cavo's corner

Ticket Stub Tuesday… Round Twenty-Seven:

When I heard that No Doubt would be hitting the road and touring during the summer of ‘09, I did not hesitate to buy tickets. Ever since Gwen Stefani returned from her first solo tour (in support of Love.Angel.Music.Baby.) and had her first child, Kingston James McGregor, it was rumored that No Doubt would be recording a new album. Then, Gwen recorded a second album, The Sweet Escape, and had a second child, Zuma Nesta Rock, and the fate of the new ND album was thrown into question.  

Then, like that ::snaps fingers::, Adrian,Tony, Tom and Gwen decided that a national tour would put them in the right mindset for recording this long anticipated album. In addition to a media blitz in support of the tour, No Doubt re-recorded “Stand and Deliver,” the 1981 single by Adam and the Ants, which was featured in an episode of “Gossip Girl.” This was the first time No Doubt had released ‘new’ material since 2003, when they released 1992-2003:The Singles which featured hit-single “It’s My Life,” which was also a cover.

Having purchased my tickets WELL in advance, I was not anticipating on taking a European vacation directly before the concert, returning the night before. My return from Europe was an adventure in itself. After taking a 5 hour train ride from Alassio, Italy to Torino, Italy; an hour and a half flight from Torino to London Gatwick Airport; a 45 minute bus ride (in rush hour traffic) from London Gatwick to London Heathrow; a 7 hour transatlantic flight from London to Newark, New Jersey and (finally) an hour car ride from Newark to the Island of Long, I had less than 24 hours to sober-up, kick the jet-lag and prepare for what would be the first of my summer concert trifecta. (The second two being Blink 182 and Green Day).

 Kari and I went together, freshly rested from our day of traveling. We had a nice little pre-concert, tailgate party in the Parking lot of the Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre. Neither of us really like Paramore, who opened this leg of the tour, so we prolonged party time until right before No Doubt’s set. 

The setlist was very straight forward. No surprises; all singles. The onstage chemistry of the group was crazy. You could tell that they love touring together and love making music with one another.  I can’t wait until they release their new album, sometime in 2010 (hopefully).

[[That I am.]]

[[Me and @Kgroobs.]]

[[Tony and Tom killin’ it!]]

[[Adrian in action.]]

[[Gwen and Adrian.]]

[[The band taking a bow.]]

Ticket Stub Tuesday… Round Sixteen:

This first entry in the series for the new year! After missing the Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Tour, there was absolutely no way that I was going to miss The Sweet Escape Tour too. In retrospect, it actually worked out better seeing this show. Unless during her first solo tour, Gwen performed some songs from No Doubt’s catalog, she didn’t have that much material of her own to choose from. During this show, she performed material from both of her solo albums, complete with her very own Harajuku entourage.

The concert was at my favorite summer venue, Jones Beach, and I went with @Pasty and @SimTilver. My cousin Denielle had gotten the tickets for us and she also secured us passes to the VIP tent, because let’s face it, we’re VIPs. To be honest, the VIP area was a bit of let down, primarily because after paying an additional $35 for access, the drinks were not free. So, in essence, you paid $35 on top of the ticket price to stand on grass while trying to make it through the opening act — which in this case was Akon.

So, Gwen wound it up, she holla-backed and let us all sweetly escape reality for a hot second. Having just graduated from college, kicking the summer off with my two partners in crime was an epic win.

[[Sim, Pasty and Me killin’ it.]]

[[Gwen winding it up.]]

[[Chillin’ in the VIP section where the drinks were NOT comped…]]

[[“It looks like an Early Winter for us…” I hope so!]]