On Saturday night, Stefani saw to it that the thousands who endured the traffic to the Post-Gazette Pavilion got a party for their trouble. No Doubt hit the stage after spirited opening sets by the Sounds and Paramore looking like an Orange County mod squad in their gleaming whites. For the next hour and a half No Doubt bounced around the stage seeming truly excited to be finished with that five-year break.

With no new album and no new agenda, fans got the best of No Doubt, starting with the ska-pop breakout "Spiderwebs" and then "Hella Good," a club banger that had the excitable crowd bouncing as one.

Surely, the Penguins' Stanley Cup victory the night before upped the party vibe, and Stefani made early mention of it, to a roar of cheers. Spontaneous and fully in charge of the stage, she pulled a fan up for a hug, chatted with people about items they were holding up (like a picture of her husband Gavin Rossdale) and had everyone turn around while she got the fans on the lawn to jump on "Different People."

In her skin-tight clothes and pin-up platinum hair, Stefani has her own retro-futuristic style, with electric movements and facial expressions that can quickly go from smile to sneer.

The set was fast-paced with upbeat songs such as "Underneath It All," "Don't Let Go Away" and "Ex-Girlfriend," featuring the band members -- Tom Dumont, Adrian Young and Tony Kanal -- in a cool James Bond-style video. The dance hit "Hey Baby" broke into rap with vocal assists from horn player/keyboardists Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair.

Stefani was on top of the vocals throughout but got her chance to really shine on the ballad "Don't Speak," which also came with an intricate acoustic solo from Dumont. No Doubt pumped the energy up again with its cover of "It's My Life," a gender-bending sing-along on "Just a Girl" and the slow reggae groove of "Rock Steady."

Stefani kept commenting on the big, fun-loving crowd that greeted them. If No Doubt has any doubts about the viability of this reunion, they had to be put to rest by the response from the 17,000 in Burgettstown.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Melissa Ruggieri

Concert review: High-energy No Doubt-as taut as ever

When Gwen Stefani performs as a solo artist, she plays the part of a flirty pop idol, cooing lyrics and acting coy in her sexy outfits.

Now that she's back with the boys in No Doubt, Stefani plays like them - strolling the stage with a confident swagger and bopping around in pirate pants and knee-high boots, her blond tresses swept up in a garden of no-nonsense knots.

Not that it's all work and no play for Stefani and her bandmates, back together after a five-year hiatus and looking and sounding as taut as ever.

Almost 18,000 people packed the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater Wednesday night to greet their ska-pop idols, who tore through a 90-minute greatest hits set with unflagging energy (the show repeats Sunday at Nissan Pavilion in Manassas).

Stefani, whose abs deserve a review of their own, was particularly playful with bassist (and long-ago love) Tony Kanal, while drummer Adrian Young and guitarist Tom Dumont looked perfectly content to be on stage, if a bit more workmanlike.

Considering the band's ubiquity on radio from 1995-2001, the show was a joyride of familiarity, from the '80s-infected guitar scratches on "Hella Good" to the smooth reggae lilt of "Underneath it All."

It's no wonder Stefani, who turns 40 this fall, is a poster child for enviable physiques (is it possible this woman birthed two children?) since she looked like she was bouncing on an invisible trampoline the entire show, twisting her torso and even dropping for 10 pushups as a lead in to "Just a Girl."

Her loose tangle of limbs onstage made a fun contrast to the sleekly stylish red and black themed espionage video that played in the background during "Ex-Girlfriend."

But as infectious as No Doubt's vigor was during their pogo-happy up-tempo tunes, some of the best moments of the show came when the band switched from hyperkinetic ska to straightforward power pop.

Stefani's voice, a versatile instrument that also takes on a sturdier tone when singing No Doubt's material, softened appropriately for "Simple Kind of Life" and rang warm and emotional on "Running."

That song offered the most personal touch of the night as a barrage of home videos from the band's early years, filled with cruddy vans and McDonald's stops, played behind the futuristic stark-white stage - the contrast of then and now surprisingly touching.

Since the quartet's songs were augmented by two keyboardists/horn players, the music sounded as rich and rounded as on record.

But the credit for making their awesome cover of Talk Talk's "It's My Life" soar with new muscularity goes to Kanal, whose busy bass sequences anchored the song, which Stefani sung not as an anthem of defiance, but one of contentment.

Meanwhile, openers Paramore displayed their growth as a band - and a live attraction - with a punchy set of melodic rock.

Frontwoman Hayley Williams, a spunky little redhead in tight yellow pants, is a rock yelper in training, though her singing voice is quite pretty.

The Tennessee-based quintet blasted through "You Can Take Your Time" and the new "Where the Lines Overlap" (a new album is due at summer's end) before granting their fans the hits "That's What You Get" and "Decode."

If T-shirts-to-audience-member ratios indicate anything, expect to keep hearing from Paramore for a few more years.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Charlotte Observer
by Courtney Devores

No doubt about it: Gwen & Co. still rock

After five years, two children, and a dance-tastic solo turn as a surprisingly influential pop diva, Gwen Stefani slipped back into the rock-band-leader role of her youth with ease when No Doubt took the stage for an 18-song set Saturday at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.

