Coachella loves a reunion. See: Siouxsie and the Banshees in 2002, the Pixies in 2004, Rage Against the Machine in 2007. But there are reunions, and then there is getting the band back together – harnessing the energy that makes a band click in the first place. And that’s what happened when No Doubt came together on the main Coachella stage on Saturday night, performing together for the first time in nearly a decade.
Though the ska group was not quite the headliner – officially, it was Tyler The Creator’s night – No Doubt’s rollicking hour-and-20-minute set could have ended the night on its own. Frontwoman Gwen Stefani wins MVP of Coachella so far. I’m half her age and I experienced crippling back pain come 8pm just after walking around the campground all afternoon. I have no idea how she sustained enough energy to sing, jump and skank around the stage for as long as she did.