No Doubt throws it back — way back — at the Las Vegas Sphere

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Gwen Stefani paused during No Doubt’s first concert at the Sphere in Las Vegas on Wednesday, looking out at the audience. About 90 minutes into the show, it was time to perform the song that launched the band – a scrappy ska-punk group originally from Orange County – to fame.

She paused and said she’d been thinking about the next song, and it made her think of Anaheim. Then she asked the audience, ‘Does anyone know where Anaheim is?’

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No Doubt at the Sphere, kind of interesting, kind of weird

The song was, of course, “Just a Girl,” which Stefani explained she wrote when she was young and first starting to understand the world around her. She always thought she’d eventually feel separate from the song—that it wouldn’t fit the life of a successful pop star with her own fashion brand and television appearances. But there she was, about to perform it for a crowd of around 20,000 fans who were excited to sing along.

“You tell me if you think it’s still relevant,” she said.

In a town known for loving classic acts – and the new Sphere venue is no different, currently hosting bands like the Eagles and the Backstreet Boys – the enthusiastic audience reaction was predictable. However, this concert wasn’t just a greatest-hits show. It was a surprisingly thorough journey through No Doubt’s entire career, focusing on how they grew as a band rather than just playing their most famous songs. The setlist included many lesser-known tracks, going far beyond the hits that dominated the radio in the 90s.

The band No Doubt performed a set featuring both classic hits and rarely-played songs. Behind a large screen displaying nostalgic footage from the early 90s, they played favorites like “Excuse Me Mr.” and “New,” alongside deeper cuts like “Total Hate ’95.” They also played “Trapped in a Box,” “End It on This,” and “The Climb,” which fans online noted hadn’t been performed live for almost 30 years. The band consists of Stefani, guitarist Tom Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal, and drummer Adrian Young.

No Doubt also took a ten-year break from performing. They returned to the stage in 2024 at Coachella with a high-energy set of their biggest songs, and Gwen Stefani’s impact on younger artists like Olivia Rodrigo was clear when Rodrigo joined them onstage. Stefani’s signature style – particularly her love of plaid and animal prints – was still inspiring fans at a recent show at Sphere.

No Doubt’s Coachella performance showed they’re back and better than ever. Gwen Stefani, especially, seemed determined to prove that her time as a friendly coach on “The Voice” and exploring country music hadn’t softened her energetic stage presence. The band took things a step further by using the high-tech Sphere venue to recreate the feel of a small, intimate club.

The concert featured impressive visuals, like a journey through a decaying amusement park inspired by No Doubt’s 1995 album, and a giant animated version of Stefani performing on stage. Despite including some lesser-known songs, the band didn’t ignore their hits. “Bathwater” and “Spiderwebs” were energetic and upbeat, while “Underneath It All” and “Hella Good” highlighted the band’s tight and skillful playing. Stefani’s vocals were particularly strong on the classic ballad “Don’t Speak” and “Simple Kind of Life,” which was shown with a video of Stefani and Kanal revisiting a past relationship.

Gwen Stefani explained that performing “Ex-Girlfriend,” a song she wrote while her marriage to Gavin Rossdale was falling apart, brings back difficult memories – almost like PTSD. However, she’s willing to push through the discomfort because she loves her fans.

Despite being No Doubt’s most successful period, the band surprisingly didn’t focus on their peak popularity during Wednesday’s event. It felt like Gwen Stefani and the others hadn’t come to Las Vegas to celebrate or enjoy the fans, but instead to reflect on the challenges they overcame to get there.

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2026-05-07 23:01