By CHRIS NIXON
Special to the Register
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Remember when Gwen Stefani railed against feminine stereotypes, singing "I'm just a girl in this world" on No Doubt's breakthrough album, "Tragic Kingdom"? It's almost ancient history now: 11-plus years, to be exact.
Besides the drug-addled rants of Courtney Love, the '90s were extremely thin on strong feminine voices in rock. So girls connected with Stefani's clear voice and strong message: She was the essence of the anti-diva.
Gwen Stefani
Where: Coors Amphitheatre, Chula Vista
When: April 22
Next: Stefani performs Friday at Gibson Amphitheatre at
Universal CityWalk and June 22-23 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine
How much: $75 for Gibson; $20.75-$75.75 for Irvine
Availability: Gibson
is sold out; only single seats and lawn tickets remain for Irvine.
Call: 714-740-2000
Online: www.ticketmaster.com
No longer wrapped in the safe confines of No Doubt, Stefani has stepped out in her quest for iconoclastic pop stardom. Since her 2004 solo album "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." Stefani has been just another pop diva backed by soul singers and an MC.
From the opening moments of Stefani's 79-date world tour, the vibe was way more Magic Kingdom than "Tragic Kingdom." Her concert was like a ride through a theme park: pretty to look at but lacking substance. The hour-and-a-half show felt a bit like eating cotton candy while taking a turn on the Mad Tea Party ride.
Moments before Stefani took the stage on a cool Sunday night at Coors Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, a scuffle seemed to break out in the first 20 rows of the open-air venue. Police escorted two beautiful troublemakers to the stage. Stefani emerged from a cage as the backup band launched into the opening notes of "The Sweet Escape," the title track from her 2006 platinum album. Stefani, the police and the troublemakers all busted into a synchronized dance. This little bit of scripted theatrics served as a safe form of drama, but the kids loved it.
Through her 17-song set and six costume changes, Stefani stuck with the criminal theme, complete with pinstripe outfits and props such as a huge safe. With a set devoid of No Doubt tunes, Stefani is clearly trying to separate herself from her past incarnation, trading ska-inflected rock for hip-hop and modern R&B bravado.
Those in the near-sellout crowd waved their arms in the air in unison when prompted, and generally squealed with joy at the show's pomp and pageantry. Stefani is clearly a star demanding attention on stage. To her credit, she seemed to enjoy every second as the crowd showered her with adoration.
If you're a fan of Stefani's solo material, you'll love this show, which comes to Irvine in two months. If not, you might be well served to wait another few years until Stefani hits her stride, as Madonna did with her later material.
One thing stands true after the Coors show: Stefani knows how to pick a backing band. For her second straight tour, she enlisted a couple of David Bowie vets (bassist Gail Ann Dorsey and drummer Zachary Alford), a couple of No Doubt players (Gabrial McNair on trombone/keyboards and Stephen Bradley on trumpet/percussion), a punk rock pro (Vandals guitarist Warren Fitzgerald) and a skilled musical director (keyboardist Kristopher Pooley, who has also toured with Jane's Addiction and Liz Phair). Bassist Dorsey deftly sang verses on "Early Winter" and a stripped-down version of "The Real Thing," the first song of the encore.
If you squint, you'll see that Stefani – under all the caked makeup, the choreographed dance moves, the thin live sound and the watered-down soul-pop tunes – is just an Orange County girl trying to make a living. Gauging from the reaction of the throngs of young girls taking their cue from her, Stefani is a master at capturing the hearts and minds of young people.