Many fans were there to watch opening act Paramore, who performed after Sweden's New Wave-tinged rockers the Sounds. Petite Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams proved she's made of the same sturdy stuff as Gwen Stefani, kicking, running and headbanging through tracks like "That's What You Get" and "Misery Business."

Williams and her band easily eclipsed its humble underground punk beginnings with a set that equaled the headliner's show in energy. Lit by strobes, the explosive breakdown of "Let the Flames Begin" served as the climax of the Tennessee band's set as its members erupted in rock n' roll spasms before launching into its most recent hit "Decode" (from the "Twilight" soundtrack).

But the 18,000 fans really erupted when No Doubt emerged just after 9:30, with Stefani -- in a white half shirt and baggie pants -- blitzing through one of the band's biggest hits, "Spiderwebs."

The four core members of the band all sported platinum-blonde hair, and the whole group (which includes touring keyboardists/horn players Gabriel McNair and the wonderfully animated Stephen Bradley) wore "Clockwork Orange"-inspired white against a stark white and black background that was equally simple and cool with a nod to its rude roots.

Although big on hits like "Hella Good" and "Underneath It All," the set list had some surprises. The arrangements of "Excuse Me Mr." and "Ex-Girlfriend" featured less-punky, more-expansive verses than the original versions. And the band cast fun new black and white clips on huge screens behind them during tracks like "It's My Life" and a montage of pre-"Tragic Kingdom" footage during "Running."

The crowd roared as Stefani sang "Don't Speak" and "Simple Kind of Life," which was a hit in 2000 -- long before the sentiment she voiced in the song (yearning for a family) became a reality.

Between songs, her banter included admitting to having a "crap day" that was punctuated by a black snake slithering in front of her outside the venue. But she added that the exceptionally warm reception had turned things around: "Obviously I'm in a great mood now. This is not what we expected." The only hint of Stefani's pop-stardom were her three costume changes, from a green bra peeking through a white tank to a sequined checkerboard jumpsuit to the acid-washed jeans and sparkling polo that she wore on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" recently.

Despite the nostalgic nature of the set list, the two-decades-old band seemed incredibly youthful: There was bassist Tony Kanal, 38, duck-walking and hopping like a jackrabbit as if affectionately taunting guitarist Tom Dumont, 41, during a drawn out "Rock Steady" encore; the childlike Adrian Young, 39, sporting a tutu and near-see-through white leggings; and 39-year-old Stefani jogging, kicking, and pogoing while displaying unbelievable abs for a mother of two and maintaining great vocal stamina. Diving onto the stage during the first notes of the closing girl-power anthem "Just a Girl," she completed a round of pushups.

After closing the set with "Rock Steady," a relaxed nod to its ska and reggae roots, and the spunky favorite "Sunday Morning," No Doubt displayed its gratitude. All six came to the front of the stage to greet fans, toss drumsticks, guitar picks, and water bottles. The top prize? A white towel smeared with Stefani's crimson lipstick.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Palm Beach Post
by Leslie Streeter

Concert review: No Doubt at Cruzan Amphitheatre

There was a line that Gwen Stefani sang last night from "Running," a sweet, typical No Doubt relationship melodrama, that goes "Do you think we'll make it?"

The song is about love, but it was striking to hear those words while larger-than-life video of the Anaheim-based band in the heady pupal stages of their fame played, and then to look at the influential music and style superstars they've become. The fabled former boyfriend/girlfriend status of Stefani and bassist Tony Kanal, fodder for so many ND songs, may not have made it, but the charming, goofy, chemistry-popping band sure did. Boy, did it.

In fact, No Doubt's influence was evident before they even hit the stage, in the probably-not-coincidental presence of The Sounds and Paramore, both high-energy younger bands led by charismatic, attractive women (The Sounds' Maja Ivarsson has a ice-blond Debbie Harry vibe, while Paramore's Haley Williams, with her tinge of glee club cheerleader gone perkily punk, has more of her Gwen showing).

But no one's more Gwen than Gwen, and it's striking, having seen her highly-stylized solo act with the marching bands and doll-like ethnic stereotype sidekicks, how different she is leading the boys of No Doubt. The passionately wavery vocals are the same (and they were never more compelling than during the sweet naked emotional flogging of "Don't Speak" or the wry observations of "Hey Baby"), but there's something about the injected oomph of Kanal, Tom Dumont and crazy lipstick and tutu-wearing drummer Adrian Young that makes her better, to paraphrase the delicious "Underneath It All."

The ska-scented imp that she becomes pogo-ing with the boys to "Different People" is like the less-"Vogue" kid sister of that "Love Angel Music Baby" glamourpuss. They're both Gwen and both fabulous. But this one's a little more fun.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: St. Petersburg Times
by Sean Daly

Gwen Stefani and No Doubt stage a rockin' reunion in Tampa

It's been a long time since Gwen Stefani was just a girl fronting a spazzy, party-minded rock crew. After she ditched the dudes in No Doubt in 2004, the former tomboy became a solo starlet and a fashion designer and a celebu-mom. No more thrashy ska for her; Gwennie was shiny, sparkly, new.

