May 13, 1997
Caught up in Doubt

Who would have thought a No Doubt concert could turn -- albeit briefly -- into a female empowerment session? Especially with so many men in the audience.

But that's exactly what happened about a half hour into the California ska-pop band's near-capacity show last night at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Sparkle-laden, platinum blonde lead singer Gwen Stefani --- in her trademark midriff-baring outfit of white sequined tank top and oversized black pants -- interrupted the band's high-energy musical hijinks to get a singalong going during their mega hit, Just A Girl.

First Stefani got "the boys" in the crowd to sing "I'm just a girl," much to her amusement.

Then she called upon the "sweet, cute, innocent, tiny, sexy girls" to do a chorus, changing it to: "F--- you! I'm a girl!"

Point taken. And apparently without giving offence to the males in the crowd.

Stefani, whose operatic voice sounds like she's either sucked helium out of a balloon or listened to one too many Pat Benatar records, seemed to have something to offer everyone.

From the 10-year-old Gwen wannabe taken to the show by her mother to the 28-year-old guy sitting nearby with a friend. (If you think about those two examples in particular it all makes sense: Role model for the former, fantasy object for the latter.)

Ostensibly everyone came to hear the no-brainer, boppy hits off No Doubt's multi-platinum No. 1 album, Tragic Kingdom, especially Excuse Me Mr., Just A Girl, Don't Speak, Sunday Morning and Spiderwebs, but what kept them on their feet was Stefani's awesome stage presence.

With the exception of high-kicking bassist Tony Kanal and the two-man horn section (one also played keyboards while the other sang backup), the scarlet-lipsticked singer stole the show. Guitarist Tom Dumont ("a French Canadian," he proudly stated) and drummer Adrian Young (shirtless and in shorts) rounded out the group.

Stefani strutted like Jagger one minute and peered demurely through a sequined veil the next, clearly capable of expressing both sides of her personality.

Meanwhile, a sea of outstretched arms on the Gardens floor greeted her every move. And there were many. She ran back and forth. She jumped on the spot. She stood on the front speakers. She stuck out her pale, not-so-toned tummy.

Just how many cups of coffee does she drink a day?

And in case anyone forgot No Doubt -- who take part in a MuchMusic Intimate & Interactive broadcast tonight -- hail from Orange County, the stage was decorated with flower garlands, fake orange trees, large orange lanterns and an orange grove backdrop.

Maybe that's where Stefani gets her energy. It's all that Vitamin C.

SUN RATING 4 OUT OF 5