Monday, October 31, 2005

Review

Stefani's solo act falls short at Palace

The No Doubt front woman's Harajuku Lovers tour was big on fashion but not on performance.

By Adam Graham / The Detroit News

Lorenzo Aquis Gwen Stefani went through eight outfits during her show at The Palace but performed only 14 songs -- from "L.A.M.B.," plus two new ones. Who: Gwen Stefani When: Saturday Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills Grade: C+ Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

Saturday night at a near-capacity Palace of Auburn Hills, Gwen Stefani put meaning behind the phrase "style over substance."

Tearing through eight outfits and who knows how many lipstick reapplications during her 14-song set, the No Doubt front woman, sporting an impeccable bouncy blonde do, evoked looks ranging from old Hollywood glamour queen to '60s-era beach bunny to Vogue cover gal. She looked stunning throughout, proving why she's a fashion icon and video megastar.

But performancewise, she came up short.

With No Doubt, Stefani knows how to rock a crowd, but her Harajuku Lovers tour puts her over her head, smack in the middle of a choreographed Madonna-like extravaganza. And though she makes great dance music -- see her smash solo debut, 2004's "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." -- Stefani can't dance, which makes carrying off a show of this magnitude something of a problem.

Another problem is her unwavering focus on the present. She performed every song from "L.A.M.B." and even two new songs, but nothing from her immense catalog of hits with No Doubt. "Don't Speak," "Just a Girl" or "Hella Good" would have been welcome additions to the thin show that, encore-included, barely lasted 80 minutes.

Stefani leaned on her Asian mascots, the Harajuku Girls, as well as a squad of B-boy break-dancers to carry out the show's dance requirements. She first appeared sitting on a throne at the top of her three-tiered stage, flanked by the Harajukus and singing (what else?) "Harajuku Girls," followed by the frantic dance-floor shaker "What You Waiting For?"

Stefani's vocals were strong, but she didn't click with the dancers or the band members on stage as she does with her bandmates in No Doubt.

The concert was as light and fluffy as cotton candy, never stopping for any political statements, save for when Stefani dedicated "Long Way to Go," a song about mixed-race couples, to Rosa Parks. And hit singles "Cool" and "Rich Girl" were given unceremonious run-throughs.

But the show perked up during the charging "Orange County Girl," one of the two new songs unveiled. "I'm just an Orange County Girl in an extra-ordinary world," Stefani sang, while images of her O.C. upbringing flashed on screens behind her.

"Bubble Pop Electric" closed the set, and a rushed encore of "Hollaback Girl" -- complete with Stefani in full drum major gear -- was somewhat less than bananas.

At one point in the evening, Stefani said she never intended to take "L.A.M.B." on the road. Maybe she should have stuck with her first instinct.

Openers Black Eyed Peas blazed through a string of radio hits -- including "Where Is the Love?" and the current "My Humps" -- during their high energy opening set. The band closed with "Let's Get Retarded," the radio version of which (dubbed "Let's Get It Started") helped catapult them to national stardom.

You can reach Adam Graham at (313) 222-2284 or agraham@detnews.com.