But on the biggest reunion tour of the summer, the platinum-topped singer is pulling off the princess heels, pulling on the old tank tops. Everything was in place at the No Doubt gig at Ford Amphitheatre on Tuesday: The guys in the band were jacked to be cashing checks again. And a sold-out crowd of 20,000 stuffed the rain-soaked venue (although many reportedly arrived late and cranky due to a storm, an accident on Interstate 4 and a graduation at the fairgrounds).

Could Stefani slip back into her old role? If a recent performance on American Idol was any indication - yikes! On Idol, the song Just a Girl came off more like a Saturday Night Live parody of No Doubt, with perhaps Andy Samberg playing an unsure housewife desperate to fit in with the cool kids.

But you know what? Per usual, I blame Ryan Seacrest for everything. Leaving her solo hits off the set list, and sticking mainly to No Doubt staples, the 39-year-old Stefani was a shimmering, aerobicizing wonder, swaggery but sweet. Opening with 1995's Spiderwebs, the band was tight and amped, decked out in white and hopping and bopping on a Space Age stage that looked like LAX.

"We're here because we want to be inspired," said the superheroically fit singer. The quartet is planning on recording a new album after the tour. But they sure didn't seem bored with the oldies. Fueled by mohawked drummer Adrian Young, and backed by extra horns and keyboards, they spent 90 ska-strong minutes uncorking chart-toppers: Hella Good, Hey Baby, Don't Speak.

For the ballad Simple Kind of Life, written way back in 2000, Stefani dreamily crooned of being a wife and a mom amid rock-star turmoil. The crowd cheered throughout, fully embracing Gwen both old and new. And like a good mama, in return she constantly checked on the "slushies" in the lawn seating, who bounced all night despite their soggy, smelly shoes.

No Doubt had two female-led, boy-backed opening acts: Swedish New Wavers the Sounds and American It Band Paramore, the Grammy-nominated group that's white-hot with the Twilight set. As a money-making move, bringing those groups along was smart. But as an artistic move, it was even smarter. Seeing the young gals rock 'n' rule has obviously helped Gwennie get her groove back.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Houston Chronicle
by Joey Guerra

No Doubt leads a fiery female charge

It didn't take much prodding to make female fans obey during No Doubt's sold-out Sunday show at the Woodlands Pavilion.

Unprovoked sing-alongs already happened earlier in the roughly 90-minute set -- during Spiderwebs, Hella Good and Underneath it All, pop hits that have held up astonishingly well. Now, Gwen Stefani commanded they sing along to 1995 single Just a Girl after a feeble attempt by the "boys" in the crowd. (Real men, it seems, just don't do that.)

Stefani has employed that tactic for more than a decade, and it always works. The grrrls got revved up, and the boys were spared another round.

This was the reunited band's first tour in five years and first local apperance since a 2002 show at the Reliant Arena. The newly renovated venue proved an effective showcase, and the weather provided a gorgeous nighttime backdrop.

No Doubt hasn't released a proper record since 2001's Rock Steady, a lifetime for any recording star. But Stefani has kept busy with fashion, babies, Gavin Rossdale -- and immense solo stardom. It gives this reunion an added A-list sheen, but Stefani hasn't softened. This was our NoDo girl all the way.

She emitted a sexy, androgynous vibe -- riding pants, wallet chains and a wifebeater. Three blond knots sat atop her head. (She later changed into a sequined, black-and-silver short set.) And Stefani is still a master at emanating a sense of riot-girl power.

The stage setup provided a slick framework -- multiple levels of pristine white ramps that looked like a spaceship. Flashes of color peeked through -- Stefani's neon-green straps, bassist Tony Kanal's pink and yellow instrument.

Ex-Girlfriend was accompanied by pop-artish, James Bond-inspired visuals, and Running boasted vintage footage of the band's early days. Stefani's visual transformation is astonishing. It's My Life also mirrored the old Hollywood music video

"It feels good to be up here with these guys," she said sweetly. Indeed, the band had a playful, positive chemistry that worked its way through the immense crowd. Stefani pointed out homemade signs and even grabbed a fan's camera to snap a photo of herself.

The setlist was a savvy mix of album cuts, modest single successes (Simple Kind of Life, Bathwater) and, of course, the staples, topped by a solid Don't Speak, which illustrated the unique crowd connection to a great pop song.

Stefani led her own boys through a brassy, campy take on Adam and the Ant's Stand and Deliver during the encore -- a fitting phrase, indeed.

Paramore's 40-minute set was a pop-punk blast of energy, led by the diminutive Hayley Williams. She whipped her yellow and orange locks into a frenzy during tunes Misery Business, Pressure, Crash Crash Crash and Decode.

The band boasts an impressive, youthful force. What's missing is a real sense of identity in any particular song. Even a few new tunes got lost in the shuffle, Only When it Rains, which found Williams using an appealing higher register, separated itself from the pack.

Sewdish new-wave outfit the Sounds (who releases third disc Crossing The Rubicon Tuesday) was a good choice for the pre-sunset slot. The band was interesting enough to hold the early arrivals' attention but were no threat to Paramore or No Doubt.

