If I Were A Lead Singer, I'd Be Gwen Stefani

If I Were A Lead Singer, I'd Be Gwen Stefani

I have to admit, I’m not particularly a fan of reunion tours. Either the band in question is reuniting to obtain some of the fame and glimmer that they have once felt, or they want to cash in because their royalty payments are dwindling. In addition to both of these usual traits, the group often isn’t as strong as they used to be. With this in mind, I watched in horror as No Doubt took the stage on American Idol on May 6, 2009 and butchered one of their greatest hits, “Just a Girl”. While the band was relatively on par, lead songstress Gwen Stefani trebled the hell throughout the approximate four-minute song length and focused more on doing push ups and screaming to the fangirls who only know her for her mediocre solo work.

Despite the time I spent cringing about this performance, I decided to spend a quarter of a paycheck to see her at Nikon Jones Beach, along with opening acts Paramore and Janelle Monae.

Opening acts typically don't stand out for me, and this time was no exception. Jones Beach never had the best acoustics, particularly because the amphitheatre is outside. Perhaps they could be to blame for my distaste towards the first opener, Janelle Monae. Monae, introduced as Diddy’s newest protégé, was very out there. She was like a combination of a black Lady Gaga and Kanye West on 808’s and Heartbreaks. It seemed like she only performed three songs, one being a Michael Jackson tribute. It was confusing to see what sort of music she was aiming to make. She was futuristic, yet soulful. She was manically energetic, yet smooth. Along with dropping her mic stand about five times, her set was messy and left me confused.

I know Paramore more for the lead singer’s, Hayley Williams’s, bold hairstyles and personal dating life more than their music, but their music reminds me of the music that I listened to when I was thirteen. However, I outgrew the majority of my old taste and I just found Paramore annoying. Their fangirls are much more annoying, however. It felt like a third of the crowd solely paid to see Paramore’s 50-minute set, then went home after their mini-show was done.  Their music was forgettable, and I felt like turning emo when they performed that Twilight song. Strangely enough, it sounded like Williams’ voice began to give in near the end of the set. She better rest up her vocals or she’ll wear herself out within a few years.

Luckily, the concert majorly redeemed itself when No Doubt went on stage at 9:33. Along with two touring members, the band showed us loyal fans why we loved them in the first place. Touring solely for inspiration for their new album, Stefani and Company performed their greatest and most beloved hits. Along with that, each member often got to illustrate his or her immense talents throughout the show, specifically drummer Adrian Young and touring members Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair. Of course, Stefani is the quintessential leader, both showing off her impressive vocals and interacting with the audience to the point where she brought up a lucky audience member and hugged him. The quality that I appreciate most about No Doubt is the fact that everyone in the band seems like good friends. While they started in 1986, they interact the same as they did back then. They have a goofy, playful aura to their personalities, and it reflects in their vast catalog.

I often go to concerts and shows for the main act, and I try to block out any bad acts, should they be bad. I have already gotten the bad taste of Paramore out of my mouth, and I’ll probably give Monae a second listen. Solely focusing on No Doubt’s show, it was one of the better performances I have seen within the past year.