It was full-speed ahead, all hits, no misses. Gwen and the guys looking (and sounding) like they hadn't missed a beat, despite the fact -- as Stefani pointed out -- that it was their "first show in five f---ing years."

Taking the stage to a super-heroic instrumental track (DUNNN-DAAA-DUNNNNNN!) and the delighted squeals of long-waiting No Doubt fanatics, the band made up for their half-decade hiatus. Wasting nary a word (aside from Stefani’s shouted instructions for the crowd to "put your hands in the air!"), they launched headlong into "Spiderwebs," all breezy horns and ska-stroked guitars, Stefani bobbing and weaving across the stage, bassist Tony Kanal and guitarist Tom Dumont popping in place and grinning like kids.

And the energy didn't let up for a second.

"Hella Good" was next, all bleepy and funky, followed by a breezy take on "Bathwater" and a dub-ified version of "Underneath It All." Stefani removed her white coat and stalked the stage, looking lithe in a wife-beater -- blue bra straps, too, if you're keeping score at home -- and baggy pants, shiny suspenders dangling behind her (the rest of the guys followed her lead, decked out in white from head-to-toe). Only after powering through four tunes did she stop and address the crowd, dropping the "five f---ing years" line" then joking, "I betcha didn't think I was really gonna do this ... I toldya so!" to gratuitous amounts of cheers.

From there, they worked their way through a new version of "Excuse Me Mr." (very Police-y, right down to the "Eeee-yo-ooohs!"), which segued into the dubby, stop-start intro to "Ex-Girlfriend" the entire band sounding tighter than the slots on casino floor. Then it was on to a sweet and soulful "Simple Kind Of Life," which Stefani introduced by saying "This is the first time I've sung this one since the two babies came out of my belly."

The entire band was showcased on a seriously fun cover of the Skatalites' "Guns of Navarone." Then Kanal and Dumont traded a goofy ska-shuffle on "Hey Baby" (Stefani also showcased her rather impressive hip-shaking techniques), then a racing version of the underrated "New," from the equally underrated 1999 flick "Go." All of which were received with overwhelming "WHOOO"s and the flashes of a million camera phones ... a couple of which Stefani also grabbed and snapped with.

Then, it was time to take this thing home. "Don't Speak" was as heart-wrenching today as it was 14 years ago, and Kanal -- in a delightfully retro move much in spirit with the evening -- thrust a lighter aloft and waived it side to side, a move mimicked by many in the audience. "Just A Girl" closed out the set, Stefani bounding and posing, the girls in the crowd screaming along to her every word. Then they embraced, thanked the crowd and departed.

Of course, there was an encore, featuring a smooth "Rock Steady," a fun take on "Different People" (complete with soul-review-style introductions of the entire band by Stefani) and then "Sunday Morning," which shook the Borgata floor.

And then, it was over, and the reunion was officially under way. One show in the bag, and what a show it was. No Doubt sounded great, brought the energy and looked like they were having an absolute blast (and the crowd did too). In fact, it felt as if they hadn't been away at all -- or, at least, not for five f---ing years.

It has been 14 years since No Doubt released Tragic Kingdom, which was one of the first CDs I ever bought (well, my mom did) back in the days of Discman. As an album I still listen to (now on my iPod), I have been a fan of No Doubt since Gwen Stefani vented about being "just a girl" and when wearing overalls was still considered cool.

Now, after more than a decade, I can finally say I saw No Doubt, because I made sure to nab a spot in the crowd at today's "Today Show."

As the kickoff to both the show's summer concert series and the band's national tour, No Doubt took the stage for the first time in four years, and I was blown away.

I honestly cannot remember the last time I felt like a nerdy fan who was so excited to see a show that I actually had trouble sleeping the night before, but I guess that's just the power of Gwen! And after all these years, I still think she's the coolest rocker chick in the world.

When the band emerged from building, the crowd went absolutely wild, with arms wailing, signs waving, and screams radiating throughout Rockerfeller Center.

Tony Kanal, Adrian Young and Tom Dumont sported snazzy white suits, while the leading lady donned a black polo, black and white tie-dye jeans, a pair of black heeled boots as well as her signature bright red lipstick — a look I admit I have tried to copy in the past.

From behind the black curtain, shielding any premature views of the band from the crowd, my spot near the press pen gave me a "behind the scenes" look at the band, and I watched them jump around and get rid of any pre-performance jitters.

The band opened with "Spiderwebs" and followed with "Don't Speak" and "It's My Life." At the first sound of Gwen's voice I was mesmerized, watching a woman who I waited nearly half my life to see. And yes — it was certainly worth the wait!

For taking four years off from playing together, No Doubt was incredible. Their chemistry as a band has not changed, and neither has their appearance. Gwen and the boys are still looking good and rocking out just like it's still the mid-90s, and I absolutely can't wait for their tour this summer!

After taking some time apart — to have babies, start families, launch a solo career and just spread their wings outside of the band they have all been in for 23 whole years — the group that captured the world's attention with a unique blend of ska/punk and rock/pop is reuniting and hitting the stage for a 55-date tour.

So early yesterday morning, the team and I hit the road to Atlantic City (in a van that only Chili Palmer could make look cool) to conduct the first interview with the whole band together in five years.

The venue was the newest (and most golden) hotel on the horizon — the Borgata Hotel and Casino — and before rehearsals, we caught up with the band to talk about why now is the right time for No Doubt to get back together, the upcoming tour, support act Paramore, a cameo on "Gossip Girl," the first live-TV performance since taking time off and, yes, the new album that is in the works.

Gwen was the first to arrive. Always the fashionista, she wore white jeans and a neon-green bra under a T-shirt that said "Too Much Too Young," with big square shades and a gold Stefani necklace completing the look. The boys followed soon after, and they all took their seats ready for the interview. Surprising for a band as established as No Doubt, there was no manager or publicist trying to force us into a line of questioning — which you have to respect.

The big boss was present, though: Zuma, Gwen's 8-month-old, kept a watchful eye on things. Over the past few years, the No Doubt family has grown. All the bandmembers, with the exception of bassist Tony Kanal, have young kids, and there's no doubt that this will not only be reflected in their new material, but will also have an effect on the tour. As Gwen said, one thing she always loved about touring was that she could sleep all day after partying the night before. But now, with the kids in tow, Gwen is slowly facing the fact that she's going to have Kingston and Zuma there to wake her up each morning — very early!

After the interview, the band took to the stage to run through a few songs. It was one of those moments that, as a fan of music, I won't be forgetting anytime soon. It was up there with the time I sat through Prince's closed-set rehearsal or even seeing Jay-Z rehearse in an empty Madison Square Garden — this was something special.