Lead singer Maja Ivarsson strutted around the stage in a leather/pantyhose getup and shimmering blond hair. It reeked of early Blondie -- likely an influence on all three acts -- which isn't a bad thing.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Dallas Morning News
by Mario Tarradell

We were there: No Doubt at Superpages.com Center

Nobody would accuse No Doubt of delivering deep thinking songs. This is the band that gave us "Hey Baby" and "Hella Good," two infectious party tunes designed solely for the purpose of fun. But there was something almost anthem-like about the way Gwen Stefani and her band performed "Just a Girl" before a sold-out crowd Saturday night at Superpages.com Center. Stefani, the only female in a stage full of men, showed us her muscles, then dropped to the floor for a round of push-ups.

She roared through the frenetic, loud, ska-punk staple like she was in charge. Before long she had the women and the men in the audience chanting the hook. Stefani's message came through crystal clear: Don't mess with this girl. Stefani and company are back on the road for the first No Doubt tour in five years.

There's no new CD to promote -- that should come in 2010 -- just a celebration of the California group's radio-heavy repertoire. The group put on a 90 minute stint after sets from opening acts the Sounds and Paramore. Jumping (during "Bathwater") and swaying (during the reggae-spiced "Underneath It All") kept the masses moving. That's just the way Stefani wanted it. The activity on the platform was constant from everybody, even shirtless drummer Adrian Young with his spiked blond hair and black lipstick. It was cool to see trumpet and trombone used on "Excuse Me Mr." And "Ex-Girlfriend" all but encapsulated the No Doubt sound, a totally hyper mixture of ska, new wave and punk.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning

Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: West World
by Michael Roberts

No Doubt, Paramore and The Sounds at Fiddler's Green

No Doubt, Paramore and The Sounds
May 27
Fiddler's Green

Not so long ago, major bands in their prime, not past it, would seldom tour without a new album to promote, since recordings represented a -- and often the -- major profit center. But times have changed. In the age of downloading, multi-platinum sales are becoming as rare as dudes with their own copies of the Mama Mia! DVD, and acts like No Doubt and Paramore, which have already established a following, make most of their dough touring. Granted, the bands are working on new releases -- Paramore's is supposed to come out at summer's end, while No Doubt's is mostly in the theoretical stage. But both are taking advantage of the improving weather to bring in some bank. As a result, last night's gig at Fiddler's was a de facto greatest-hits show for the top two outfits -- and if each of them delivered on that score, only one transcended the concept's limitations.

The festivities began right on time, with The Sounds representing the chosen band-lineup demographic of the night: a female lead singer supported by a gaggle o' guys. In this case, the frontwoman was Maja Ivarsson, who wore fuck-me heels, fuck-me tights, fuck-me short-shorts, a fuck-me top, and a Farrah Fawcett-style feathered hairstyle that seemed to say, "Fuck me like it's 1978." And while she's from Sweden, she clearly knows her way around American profanities -- although the way she said "motherfuckers" at one point suggested that she'd learned the word phonetically.

As for the music, songs such as "Hurt You" offered a flashback gloss on the danceable fare that dominated early period MTV -- a retro shtick that was certainly appropriate given the tuneage played between sets (stuff by Depeche Mode, the Smiths, Duran Duran and so on). Too bad it lacked anything resembling inspiration. Ivarsson kept going back to a single stage move -- sinking into a squat with her legs spread wide, in order to give the teen boys in attendance something to do with their hand lotion later in the evening -- while the rest of the group hammered away anonymously behind her.

The trend would continue once Paramore stepped into the spotlight. With each time I see the group (I caught them at the 2007 Warped Tour and last year's KTCL Big Gig concert), it becomes even more obvious that frontwoman Hayley Williams -- the subject of a recent Westword profile and Q&A -- has outgrown her band. She stood out from the man squad by dint of color scheme: All the fellas wore dark clothing, while she stepped forward in a white T-shirt and shorts, not to mention her trademark flame-hued coiffure, which dozens of girls I saw tried to duplicate for the occasion. But even if she'd donned a burka, she still would have commanded the lion's share of attention. She was the spark, the focus, the magnet in every song. The only exception came when bassist Jeremy Davis turned an impressive flip during "Pressure." But even if he'd managed to execute an Olympic-quality floor routine, he would have been fighting a losing battle.

The Paramore set was loaded with fan faves: "Misery Business," "Crushcrushcrush," the Twilight soundtracker "Decode." But the combo did offer a couple of new cuts that underscored the limitations of Williams' supporting cast. The first, "Ignorance," was a chugging grinder whose monochromatic melody didn't give Williams many opportunities to soar. Davis and company seemed to be digging the number, but it represented a creative dead end. In contrast, "Where the Lines Overlap" offered enough movement and space for Williams to shine, and that's precisely what she did.

Prediction: A couple of months from now, modern-rock radio will be pounding this last track like a chef trying to tenderize a tough piece of steak. The resulting hit will provide an argument for Williams to stick with Paramore, which is populated by players she's known since she was thirteen-years old -- and she obviously feels a great deal of loyalty toward them. But if she's ever going to take her career up a notch, she'll eventually have to move on.

