No Doubt's Tony Kanal Reflects on 'Unforgettable' Coachella Reunion: Recapturing Youthful Energy

No Doubts Tony Kanal On Incredible Coachella Performance And Teases Surprises For Weekend 2 Exclusive

Tony Kanal Steve Erle

Tony Kanal, 53, is still feeling the excitement from No Doubt's performance at Coachella. He describes the experience as incredible and unforgettable. Just days before the band, including his ex Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, Adrian Young, Stephen Bradley, and Gabrial McNair, returns for the second weekend of Coachella (April 20-21).

"It was such an incredible experience for all six of us," Kanal shares. The band's performance on April 13 marked the first time No Doubt had played together in nearly ten years. Despite the long break, Kanal tells Us that he felt no anxiety before taking the stage at Coachella in front of the massive crowd.

"We hadn't performed in almost a decade," he explains. "We prepared extensively for the show," Kanal adds. "We practiced a lot and dedicated a significant amount of time to the production. So, we were fully prepared. Playing at a festival can be unpredictable in terms of audience response. Festival crowds can be challenging, but it turned out exactly how we had hoped. It was truly amazing."

No Doubt fans were treated to a spectacular set. The band performed hits from different eras, including “Just a Girl” from 1995 and “Hella Good” from 2001. The concert had a family-friendly vibe, but there was a special guest appearance by No Doubt superfan Olivia Rodrigo, who joined them on stage to perform “Bathwater.”

No Doubts Tony Kanal On Incredible Coachella Performance And Teases Surprises For Weekend 2 Exclusive

No Doubt members Gabrial McNair, Tony Kanal, Gwen Stefani, Adrian Young, Tom Dumont, and Stephen Bradley were seen posing on the 2024 Coachella Stage in a picture by John Shearer/Getty Images.

Kanal, when asked about the second Coachella weekend, remained secretive about whether it would be a repeat of the first. However, he did suggest that there could be something special planned. He mentioned the potential for changing up the set list and the possibility of a few substitutions or switch-outs during the upcoming weekend.

No Doubt will approach the second weekend of Coachella with the same level of dedication and concentration as they did the first weekend.

Lead singer explains that typically, it takes a few shows on a tour before they feel completely comfortable performing. However, they won't have that luxury this time because Coachella is their only scheduled performances at the moment.

He mentions that he is approaching the reunion the same way they did for weekend one, with the mindset of bringing the same energy. During rehearsals for the reunion, he felt incredible and nostalgic, like he was 16 again when the band first started. He mentioned how ska bands like Fishbone, The Specials, and Madness inspired them to focus on having fun and bringing an infectious vibe to their performances.

That energy from Coachella will fuel Kanal for the rest of the year. Following Coachella, he will be performing at Cruel World on May 11 with his group Dreamcar, which includes his No Doubt bandmates Young and Dumont, along with AFI's Davey Havok. Afterwards, he will continue to grow his career as a composer for television and film.

No Doubts Tony Kanal On Incredible Coachella Performance And Teases Surprises For Weekend 2 Exclusive

Tony Kanal Steve Erle

Tony Kanal Steve Erle shares his excitement about writing music for visual media. He mentions that it is a new world for him and he finds it thrilling. Despite being in a band for 37 years, he describes this experience as completely different. Kanal expresses that working on a few projects has given him a fresh perspective on creating music in an exciting and unique way.

Kanal got his start scoring movies and television after being invited by composer and conductor Blake Neely to collaborate on some projects. They hit it off, became friends, and even worked together on the music for a movie called Purple Hearts a couple of years ago.

This new collaboration ignited a passion in Kanal, leading him to work on projects like gen:LOCK and Crisis on Infinite Earths with Neely. He has also taken on solo projects as a composer, such as scoring Hulu's Single Drunk Female.

Composing provides Kanal with a fresh artistic outlet that he can explore even after performing with No Doubt and Dreamcar.

He explains, "When you're writing in that world, it's more of a solo endeavor. You're sitting in a room, sometimes with the scene you're writing about, which is a completely different experience from collaborating with your bandmates. However, it's still a creative process, and it's a cool new adventure. I've been fortunate to have the band experience for many years, and being able to pursue this now is just the cherry on top."

As I've gotten older, I've experienced many ups and downs in my life. One thing I've come to realize is that I feel my best when I'm being creative and working on projects. Whether it's getting ready for a No Doubt performance at Coachella, writing music for Dreamcar, or composing, staying creative keeps me in a happy and positive state.

I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to try out different things. This year, in particular, has been amazing - it's like everything good is happening all at once! There's so much excitement and positivity in the air right now, and it just feels absolutely fantastic.

Editor's P/S:

Tony Kanal's enthusiasm for No Doubt's Coachella performance is palpable. Despite the long hiatus, the band delivered an unforgettable set, showcasing their timeless hits and energetic stage presence. The addition of superfan Olivia Rodrigo added a special touch to the performance, highlighting the enduring legacy of No Doubt's music. Kanal's confidence in the upcoming second weekend suggests that fans can expect an equally captivating experience.

Kanal's exploration of film and television composition adds a new dimension to his artistic journey. This new outlet provides him with a fresh creative challenge, allowing him to express his musicality in a different context. Kanal's passion for storytelling and collaboration shines through in his scores, enriching visual projects with emotional depth and nuance. The combination of his musical expertise with his creative vision promises to yield remarkable results in the future.