Review: No Doubt, Paramore

On its first tour in seven years, No Doubt might be packing large venues like Starlight Theater on Monday night, but they’re 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 homemade signs held up in the crowd and calling fans with gifts up to the stage to receive them personally. After tossing a sign spray-painted with a request for “Total Hate 95” onstage, 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.

When she wasn’t speaking directly to the fans, 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 tracklist of the greatest hits album No Doubt released before going on hiatus and jumped off the stage like a celebration of the 11 years they’d shared prior.

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 they brought as many fans as the headliners. The 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 souvenir photo. The setlist tipped heavily toward their 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. Their sound was indebted to the Two-Tone sound of the Specials and did a good job of establishing the evening’s feel.

After No Doubt returned for “Rock Steady,” Bedouin Soundclash and Paramore joined them 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, the band lingered onstage signing autographs, tossing souvenirs and shaking hands. Just like they did in their native Southern California clubs a lifetime ago.

Joel Francis, Special to The Star

SETLISTS
No Doubt: Spiderwebs, Hella Good, Underneath It All, Excuse Me Mr., Ex-Girlfriend, End It On This, Total Hate 95, 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

Paramore: Misery Business, For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic, Pressure, Ignorance (new song), Crush Crush Crush, When It Rains, Where the Lines Overlap (new song), That’s What You Get, Let the Flames Begin, Decode

Comments

[TK]

That was a very fun show last night! Gwen was mesmerizing...

[jonny]

i ate good hot dogs at the moosic show

[Matthew S.]

The show was incredible! I will never forget catching Hayley Williams' water bottle when she threw it to me!

[mothman]

It was just one of those shows where even if it's not your thing, you just have to hand it to them; they put on a good one and it was alot of fun.

[Amanda]

I was the fan that got on stage. Having been a fan for 14 years, last night was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

[Tim]

I'm a twenty something that is secretly disappointed that I missed Paramore.

[Joel]

Congratulations, Amanda. What were the cross-stitch gifts you made?

[GwenDidGREAT]

CONGRATS AMANDA!!!!
That is A W E S OM E ! !

I am so happy to hear about a performer doing this for her fans. I was not there, but I am delighted to that Gwen treats her fans right.

When a band/performer does this for their fans, they dont have to worry about downloading costing them money. If they treat the fans right, the fans will be forever. How awesome.

I wish other perfomers would take note of this. I have seen so many bands/perfomers ignore people who bring them presents.

But when a peformer takes the time ( a fraction of the time spent preparing the gift ) to acknowledge someone gifting, they give the fan a special lifetime memory.

I get goosebumps for you Amanda ..... CONGRATS!!!

[Scott]

I didnt make the show but its cool to see No Doubt still around, I saw them years back with Everclear, No Doubt opened, I had never heard of them, the show might have been sold out I forget, but my brother and I ended up buying tickets off the street. No Doubt came strong, it was a great show, I think Tragic Kingdom just came out, after the set Gwen ended up sitting off to the side of the stage and watched Everclear, she was about a row or two in front of me and not yet a huge star, I think one or two people noticed her, someone asked for a kiss and got a poster signed, anyway, jus wanted to share that, always thougth it was kinda cool.

[Amanda]

Thanks for the kind words, Tim and Joel. If you follow this link, you can see pictures of the gifts I made, as well as pictures from the concert. :-)

http://forums.nodoubt.com/forums/2081289/ShowPost.aspx

[GwenDidGREAT]

Nice, very nice, what a great picutre, of a great picture, of you and Gwen. That is so awesome.

Thank you for sharing.

[GwenDidGREAT]

I was not there, thsi did not happen to me, but it is TRUE ( PROVED )(otherwise BS;)... but this is one of the BEST CONCERT STORIES I HAVE EVER HEARD.

may I quote your GREAT STORY?
(if not, tell em to delete it.)

-------------------
......."my boyfriend, Kenton,.... practically (okay, he DID) pushed me towards the stage and yelled “Go! Go!”....

I ran up really quickly. I had already made sure the gifts were out where I could grab them and I kept my camera on my wrist, so I’d have that handy as well.

I ran up to the stage and handed her the gifts.

Our conversation went as follows:

Gwen: What are these--gift certificates?
Me: “No! I made one for each of you.
Gwen: These are….cross stitch?
Me: Yes! Gwen: Did you make these?
Me: Yes!
Gwen: These are beautiful, thank you!

Then I asked her if I could take a photo with her.

She said “You want to take a photo with me? Sure come up!”

She grabbed my hand and.....

...I got on stage and looked at her and then gave her my camera....

...She then put her arms around my waist to hug me and she even raised me off the ground. …...Gwen Stefani picked me off the ground!!! Wow"""

------------------------
imho.... HOW TOTALLY KEWL!! I really respect Gwen for doing this.

PS
you being very beautiful only makes the whole story better:)

[neighbor]

"i ate good hot dogs at the moosic show" - jonny

That may be the most awesome single line ever written on this blog. Ever. Can't stop laughing

[Amanda]

Glad you enjoyed my report and the pics, GwenDidGREAT. :)

[ac]

I'm a forty-something that is disappointed I missed the Paramore show!

[GwenDidGREAT]

mTY, I MORE than just enjoyed, We can imagine, and live vicariously, I love this type of stuff, it is pure fun, nuthin but a great time.

I wont go on about our stuff like this, becasue this about you, YES!!!....good job.... and those pix are awesome. You boyfriend really covered you from the crowd, as Gwen covered you from the stage.... too VERYkewl:)

also,
I was perusing the ND website, ( and might I add a very friendly sounding fan site )and reading up on your prep, and you did you homework.

I always like the saying...
"LUCK = PREPERATION+OPPORTUNITY"

you nailed it, good job. I also was watching some video,of this tour,,,here is agreat one..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usVyr-EsUXg

BUT BE WARNED GUYS, dont get this song stuck in your head.. ; )

here is another...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhre_2oYx6Q&feature=related

PS
re: Fergis/Slash

This week, this is now 2, new ( new to me anyway ) hot singers, whom I have added to my tastes. I am hard to impress, I dont just go for the flavor of the month, my tastes gotta last and last, and they gotta kick ass....

Just this week I also added Fergie, yeah , Fergie of the B.E.Peas......

The stuff she is doing with Slash floored me.

I love sexy singers...

Slash has formed a super group, with Fergie singing...check this out.....

( I just found out that ) FERGIE ROCKS!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auD76IbK8Sw

Bub, at least watch that vid from 3:30 forward.

[Gary Oldman]

GwenDidGREAT,

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Mr. Hudson has NOT in fact formed a supergroup with Stacy Ferguson. He just got on stage with her at the OC fair last year. Slash is right now working on an album with many guest musicians; Ms. Ferguson is rumoured to be one of them.

However, if you (and others on this) like the Fergie/Slash vid, I suggest you type in "Camp Freddy" on the Youtube search. Google it too, it's a hell of a concept I'd love to stumble upon some time.

GO

[DurrrDuh]

check your facts, my bubble is intact.

He played the quart festival, and the news is.... if you read the news,,,,ah never mind...you are more into bubble bursting, so have at it.

[dwight]

man man, Gwen was wearing those pants dangerously low ;) ;) ;)