And it doesn't have to be forever, as No Doubt star Gwen Stefani has proven. After touring behind 2001's Rock Steady, the last ND studio album, she took time off to record a pair of highly successful solo recordings. But No Doubt never officially broke up, and given that her mates -- bassist Tony Kanal, guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young -- have far fewer options than she does, they eagerly rejoined her for the current jaunt. Hence, Stefani is able to maintain a connection she values with the people who have been there since the beginning without feeling trapped by them.

Of course, the mere fact that No Doubt is still around, and still a commercial force, after nearly a decade and a half since busting charts with 1995's Tragic Kingdom qualifies as a surprise. Back then, the group was part of at least the second major ska revival -- a trend that wasn't expected to last (and didn't) -- and Stefani was widely regarded as an Orange County pop tart whose notoriety was based largely on her big smile and shapely bod. Yet she's proven to be a savvy performer able to tweak her image on a regular basis. If her material is still lightweight, by and large, she sells it so winningly that it seems churlish to complain. And unlike the men of The Sounds and Paramore, her masculine associates boast plenty of personality, with Kanal hopping and air-kicking while maintaining an expression of effortless cool, Dumont delivering licks and dance steps with equal aplomb, Young embracing the role of the loony drummer sans the slightest self-consciousness, and brass accompanists Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair bringing the right amount of Jamaican skank to the proceedings.

The stage set-up consisted of a series of interlocking white arches that matched nicely with the No Doubters all-white garb. (Naturally, Stefani didn't stick with her outfit: She changed costumes twice along the way.) And the graphics projected on the screen behind them were almost too good. Indeed, the spy-movie-inspired sequences that accompanied "Ex-Girlfriend" proved so riveting that I had to keep reminding myself to occasionally watch the live musicians instead of remaining glued to the video. Stefani must not be a great actress when she's required to actually talk, or else someone would have given her more of an opportunity at this point. (Her main part to date was a virtual cameo in Martin Scorsese's 2004 Howard Hughes biopic, The Aviator.) But she's a tremendous music-video actress -- a talent akin to emoting on camera during the silent era. As such, she commanded clips despite the fact that her compatriots are mighty telegenic, too.

In large part, the renditions of "Spiderwebs," "Hella Good," "Underneath It All" and so on were pretty standard -- the closest thing to a revision came with the Talk Talk cover "It's My Life," which was given a more driving keyboard underscore. Nonetheless, the pace never flagged, and neither did the musicians' energy. They all looked far younger than their years -- the platinum hair coloring they used served as the equivalent of Kiss' face paint -- and if playing old material bored them, they never let on. Indeed, Stefani didn't seem the slightest bit uncomfortable leading the crowd in a chant of "I'm just a girl," even though she's not anymore -- she's a 39-year-old married mother of two. That's another kind of acting at which she excels...

Of course, the question of new songs continues to linger. The only ditty debuting on this tour is a fairly rote cover of Adam and the Ants' "Stand and Deliver," originally assembled for a cameo on Gossip Girl. (During it, Young descended from his kit to play a snare drum while prancing around in a ballerina tutu he later supplemented with a Los Angeles Lakers T-shirt. Bastard...) But these days, who needs a new album? The road beckons -- and so do the accountants.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Kind of Life
Bathwater
Guns of Navarone
New
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just A Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Salt Lake City Tribune
by Davis Burger

Partying like it's ... 1995
No Doubt reunites for fun, nostalgic set that includes all of its hits.


No Doubt performed atop a futuristic "Star Trek"-evoking set May 25 at the E Center, partying like it was 1995.

It was a curious choice for a stage, because the band, reunited after five years apart, played a show that was entirely focused on nostalgia. That's not to say that the pop-rock quartet (aided by two sidemen who doubled as horn players and keyboardists) wasn't entertaining and in the moment.

The charismatic and alluring Gwen Stefani led the tight band through a fun and enthusiastic set of every hit from three major-label albums that dominated the airwaves between 1995 and 2003 -- and they produced plenty of hits.

It's just that you were left hoping for a little -- not much, but a little -- more after a 18-song, 95-minute set that primarily played it safe by unleashing versions of songs that hewed closely to the originals. With the innovative band being away for so long, you wanted a glimpse of what they have planned for the future, rather than revisiting the past. A reinvention of the songs would have provided that.

But, in the band's defense, it delivered what it promised. The band had been working on a follow-up to 2001's Jamaica-influenced "Rock Steady" last year until it realized it was lacking a theme and a muse. The four decided to throw a curveball by touring first this summer, with a greatest-hits based set, and then hoping that inspiration followed. The band plans on releasing an album of all-new material next year.

While the band -- Stefani, drummer Adrian Young, guitarist Tom Dumont, and bassist Tony Kanal, with touring members Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair -- played its old songs, they seemed invigorated by the nostalgia, revisiting the tunes that launched them into superstardom. The futuristic white stage (with everyone except Stefani adorned in all white) was set in front of a large video screen that was dominated by neon and the primary colors of the 1980s.

The first three songs laid out the groundwork for the evening: "Spiderwebs," "Hella Good" and "Underneath it All" opened the 15-song main set, which was followed by a three-song encore.

