It would have to be one of the great dreams for kids in this country, to grow up in Anaheim, California. Living so close to that great, archetypal park where all the kid dreams are promised and realized would have to be fun. The reality, of course, is that no one can live in the amusement park world all the time, and even when someone grows up so close, the rest of the world starts to enter in.
It’s an interesting city, with a very lively and vibrant population. Living in a resort city does offer some fascinating advantages, because there is a sense of hospitality that underlies everything. Visitors are welcome here, and that does make the daily life of the people just a little bit more friendly than anywhere else. The search for the best Anaheim hotel leads to a lot of conversations between people, where visitors and locals intermingle, and it’s the recipe for charm.
There is plenty of charm in the group No Doubt , and if it’s difficult to see the connection here, the band members all grew up in Anaheim, California. They began here in 1986, and the early years weren’t characterized by the punk-edged rock they’re famous for today. In the beginning, ska was the word, and that’s what they played, and it was good. In hindsight, a ska band in this part of the world was pretty visionary for the time, but it didn’t sell a lot of records. It wouldn’t start to pay off for a few years.
By the time we get to the reunion of the band, more than two decades pass, and sees a rise in lead singer Gwen Stefani ‘s solo work, and eventual decision to rejoin. It also sees her married to a band member, then married to the lead singer of Bush, and a lot of tabloid stories about her and her two kids. Her vibrato is still as deep as it ever was, and the edge in all things is still edgy. The styles have moved all over the musical map, and it all suggests that there’s much more to come from these kids from Anaheim.
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