Gwen Stefani
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NO DOUBT
with Paramore
June 3, 2009
Cruzan Amphitheater
West Palm Beach, FL
Review and Photos by Liana Minassian
It may come as a surprise to find out that No Doubt has embarked on a reunion tour since the members haven’t played together in almost five years. Singer Gwen Stefani has had quite a successful solo career, experimenting with dancehall, 80s pop and new wave. She even started her own fashion line called L.A.M.B, which includes the Harajuku Lovers collection.
But indeed, No Doubt has returned to play their old songs and work on a new studio album while they tour. Whether it was their managers, promoters or the band themselves who chose their opening acts, they picked the perfect ones: Swedish new wavers The Sounds and pop punk lovelies Paramore. While both acts are energetic and female fronted with their own followings, No Doubt was not to be overshadowed and put on a hell of a good show.
Hayley Williams, Paramore
As the curtain dropped, Adrian Young, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont, Stephen Bradley, Gabrial McNair and Gwen Stefani ran out onstage in a rush of spectacular energy and excitement. They wasted no time, jumping right into Tragic Kingdom’s opener "Spiderwebs" and kept it funky with Rocksteady’s "Hella Good." "Underneath it All" slowed things down a bit before they bounced their way through "Excuse Me Mr." and "Ex-Girlfriend." It was clear from the intensely passionate looks on their faces, No Doubt was glad to be back performing together.
Gwen Stefani has become known for her theatrical costumes and sets, especially during her solo touring, and this tour was no different. Dressed in black and white, the band was highly coordinated both in appearance and setting. Their lighting was primarily white with warmer colors thrown in during some of the sexier parts of the songs. In terms of the set, Stephen Bradley, Gabrial McNair and Adrian Young were positioned on top of a platform that looked like a cross between a giant white octopus and the flight deck of the U.S.S. Enterprise.
It was clear from the intensely passionate looks on their faces, No Doubt was glad to be back performing together.
Felix Rodriguez, The Sounds
After "Lets End it On This," Gwen took time to acknowledge some "cute people" in the audience who made signs and were singing along. Afew fans even asked her to sign things in between songs, which she happily obliged. During "Running," old tour footage from the early nineties was projected on the screen behind them, much like the video for that song. Seeing their old flaming logo reminded me of the first time I saw them in 1996 at the very same venue after Tragic Kingdom hit it big. I was in 4th grade, but I was in love with No Doubt. Luckily for her fans, Gwen loves them right back. "You guys are so beautiful," she said before going into "Different People" which she dedicated to all of us "slushies" on the muddy lawn. Anight sky was projected behind the band, and the audience mirrored it back with the lights of their cell phones decorating the air. During the bridge in "Just A Girl," Gwen demanded the boys sing "I’m just a girl," but their lack of enthusiasm compared to the girls earned them "a minus zero of shit." She did make it known that this was one of the loudest shows of the tour and praised those of us singing along for making her "ears ring and bleed."
Tony Kanal, No Doubt
After a fiercely persistent chanting for No Doubt to return for an encore, they emerged in new outfits and played what Gwen called the perfect song for tonight, "Rocksteady." The lighting gave a heavenly appearance to the stage with rows of LED lights that looked like rays of sun and clouds behind them on the screen. Then they surprised everyone by performing "Stand and Deliver" by Adam & the Ants, STOMP style on floor toms. Their final song was "Sunday Morning," which was an ideal closing song, although "Tragic Kingdom" would have been great too. As they took a bow and said goodbye for the night, their name glowed bright behind, signaling the return of No Doubt. I can’t wait for more.
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Hayley Williams, Paramore
Tony Kanal, No Doubt
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Tony Kanal, No Doubt