www.ambiente.us JUNE | JUNIO 2009
“Sippin’ on Chamomile” |
Cruzan Amphitheatre presents No Doubt
story and photography by Armando Diaz Jr.
I have to be honest but I was absolutely psyched when I had the opportunity to
attend the recent No Doubt concert at West Palm Beach’s Cruzan
Amphitheatre, as part of their 2009 Summer Reunion Tour. I had been running so
late that Wednesday evening due to a series of unfortunate delays that I missed
the opening act of Paramore! But between us….it didn’t bug me so much. My
VIP badge got me where I needed to go, which I was totally thankful for that….
thanks Barry!
The group had officially announced their plans for the summer tour in January
2009 via MTV News. ND has certainly come a long way (time wise) from their
days as local West Coast ska favorites, however the formula remains the same.
Passion plus creative simple visuals multiplied by a mix of classic hits and hot
new singles equals a kick ass show!
I have been a fan of ND since the days of The Beacon Street Collection album
(which I find to be their best album), when Tony Kanal was still somewhat the
“Sippin’ on Chamomile” |
Cruzan Amphitheatre presents No Doubt
story and photography by Armando Diaz Jr.
I have to be honest but I was absolutely psyched when I had the opportunity to
attend the recent No Doubt concert at West Palm Beach’s Cruzan
Amphitheatre, as part of their 2009 Summer Reunion Tour. I had been running so
late that Wednesday evening due to a series of unfortunate delays that I missed
the opening act of Paramore! But between us….it didn’t bug me so much. My
VIP badge got me where I needed to go, which I was totally thankful for that….
thanks Barry!
The group had officially announced their plans for the summer tour in January
2009 via MTV News. ND has certainly come a long way (time wise) from their
days as local West Coast ska favorites, however the formula remains the same.
Passion plus creative simple visuals multiplied by a mix of classic hits and hot
new singles equals a kick ass show!
I have been a fan of ND since the days of The Beacon Street Collection album
(which I find to be their best album), when Tony Kanal was still somewhat the
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manager of the group, before
taking up his full time bassist duties
and before his relationship split
with Gwen Stefani. In that same MTV
News release Stefani stated the reason
behind the tour was to perform their
favorite songs and explore new musical
directions.
The deliciously zany part of all this, is
that themes, colors, sets, and an
overall look and feel has already
been applied to this tour without
the band having yet officially released
their new album. Stefani paved the direction for that “look”, drawing inspiration
from modernist movies of the late 60’s, primarily A Clockwork Orange. So
Google-it if you must, but picture this vibe for a moment….those loud splashy
party 1960’s colors with a cold and clean 2001: A Space Odyssey edge. No? Ok
then, imagine an army of insane mushrooms from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland,
invading a room inside a Cylon base star from the re-imagined Battlestar
Galactica series. That’s the best I can do!
The band’s set list was kind of expected but not really. It was still a warm and
inviting surprise for them to play pretty much every single fan favorite of the last
15 years. You know you go to these shows and you understand the group you’re
they’re to see has to promote their new album. ND however seemed to play
extra long, extra liking it to the chagrin of hundreds of satisfied fans, while still
taking up his full time bassist duties
and before his relationship split
with Gwen Stefani. In that same MTV
News release Stefani stated the reason
behind the tour was to perform their
favorite songs and explore new musical
directions.
The deliciously zany part of all this, is
that themes, colors, sets, and an
overall look and feel has already
been applied to this tour without
the band having yet officially released
their new album. Stefani paved the direction for that “look”, drawing inspiration
from modernist movies of the late 60’s, primarily A Clockwork Orange. So
Google-it if you must, but picture this vibe for a moment….those loud splashy
party 1960’s colors with a cold and clean 2001: A Space Odyssey edge. No? Ok
then, imagine an army of insane mushrooms from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland,
invading a room inside a Cylon base star from the re-imagined Battlestar
Galactica series. That’s the best I can do!
The band’s set list was kind of expected but not really. It was still a warm and
inviting surprise for them to play pretty much every single fan favorite of the last
15 years. You know you go to these shows and you understand the group you’re
they’re to see has to promote their new album. ND however seemed to play
extra long, extra liking it to the chagrin of hundreds of satisfied fans, while still
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dropping new and upcoming tracks.
Among the classics they started off with “Spiderwebs” which took me back to
Gwen in that shimmery yellow tank top, glossy blonde ponytail and facial
piercing which I can’t remember if it was on her eyebrow or her lip? But damn
she looks fantastic for 40! And the continued energy in her performance! They
continued with “Hella Good”, “Bathwater”, “Underneath It All” and “Excuse Me
Mr.” They were so into their performance, with Gwen constantly traversing from
one end of the stage to the other under the large screens flashing eerie images
from A Clockwork Orange and I want to say I saw a few scenes from Logan’s Run
but I may be wrong, I was too busy hopping up and down whilst keeping my
camera away from Security.
