No Doubt about it

Amy R. Spurgeon

COSTA MESA -- Popular rock band No Doubt thanked about 1,200 loyal Orange

County fans Thursday evening with a promotional mini-concert held on the

upper level of Triangle Square.

The appearance coincided with the debut of the band’s fourth album

earlier this week.

“Thank you so much for doing this for us,” lead singer Gwen Stefani told

the crowd. “I heard you guys were out here at 4 p.m. waiting for tickets.

You don’t know what that means to us.”

Much to the delight of city’s police and fire departments, no serious

problems arose as a result of the well-attended event.

“It went very smoothly,” said Costa Mesa police Sgt. Darrell Freeman. “It

was very quiet.”

Freeman said the only casualty was a fan who suffered a minor cut and was

taken to the hospital. Otherwise, he said, both the large crowd and

traffic around Triangle Square were under control.

As soon as the music cranked up at about 7:30 p.m., so did the crowd. A

human wave of fans bounced up and down continued throughout the 45-minute

performance.

“I speak for the band when I say that we really appreciate our fans’

support,” keyboardist Gabrial McNair said before the concert. “It’s been

rocky, but fun. It’s hard work.”

Other members of the band are guitarist Tom Dumont, drummer Adrian Young

and trumpet player Stephen Bradley.

A group of Ensign Intermediate eighth-grade girls huddled after the

concert and just screamed.

“We scream because it’s pain and excitement mixed together,” said

14-year-old Brooke Moore of Newport Beach, referring to the pushing and

shoving that typically accompany such events.

Throughout the show, fans waved their hands and threw flowers on stage.

Stefani maintained a level of intimacy with the crowd by talking between

sets.

“She’s so beautiful,” said 14-year-old Heather White of Costa Mesa.

“She’s like perfect.”

“I swear he smiled at me,” said 13-year-old Cassie Coppenof Costa Mesa,

referring the band’s bassist, Tony Kanal.

“I touched his hand,” said Nicole Nassir, 13, of Newport Beach.

More than 20 stagehands started setting up for the show at 8 a.m.

Thursday.

Meanwhile, fans had started lining up on Harbor Boulevard, hoping to land

front-row seats for the general admission show. A group of dedicated fans

arrived at 8 p.m. Wednesday and spent the night on the concrete to secure

their spots.

“We wanted to be first,” said Dana Sanchez.

A group of 60 police officers and security guards were on hand for the

rare event, which was promoted by Interscope Records and Virgin

Megastore.

At 12 a.m. Tuesday, fans stood in line at the record store to purchase No

Doubt’s newest album -- the first 1,000 to do so receiving plastic

wristbands that admitted them to Thursday night’s show.

No Doubt fans weren’t alone in capitalizing on the performance.

“This is a great boost for business,” said Upper Crust Pizza owner Rob

St. John, a tenant in the food court at Triangle Square. “It’s a great

thing for local people and for Costa Mesa. We love to see it.”