No Doubt/Paramore/Bedouin Soundclash

The announcement of No Doubt's first tour since 2004 was met with the kind of warmth reserved for reconnecting with long-lost family members. But unlike other '90s alt-rock acts, the quartet's five-year hiatus wasn't grounded in acrimony, but in a desire to explore other musical avenues. Vocalist Gwen Stefani embarked on a hip-pop-princess solo career (and had two children with Gavin Rossdale), while drummer Adrian Young, bassist Tony Kanal and guitarist Tom Dumont dabbled in session work, production and their own side projects. And even if No Doubt's lone new song (a cover of Adam Ant's "Stand and Deliver") isn't its best redo — that honor goes to its soft-glow synthpop take on Talk Talk's "It's My Life" — the new album it's promising in 2010 should fill the electro-ska-pop-rock void no other band can. Paramore vocalist Hayley Williams is the heiress apparent to Gwen Stefani's tough-as-nails femininity and effortless charisma. Her bandmates are no slouches, either, as the crunchy radio-rock and pop of 2007's Riot! (and irresistible ear candy such as "That's What You Get" and "crushcrushcrush") demonstrate. A new Paramore album, brand new eyes, is due in September, with new single "Ignorance" available for purchase on July 7. Rounding out the bill is Bedouin Soundclash, the Canadian act whose laid-back, ska-reggae grooves are the perfect soundtrack to a summer night spent under the stars.