The show continues with “Ex-Girlfriend”, “Happy Now?”, and “Simple Kind of Life”
all tracks that are blunt nods to Stefani’s long term love for Tony Kanal. It makes
it so much more personal obviously when you know what’s behind these songs,
and sometimes so much more emotional an experience even when surrounded
by invasive flash lights, plastic beer jugs and the glow of mobile phone screens.
Among the classics they started off with “Spiderwebs” which took me back to
Gwen in that shimmery yellow tank top, glossy blonde ponytail and facial
piercing which I can’t remember if it was on her eyebrow or her lip? But damn
she looks fantastic for 40! And the continued energy in her performance! They
continued with “Hella Good”, “Bathwater”, “Underneath It All” and “Excuse Me
Mr.” They were so into their performance, with Gwen constantly traversing from
one end of the stage to the other under the large screens flashing eerie images
from A Clockwork Orange and I want to say I saw a few scenes from Logan’s Run
but I may be wrong, I was too busy hopping up and down whilst keeping my
camera away from Security.
The show continues with “Ex-Girlfriend”, “Happy Now?”, and “Simple Kind of Life”
all tracks that are blunt nods to Stefani’s long term love for Tony Kanal. It makes
it so much more personal obviously when you know what’s behind these songs,
and sometimes so much more emotional an experience even when surrounded
by invasive flash lights, plastic beer jugs and the glow of mobile phone screens.
| . |
After the interlude they
continued with “Hey Baby”,
the very high energy single
“New”, which I remember
discovering after watching
the movie Go (love that
movie), “Running”, “End It
On This” and of course
“Don’t Speak” which I
recognized by raising my
own mobile into the air and
moving it back and forth
slowly. Ah, the mobile
phone screen has of course
replaced the lighter in the 21st century, I mean who wants to burn their fingers
anymore?
Moving on to their cover of “It’s My Life” and yes indeed, “Just A Girl”. After a
few sips from my frozen margarita I was singing along and bopping my head to
the estrogen infused track singing along with all the females in the audience,
even when she asked “where’s my girls at?” Ha! Who cares? I didn’t understand
all the guys holding back, I know they wanted to Holla’ Back.
As people were making a mad dash for the exit to avoid the mayhem of the
parking situations, ND hits the lights with a 4 track encore! “Rock Steady”, “Stand
and Deliver”, Different People” and “Sunday Morning”. It seemed like 5 tracks so
I hope I’m not mistaken there.
There has been a hush rumor floating around that No Doubt might be one of the
headliners for Lollapalooza 2009, but you know how that goes. And all that
seems to remind me of is my Airwalks that I would match to one of the (10) thrift
store gas station attendant shirts I used to own, But let’s not venture there.
Keep on the lookout for the end of their summer tour and release of the new
continued with “Hey Baby”,
the very high energy single
“New”, which I remember
discovering after watching
the movie Go (love that
movie), “Running”, “End It
On This” and of course
“Don’t Speak” which I
recognized by raising my
own mobile into the air and
moving it back and forth
slowly. Ah, the mobile
phone screen has of course
replaced the lighter in the 21st century, I mean who wants to burn their fingers
anymore?
Moving on to their cover of “It’s My Life” and yes indeed, “Just A Girl”. After a
few sips from my frozen margarita I was singing along and bopping my head to
the estrogen infused track singing along with all the females in the audience,
even when she asked “where’s my girls at?” Ha! Who cares? I didn’t understand
all the guys holding back, I know they wanted to Holla’ Back.
As people were making a mad dash for the exit to avoid the mayhem of the
parking situations, ND hits the lights with a 4 track encore! “Rock Steady”, “Stand
and Deliver”, Different People” and “Sunday Morning”. It seemed like 5 tracks so
I hope I’m not mistaken there.
There has been a hush rumor floating around that No Doubt might be one of the
headliners for Lollapalooza 2009, but you know how that goes. And all that
seems to remind me of is my Airwalks that I would match to one of the (10) thrift
store gas station attendant shirts I used to own, But let’s not venture there.
Keep on the lookout for the end of their summer tour and release of the new
| . |
album, I know I will!
No Doubt consists of
vocalist Gwen Stefani, bassist Tony Kanal,
guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer
Adrian Young
CLICK HERE for more Armando Diaz
Copyright 2009| Ambiente. Do not reproduce without prior authorization.
No Doubt consists of
vocalist Gwen Stefani, bassist Tony Kanal,
guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer
Adrian Young
CLICK HERE for more Armando Diaz
Copyright 2009| Ambiente. Do not reproduce without prior authorization.
