No Doubt Master Class

July 25th, 2009 by 801red

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Went to a No Doubt concert last night. It was not the first No Doubt concert I have gone to but based on last night it will also not be the last. This is a band that has definitely gotten better with time. Not that they were bad in the beginning but their skills have just matured into a whole new level.

It was particularly interesting last night because one of the opening acts was the band Paramore. I wanted to like Paramore but really it just didn’t happen for me. Hayley Williams has a nice voice and I think the potential is really there but for the most part their music was just watered down fusion of teen punk and pop. I get why kids like them, it just wasn’t for me. I think that as the years weather them a little and their music grows up I might give them another listen.

The interesting part is that I couldn’t help thinking as I watched Paramore how forced their stage presence was. It got to the point where I was able to predict exactly when she would wave around her hair, when the guitarist would go into rock pose 101. It was very staged and felt jilted and unnatural. I couldn’t help but think that their entire act was made up of moves that they had seen in a video and couldn’t wait to copy on stage. They are a young band and I am sure that they will get better with time, especially if they were paying attention to No Doubt. Because No Doubt put on a master class of how to perform a concert.

Even with no new material they had the audience eating out of their hands all night. Gwen Stefani prowled that stage like a tiger, pouncing on every musical note delivered by her band mates. I know that there were kids in that audience who were there only for Paramore but left thinking No Doubt rocks. I have seen a lot of concerts in my life and I can say that No Doubt is a group that I would pay to see over and over again. I look forward to their new record because it means they will be touring again and I will be right there with them.

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