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Live at Sphere Las Vegas
May 28, 2026 Review by Christina Sanchez
Iconic. There is really no other word when NO DOUBT, one of the biggest bands in the world, performs at a one-of-a-kind venue in Las Vegas itself.
The Sphere is an immersive concert experience, completely unique from all other venues. It boasts the largest screen ever created, so vast in fact, a brand-new kind of camera, “The Big Sky,” was invented just to project the imagery for it.
Sphere houses more than 167,000 speakers, which equates to roughly 8.4 speakers per seat. Along with each seat being equipped with haptics, the sound experience is personalized for every concert or movie goer. As far as I can tell, there isn’t a bad seat in the entire venue.
The question many ask themselves is, “How did I get here?” For No Doubt fans, it is a memory that takes us back to a little place called Anaheim, California.
It was 1986 when a band formed that would change the musical landscape. Sure, “Tragic Kingdom” put them on the map, but for their fans – especially those riding the third wave of ska-punk – this band personified the OC music scene. Four decades later, Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal, and Adrian Young are still onstage and skankin’ as if they were teens.
When I was just 17 years old, I drove to Atlanta to catch No Doubt live. Everyone was buzzing about the band as we entered the parking garage, and they were everything I dreamed it would be. It is truly wild to see the growth of “that ska band from OC with the girl singer” (who was often mistreated by “fans” just for being a woman), compared to now – where she is the first female-fronted band ever to headline a residency at The Sphere. These days she is treated like the absolute queen that she is and is receiving the respect she has earned and deserves.
When No Doubt announced their residency at Sphere, tickets went FAST. This was No Doubt’s first series of shows in 14 years, so it would sell quickly anyway, but at Sphere? The fans flipped out immediately and we have all been waiting to see how the band would use the incredible surroundings. Everyone with social media has seen the mind-blowing clips from U2, Eagles, and “The Wizard of Oz.” What would our OC friends put together?
The Venetian is next door to Sphere and allows fans to take a deep dive into No Doubt’s history thanks to the band and their partnership with VIBEE.
The Summit Showroom has an exceptional collection of over 500 pieces of band memorabilia, merchandise and accessories, and photo opportunities.
As doors opened for the showroom, it was a sea of fans dressed in plaid, flannel, and checkerboard prints that slowly migrating to the venue. The atmosphere was unreal; there were No Doubt logoed oranges that would fall from the ceiling and the background behind Young’s drumkit paid homage to their hometown.
The crowd was buzzing in anticipation of seeing these ska-punk juggernauts. As the show started, each band member came out and the crowd cheered them on, and as Stefani took her place, it was an eruption of joy that overtook the venue.
The stage production was truly electrifying, with breathtaking visuals, and the performance was divided into four sections, complete with outfit changes for Stefani with each group of songs.
The show also marked the 30th anniversary of their most popular album, “Tragic Kingdom.”
The show kicked off with a visual of Stefani – her blinged out hands complete with long, checkerboard fingernails – breaking through, holding a hole-filled orange from the “Tragic Kingdom” album cover.
They opened with “Tragic Kingdom,” “Excuse Me Mr.,” “Different People,” “Total Hare ’95,” and “Spiderwebs.” As you can imagine, the crowd went nuts over that one.
In addition to the kick-ass tunes, the elaborate videos had the crowd feeling as if we were flying through a tunnel featuring Stefani saying, “Vegas, you got your seatbelts on? Because I’m about to tell you a little story.” Her voice went on, “Once upon a time, in a land 254 miles away, where oranges grow on every tree, some kids found each other and began making some music in the shadow of the Tragic Kingdom. This is our story.”
No ska band would be complete with their horn and keys. No Doubt had two of the best on stage, Gabiral McNair and Stephen Bradley. Because ska is ska, this duo could bring it! Bottom line, the show was as nostalgic as it gets, and it worked! With the new innovations that only the Sphere can offer, it made classic songs seem new!
The hit parade continued with “Underneath It All,” “Hey Baby,” “Bathwater,” and we went to another level of insanity to “Ex-Girlfriend,” “Happy Now?,” and “Hella Good.”
Dumont – fresh off publicly announcing his early onset Parkinson’s diagnosis – looked as dapper as ever, giving off a definite “Paul Rudd” vibe, and sounded fantastic!
Behind the glass, Young was volcanic in every way possible – his banging on the drums was beyond mesmerizing, and that crazy red lipstick drew our attention.
Photo by Matt Sharkey
Kanal was incredible as he ran from side to side of the stage – he looked like a bee that took to flight; he was grace personified.
Stefani was so moved by the signs in the crowd, she would take time to acknowledge them and read them back to the crowd. But then the hit parade of their epic catalog continued with “The Climb,” “Running,” “It’s My Life,” “Simple Kind of Life,” and “Don’t Speak.”
Being ska royalty, Stefani was as advertised – authentic, displaying explosive energy; it was like watching an insane cardio experience all rolled into a concert. She delivered as an icon for all ages!
It is amazing how the saying “Time flies when you’re having fun” was absolutely true that night. It seemed as if the show had just started, and then we were in the final act. “Trapped in a Box,” “New,” “End It on This,” and then my personal favorite, “Just a Girl.” Being the class act that she is, Stefani invited concertgoers on stage to help her sing the song and take photos: what a moment that was – a moment those fans will never forget. To close it out, they went with another crowd favorite, “Sunday Morning.”
No Doubt at Sphere was a perfect night where memories were made, not just for the band and their fans, but as a collective of the music scene.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Christina Sanchez | @Tinytoyland
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SID 260527 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