Stefani, with her trademark bleached-blond locks twisted into balls around her head, began the concert wearing a white tank top (atop a green bra such as she wore during this month's appearance on "American Idol") with white baggy pants tucked into knee-high black boots, topped by what I can only describe as a "butt-cape." The noted fashion-plate remained the focus the rest of the night, with two more costume changes that included glittery miniskirts, shiny blouses and fishnet stockings.

Besides the songs, there was another nostalgic element. The band began as a ska band -- a trend that has luckily largely died out -- and the tour's addition of a trombone and trumpet player, prompted the crowd to pogo-ing. All this brought memories of the early to mid-1990s, when third-wave ska (a blending of horns, reggae and rock) ruled the earth.

But is that what the band wanted to relive?

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath it All
Excuse Me, Mr.
Happy Now
Ex-Girlfriend
Simple Kind of Life
Guns of Navarone
Hey Baby
New
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just a Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: The Arizona Republic
by Kellie Hwang

No Doubt's fierce reunion concert

Saturday's No Doubt concert at the Cricket Wireless Pavilion should be a model for how all reunion shows need to be done.

The fun-loving band that dominated the airwaves in the '90s with their ska/reggae-rock hits and colorful style, returned to the stage with a fierce set after a four-year hiatus, giving fans the perfect blend of youthful familiarity and mature confidence that only comes with years of touring.

Fans waited in nervous anticipation for the lights to dim while roadies constructed an elaborate set behind a black curtain, even laying down slick white flooring.

With the drop of a massive white curtain, the shadowy figures of the foursome appeared, sending the venue into an uproar. In a quick swoop, the sheet collapsed to reveal a sleek, futuristic stage set and the band in polished white outfits and instruments.

Drummer Adrian Young, his hair sculpted into a spiked Mohawk with black tips, and touring multi-instrumentalists Stephen Bradley and Gabriel McNair were elevated on an ultramodern platform that looked like it belonged on the "Star Trek" USS Enterprise.

They leapt into "Spiderwebs," singer Gwen Stefani sounding pitch perfect, wailing out the lyrics "It's all your fault" with a searing intensity.

The chemistry between the members of the band is undeniable and never looks contrived. Sequences from the video for "Running" flashed in the background during that song, portraying old tour footage when they were just a wide-eyed quartet. None of that seems to have changed after all these years.

"Out first show in Arizona, we didn't even have a van," said Stefani. "We drove all the way here and played on top of the table . . . well we didn't even get to play because the cops came."

This time, as a spirited Stefani later told the screeching thousands packed into the venue, was the biggest show they'd ever played in Arizona.

They fired through hit after hit including "Hey Baby," "It's My Life" and "Ex-Girlfriend." Each band member was armed with drumsticks during the performance of new single "Stand and Deliver," a cover of the Adam and the Ants track. Young took a break from the kit to move around the stage on a marching snare drum while bassist Tony Kanal and guitarist Tom Dumont tackled bass drums.

Dumont impressed on guitar, playing doubly on his electric and switching to the acoustic resting on a stand in front of him during his solo on "Don't Speak."

Young did not disappoint, not only with his energetic drumming but also his outfits, or lack thereof. For most of the set, he wore only striped long underwear bottoms. During the encore, he surprised the audience in tighty whities and a tutu.

On "Just a Girl," Stefani urged all of the men in the audience to scream "I'm just a girl" at the top of their lungs, resulting in decent response considering No Doubt's typical fan base.

It's always refreshing to see a lead singer interact with the audience, and Stefani took it a step further by pulling a weeping teenage clone of herself onstage for a hug and photo, and going in the audience to snap a picture with a mom and her young daughter.

When your eyes weren't on the magnetic Stefani, you couldn't help but gravitate toward Bradley with his long braids and inspiring dance moves.

On "Underneath It All," guest vocals are handled by DJ Lady Saw, but Stefani filled in with her own edgy version of the reggae-infused solo.

Staying true to her fashion-icon status, Stefani left for two wardrobe changes, returning in a sequined black-and-silver checkered jumper and black tights, and later a pair of tie-dyed jeans, a glittery black polo and a flashy cape-like fabric hanging from the backside of pants. There is no question that she is the only woman who can pull these looks off.

"Rock Steady," which Stefani called her favorite No Doubt song, and "Sunday Morning" kept up the energy for the encore.

Loitering after the last song, the band members graciously took several bows together at the end. Young and Kanal chucked drumsticks and guitar picks to the crowd, and in the ultimate gesture for her diehard fans, Stefani wiped off her signature red lipstick on two towels and tossed them into the sea of flailing hands.

The six bandmates giddily danced off stage like they just played their first show to a crowd of 15 people. Yes, No Doubt is back stronger than ever, and no, we don't want them to go away.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath it All
Excuse Me, Mr.
Happy Now
Ex-Girlfriend
Simple Kind of Life
Guns of Navarone
Hey Baby
New
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just a Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning

Review: Fresno Bee
by Mike Osegueda

No dust on No Doubt in peppy Fresno concert

You could hardly tell they'd been apart for five years.

The members of No Doubt looked like they hadn't missed a beat - let alone been on hiatus for five years - during their concert Tuesday night at Save Mart Center.

