Forget Friday's three-song warm-up on the "Today" show; this was the real return of No Doubt: Saturday night at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the O.C. hitmakers blasted back with full force, skanking and strutting their way through a ridiculously tight, upbeat, 90-something-minute workout in front of a raucous, fist-pumping crowd.

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.

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By Melanie Wolfson

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. Read more...

For the past five years, the music industry has been sorely missing something. That something is No Doubt.

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.
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