Live Concert Review: No Doubt Rocks Out
by Stephanie SnyderWednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday night's No Doubt concert at the Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa proved that after a five year hiatus, the band is back and better than ever.
The torrential storms in the early evening didn't dampen the spirits of the concert-goers as people trickled in during the openers the Sounds (a pop/punk/synth outfit from Sweden who will play at Club Firestone in Orlando on Thursday night) and Paramore, who headbanged their way through such chart toppers as "That's What You Get" and "Misery Business." The choice of opening acts made sense; both bands are fronted by charismatic female leads - the Sounds' Maja Ivarsson, who, at 6'1'', comes across as a very tall Debbie Harry, and Paramore's spunky, headbanging Hayley Williams.
Then, of course, it was time for No Doubt to take the stage.
It's easy to forget that Gwen Stefani is 39 years old and that No Doubt has essentially been a band since 1986. Gwen, Adrian, Tony and Tom rocked out with the same vigor and energy as they did years ago.
No Doubt kicked off the show with "Spiderwebs," and played such familiar tunes as "Hella Good," "Hey Baby," "Don't Speak," "Just A Girl," and "Excuse Me, Mr.," as well as earlier songs like, "Different People." For their encore, they closed out the evening with "Sunday Morning," which had everyone - from the pit to the soggy grass - jumping.
Ever the fashion trailblazer, Stefani had three wardrobe changes. And - just to prove that she's not only more stylish than you and I, but also in better shape - she did military-style push-ups on stage in a sparkly black and white number with knee high boots and tights. This is the enigma that is Gwen Stefani.
The music and energy were non-stop. Touring No Doubt musicians/percussionists/horn players Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair were amazing to watch, adding extra ska and reggae flavor to the set, particularly during an instrumental interlude in which they played the Skatalites' "Guns of Navarone."
Highlights of the evening included numerous instances where Stefani pulled a handful of fans on stage for photos. A girl one row in front of me got pulled on stage when Stefani noticed her sign (which read that she had flown in from NYC just to see the band). Another fan in the pit held up a sign that read something along the lines of "My dream is to get a picture with you." Stefani gladly obliged.
Take note, people: Gwen actually reads your signs.
No Doubt put on a show worthy of a standing ovation - but they had the crowd enraptured and on their feet the whole time anyway. It was impossible not to be.