The Gwen Stefani-led ska/pop band rocked the arena for 90 minutes, going through what was essentially a greatest hits show.

Fresno was the second date on a reunion tour that will stretch into August.

"Fresno is one of my favorite places in the whole United States to play," Stefani said at the start of the show, "and I am not joking you."

On a spider-ish white stage that looked part "Star Trek," the band cycled through crowd favorites such as "Hey Baby," "Don't Speak" and "Hella Good."

Fans danced in the aisles and roared at Stefani and the gang throughout the night. Probably the biggest ovation came when spunky singer hopped off stage, bolted through the pit, across the arena floor and into the sections of seats furthest from the stage.

She headed back to the stage and did push-ups before launching into "Just a Girl," one of the band's signature hits.

Another show highlight was the band's use of video. Like at many concerts, a huge video screen hung behind the stage.

No Doubt filmed numerous original videos to show throughout the concert. Perhaps, the most engaging though, was the video to accompany the song "Running." It was a collection of old video footage from the group's early years.

Teen rockers Paramore opened for No Doubt and had the younger portion of the crowd shrieking as well. Lead singer Hayley Williams was a firecracker, hopping around the stage and bantering with the crowd.

The lowlight of Paramore's set was guitar trouble for Josh Farro, who missed a few songs. Eventually, Paramore had to cut a song from its set.

"If anything we're never ever ever gonna forget this show," Williams said, before the band went off stage, promising to play an extra song next time it comes to Fresno.


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: to follow

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath it All
Excuse Me, Mr.
Happy Now
Ex-Girlfriend
Simple Kind of Life
Guns of Navarone
Hey Baby
New
Different People
Don't Speak
It's My Life
Just a Girl

Encore:

Rock Steady
Stand and Deliver
Sunday Morning


Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

Review: Golf Las Vegas
by

Tiger Woods, No Doubt Run Fast As They Can at Tiger Jam In Las Vegas

About halfway through their set, No Doubt, headliners of Tiger Jam XII presented by AT&T, broke into one of their hits, "Running", an inspiring ballad featuring lyrics "Running, as fast as we can", describing an attempt to keep the pace. During the song, a large screen showed old video from the band as they traveled and made themselves into one of the world's biggest bands. It was hard not to think about the same road that Tiger Woods has traveled, making himself into one of the world's biggest stars, from a young kid winning U.S. Amateur titles to a 20-year old winning his first PGA Tour event in Las Vegas (1996 Las Vegas Invitational) to a 33-year old in Las Vegas this past weeked for his 12th Tiger Jam, with a goal, as he stated, to help "10 million kids live better lives."

With No Doubt coming together for the first show of a new concert tour--the first time they have toured in five years--Tiger Jam XII was as big as ever, and the sold-out Mandalay Bay Events Center was rocked by lead singer Gwen Stefani, guitarist Tom Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal, and drummer Adrian Young (a single digit handicap golfer), plus background musicians Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair. Among the notables attending the show plus a private live and silent auction reception prior to the concert were PGA Tour players Fred Couples and John Cook (he gave a clinic with Woods to VIP guests on Friday at Las Vegas golf course Cascata), LPGA Tour star Natalie Gulbis, television personality Robin Leach, former Nevada Governor Bob Miller, and two-time Super Bowl-winning Quarterback Ben Roethisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Other Las Vegas golf events surrounding Tiger Jam also took place at Rio Secco Golf Club.

Stefani thanked Tiger during her performance, saying, "Thank you, Tiger, this is so amazing!" Stefani also commented that, in life, you always remember your firsts, and since this was the first concert of the new tour, the band would always remember Las Vegas, and that the crowd was doing a good job of making it a positive memory. Stefani was a commanding presence on the stage, continually bounding and dancing from one side to the other, doing 10 push ups at one point, and then thrilling the audience when she ran from the stage, through the crowd, before ending in the middle of the fans at the far end of the arena where she implored the fans to sing her major hit, "I'm Just a Girl". No Doubt played seemingly every major hit during the show before ending, appropriately with "Sunday Morning" as the clock was about to hit midnight on a Las Vegas Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Bathwater
Excuse Me, Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
Underneath it All
Happy Now?
New
Guns of Navarone
Running
End it On This
Simple Kind of Life
Hey Baby
Don't Speak
Just a Girl
It's My Life

Encore:

Rock Steady
Different People
Sunday Morning

Gwen Stefani/No Doubt Merchandise 2009

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Review: Star Ledger

by Matthew Oshinsky

No Doubt at The Bamboozle

The reunited No Doubt electrified The Bamboozle festival tonight, bringing this massive, sprawling, waterlogged festival to a close. A night after performing a sparkling show at the Event Center of the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City - the band's first since going on hiatus in 2004 - the California quartet offered the shivering crowd in East Rutherford a heart-warming dose of power pop, ska, and soul-inflected gems.

With no new material to play (the band has said that it plans to write a new record while on tour), No Doubt was free to give the thousands who had braved the weather all day exactly what they wanted: a collection of old favorites and radio hits to sing along with.

