Philadelphia Inquirer (May 31st 1996)
Radio Station Events On Both Sides Of The River; No Doubt Will Be At ‘Dre Fete
If there was any question whether No Doubt is among the most in-demand acts in the increasingly competitive alternative-rock radio format, just listen to bassist Tony Kanal tick off the Anaheim, Calif., band's itinerary.
“First, we fly to Minneapolis for one radio festival,'' said Kanal, calling from Atlanta last week, describing a few days in the life of the Gwen Stefani-fronted, hyperkinetic more-than-just-ska band, whose Tragic Kingdom (Trauma) has spawned the jaunty hits “Just A Girl'' and “Spiderwebs.''
“The following day, we fly to Chicago for a radio concert. The next afternoon, we go to St. Louis for another radio concert. And then to Milwaukee for another that night.''
If the members of No Doubt are losing track of what city they're in at any given moment, here's a reminder: On Sunday, they'll be one of 16 acts at Camden's Waterfront Entertainment Center for - what else? - the DREfest, a radio concert organized by WDRE-FM (103.9).
No Doubt's funk, reggae and pop personality has found it in favor with outlets such as WDRE and rival WPLY (100.3-FM) - which has a shindig of its own at the Mann Music Center today - as the stations seek a change of pace from grunge-rock sameness. Kanal said the competition for No Doubt's services at radio festivals has gotten “pretty crazy.''
“It's quite political,'' he said. “It's just another game you have to play.''
No Doubt isn't about to complain, however. Modern-rock-radio fans may think the quintet's untempered enthusiasm is freshly minted, but the group has been together for a decade.
And been through its share of tribulations: John Spence, who originally fronted the band with Stefani, committed suicide in 1987. Keyboardist Eric Stefani, Gwen's brother and the band's principal songwriter, left between the group's self-titled 1992 debut and Tragic Kingdom. And a seven-year Kanal-Gwen Stefani romance fizzled in 1994.
“We're such good friends,'' Kanal said. “But it can be weird.''
Kanal is quick to point out that No Doubt doesn't consider itself a ska band, though he acknowledges that along with Prince, Elvis Costello and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the band was shaped by the interracial British ska bands of the new wave era.
“Gwen was obsessed with Madness for a long time, and I always loved the Specials and the English Beat,'' he said.
Losing Eric Stefani was a blow for the band, but it forced No Doubt to grow.
“Gwen and Tom [guitarist Dumont] and myself had to step up to bat,'' Kanal said. “It's exciting for us, because this is the first time we've written so much. They're so much ahead.''
The organizers of the DREfest are fond of sound bites such as: “With Lollapalooza bypassing the market this year, it's the biggest rock festival in Philadelphia this summer.''
Big it is. But it's spotty when it comes to quality. The weakness starts with the headliners. Spin Doctors' You've Got To Believe In Something (Epic), the third album from the New York blue-eyed funksters, never recaptures the modest magic of their 1991 Pocketful of Kryptonite. Cracker's The Golden Age (Virgin) is ex-Camper Van Beethoven leader David Lowery's further move into classic-rock territory, though he's at least maintained a sense of humor.
Other main-stage acts best avoided: Nine Inch Nails knockoffs Gravity Kills and generic alternative rockers The Nixons.
But along with No Doubt, there are a few main-stagers worth getting revved about. Fishbone's Chim Chim's Badass Revenge (Rowdy) is another so-so studio effort, but Angelo Moore and crew's ska-funk-hardcore-and-soul stew can be brilliant onstage. Hook-heavy industrial guitar army Filter - of last year's R. Budd Dwyer-inspired “Hey Man Nice Shot'' - are a powerful live act. Wisconsin's 311's heavily rhythmic punk-funk is often spirited, if rarely original. And Austin, Texas' Toadies brandish pop-punk with a metal edge well-suited for a ready-to-rock amphitheater crowd.
The hidden prize on the bill is second-stager Luna, whose concise, Velvet Underground-derived tunes always arrive with a healthy dose of black humor and an insistent, detailed groove. Extra Fancy, a relentless outfit fronted by the ever-intense Brian Grillo, is also on the second stage.
The lineup is rounded out with five Philadelphia-area bands, ranging from the baby Replacements Love Huskies, baby Live Solution a.d., veteran ska-funk toasters Ruder Than You, wailing teenage alternative hopefuls Trip 66, and industrial noisemakers God Lives Underwater.