The band opened with one of its earliest hits, the ska-flavored "Spiderwebs," before moving onto the crunky dance track "Hella Good." Two songs in, No Doubt had already displayed more musical range than many of the bands that preceded them at The Bamboozle. The slow-burning reggae tune "Underneath it All" was next, followed by "Excuse Me Mr.," which the band transformed from a straight-ahead rocker into a Police-style, "Message in a Bottle" arpeggio piece.

In the hours before No Doubt took the stage, a number of bands in the same musical tradition did their best to warm the dampened masses. Southern California scene veterans Face to Face - contemporaries of No Doubt - made their own case for being the best punk band to escape the West Coast in the last 20 years, pummeling the crowd (many of whom weren't born when the band started in 1991) with a fierce and rapid assault of genuine three-chord malice.

They were followed by Chicago punk heroes Rise Against. who played their own rendition of '90s-style punk-core on such favorites as "Re-Education" and "Ready to Fall." Lead singer Trevor Keith challenged the crowd to form the biggest circle pit possible, with the stage left crowd facing off against the stage right crowd. Anyone who witnessed who won is a braver person than I.

In the 7 p.m. slot, one of the best bands of the festival appeared on one of the smallest stages. They may not have been the most powerful or the most experienced, but Care Bears on Fire, comprised of three teenage girls from Brooklyn, wowed the sparse crowd gathered before them with some of the most authentic, classic punk music at The Bamboozle. Eschewing the cookie-cutter pop-punk sound that dominated the festival, Care Bears on Fire played riff-ready, 1-2-3-4 punk rock, and were the closest thing to the Ramones one was likely to find. Before one tune, drummer Izzy said, "This next song is about something everyone can relate to, because we all did at one point: gym class." Rock 'n' roll high school, indeed.

Setlist: * unconfirmed, setlist corrections always welcome in feedback module below

Great Tickets ... All 2009 Shows

No Doubt Tickets


Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Bathwater
Excuse Me, Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
Underneath it All
Happy Now?
New
Guns of Navarone
Running
End it On This
Simple Kind of Life
Hey Baby
Don't Speak
Just a Girl
It's My Life

Encore:

Rock Steady
Different People
Sunday Morning

Review: Star Ledger
by Jay Lustig

No Doubt launches comeback at Borgata

Before singing "Simple Kind of Life" Saturday night at the Event Center of Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani said that this was the first time she had sung it in public since her two sons were born, in 2006 and 2008.

Originally released on No Doubt's 2000 album "Return of Saturn," this is a bittersweet ballad where she yearns for motherhood, and describes herself as selfish for putting it off too long.

If she had any trouble getting into the spirit of the song, which no longer applies to her personal life, she didn't show it. Similarly, the band -- presenting the first show of a reunion tour that also comes to Holmdel and Camden in June -- basically picked up where it left before it went on hiatus in 2004. It was a high-energy, glitch-free tour opener, with the band, lacking new material, free to focus on highlights of its previous years together.

When the band announced the tour schedule, in February, its festival-closing appearance at the Meadowlands' Bamboozle festival tonight was the first show. Then it added, as a warmup, the concert at the Event Center, which has a capacity of 3,000. It will spend most of the tour headlining amphitheaters that have a capacity of five or more times that.

Originally the band planned to release an album before touring, but the songs turned out to be frustratingly long in coming. Stefani said, from the Borgata stage, that the band hoped to get inspiration from the tour to write some new music.

So the show was devoted to old stuff: hits like "Don't Speak," "Just a Girl," "Underneath It All" and "Spiderwebs," as well as more obscure songs like "Excuse Me Mr." "Different People" and "End It On This," and a cover of the Talk Talk new-wave hit, "It's My Life." There was a bouncy, retro feel to "Bathwater," a celebratory, good-time groove to "Keep On Dancing," and some venomous anger to "Ex-Girlfriend."

Throughout the show, the band moved smoothly from reggae to ska, punk-pop and power ballads, with Stefani, bassist Tony Kanal, guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young ably supported by longtime associates Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair on backing vocals and a variety of horn, keyboard, string and percussion instruments.

Stefani, who established herself as a successful solo artist during the band's hiatus, couldn't have looked happier, back onstage with her old friends, and with many of the group's longtime fans crowding close to the stage. She beamed when fans sang along, and graciously took audience members' cameras and snapped photos of herself, with them behind her. Before the sarcastic feminist anthem "Just a Girl," she flexed her biceps, showed off her rock-hard abdominal muscles, and dropped to the floor to do 10 push-ups - a 39-year-old mom, still feeling empowered by the song's defiant message.

The new intergenerational power-pop supergroup Tinted Windows opened the show. Taylor Hanson of Hanson sang lead, James Iha of Smashing Pumpkins played guitar, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne handled bass and most of the backing vocals, and Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick was on drums.

The group, which released its self-titled debut album on April 21, seemed modeled, to a large degree, on the clever-but-catchy formula of Fountains of Wayne; that's not surprising, since Schlesinger is the primary songwriter. Still, the group had a personality of its own, with Iha's guitar riffs flirting with dissonance, and Carlos, with his unwaveringly buoyant playing, adding more personality than your average drummer.

The musicians' other commitments will likely make Tinted Windows a fleeting side project. But this is a band worth checking out, for as long as they may stay together.