The group’s 18-date residency kicked off on May 6 in Las Vegas

At the No Doubt Experience in Las Vegas, an immersive pop-up staged by Vibee, a tattered itinerary from the band’s first tour lists a show at the Shark Club in February 1992. That venue would close five years later, but No Doubt lives on, returning to Sin City three decades later for an 18-date run at the Sphere. Back when they were just an up-and-coming band from Orange County, they pogoed around the stage singing about donuts, pizza, and pancakes in “A Little Something Refreshing.” Today, bassist Tony Kanal is at a loss for words.

Speaking to Rolling Stone exclusively after opening night at the Sphere, the 55-year-old musician got emotional at their mammoth comeback. “It’s so much to process,” he says. “For the last eight months, every waking moment was committed to putting the show together, rehearsing, working out, merch ideas. It’s been non-stop, so Wednesday night was so emotional and joyous. At soundcheck, I saw Tom’s guitar tech, Donnie, who’s been with us for decades and we had a very emotional hug, just crying to each other. … Being almost 40 years in and about to get onstage and do something we’ve never done at a cool, futuristic venue — it hits how lucky we are to still be doing this together.”

Animating the state-of-the-art dome with imagery related to their OC roots and culture, Kanal, Stefani, guitarist Tom Dumont, and drummer Adrian Young delivered a nearly two-hour set during which the skies rained oranges, and old flyers, photos, and an OC phone number (yes, it works — connecting to a voicemail from Young) enveloped the space. In an unexpected plot twist, Stefani slid into bed with Dumont, kissing him goodnight during “Simple Kind of Life.” Well, on-screen she did.

Joined by longtime trombonist Gabrial McNair and trumpeter Stephen Bradley, the band was cheered on by some 20,000 concertgoers including Shirley Manson, whose hit with Garbage, “Special,” could be heard in a pre-show playlists.

“Tragic Kingdom,” the title track from their 1995 breakout album, opened the show, with concertgoers rocked in their vibrating seats while hurtling through a virtual rollercoaster ride that saluted the album title’s Disneyland inspiration.

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“Excuse Me Mr.” got the crowd singing along, while Dumont’s guitar solo drew cheers during “Different People.” “Tom! We’re at the Sphere!” enthused Stefani.

It was a powerful moment given Dumont recently shared he’s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The guitarist was looking fit and dapper, and Kanal says the diagnosis hasn’t impacted band life.

“He’s managing it really well,” he says. “We’re here for him, love him, and he played incredibly well. We’ve gone through a lot as a band, and with all these hurdles, last night was a reward. It makes you realize all the challenges we’ve gone through were worth it.”

One of the early hurdles included a program director reportedly declaring it would “take an act of God to get No Doubt played on the radio.” Ultimately, it was their shared drive and love of music, rather than a radio higher-up, that secured No Doubt’s permanent spot on the airwaves, with hits like “Just a Girl” and “Don’t Speak.”

While the lack of such chart-toppers in the show’s first 20 minutes kept many in their seats, “Spiderwebs” spun fans to their feet as the Sphere glowed under web-like strands of light.

An outfit change for Stefani — the first female to headline Sphere — preceded “Underneath It All.” “You’re really lovely, Vegas!” she sang.

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Funky neon visuals accompanying “Hey Baby” and the colorful, mermaid world fans floating through during “Bathwater” proved so mesmerizing it was easy to forget the musicians were still onstage.

But they didn’t forget their audience — Stefani spotted one No Doubter emulating her pink-haired Return of Saturn album cover look and summoned her to the stage. The California fan, Andrea Esperanza Martinez, raced up to her idol. She was still gobsmacked afterwards, telling RS how she learned to sing from No Doubt songs when she was eight, and now fronts a cover band called Just a Girl Tribute. “It was an out-of-body experience,” she says. “I thought I was dreaming!”

Being reminded of such eras wasn’t all fun and games for Stefani, whose heartbreak has largely powered No Doubt’s musical legacy. “Some of these songs are painful,” she told the audience. “When I saw Return of Saturn girl, I was like, ‘I love her,’ but it gives me PTSD.”

Cue the 2000 banger “Ex-Girlfriend,” which Stefani wrote at the end of her seven-year romance with Kanal. In one of the most poignant visuals of the night, she and Kanal were shown on a romantic dinner date and sweetly slow-dancing on the street during “Simple Kind of Life.”

Such moments highlighted the pair’s commendable journey from lovers, to exes, to lifelong friends and collaborators. “There’s a really strong underlying friendship we’ve shared for 40 years,” says Kanal. “From being boyfriend and girlfriend to becoming creative partners, there’s just something really special with the two of us. When we’re onstage, there’s a comfort you only get with time and depth of relationship.” (Kanal went on to find bliss with wife Erin and their daughters, while mom-of-three Stefani is happily married to country crooner Blake Shelton — who was busy opening his own residency over at Caesars Palace).

So, it’s fair to say the exes are “Happy Now?” The Tragic Kingdom track played next, before Rock Steady anthem “Hella Good” had everyone dancing.

The pace slowed as Stefani emerged, looking like a Disney princess, and bellowed out “The Climb” and “Running,” which featured a sweet storybook theme. Such visuals showcased the wide range of creativity enabled by No Doubt’s diverse discography, which has garnered Grammy wins and nominations spanning pop, rock, and dance.

“You have heavier, punk rock songs like ‘Ex-Girlfriend,’ then incredibly soft ballads that tear at your soul,” says producer and director Baz Halpin. “When you dissect the lyrics and how poetic they are, there’s so much depth which makes putting together these visuals more interesting.”

Other memorable moments included “It’s My Life,” the Talk Talk cover No Doubt reimagined in 2003, which was accompanied by a scrapbook turning pages through each musician’s story.

“Don’t Speak” was of course a highlight of the concert, with Stefani glittering in a blue-and-white dress as hot air balloons picturesquely glided over an orange orchard at sunrise.

“Trapped in a Box,” “New,” and “End It on This” followed before “Just a Girl” saw Stefani calling female fans onstage to help lead the venue in a raging sing-along. “Sunday Morning” closed the show, with the group beaming as they took their first Sphere bow.

So, what will come on Sunday morning after their Sphere dates wrap on June 13?

Asked about future plans and any possibility of new music, Kanal says they’ve learned to take things “day-by-day” when it concerns No Doubt. “Sometimes we’re on the same page, and sometimes we’re not,” he says. “So right now, the focus is these shows. After Coachella, I didn’t think we’d be playing the Sphere, so you never know what’s around the corner.”

Celebrating 30 years of Tragic Kingdom, the nearby No Doubt Experience at the Summit Showroom inside The Venetian Resort drew fans donning checkered Nineties ska-punk outfits to explore interactive installations, instruments, and costumes. Kanal was instrumental in collating over 500 artifacts. “I’ve archived a lot over 40 years and people always say, ‘Why did you save this?’” he says. “For this moment!”

The black-and-white dress Stefani wore to prom with Kanal is on display, as well as Kanal’s invoice to Interscope Records for balloons ($134.50) and kazoos ($292.86) for their first album release party at Whisky a Go Go.

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Over at the Stefani Family’s Beacon Street home, fans lounged watching old videos, while others sipped Just a Girl cocktails at the Beacon Street Block Party, where “Sunday Morning” blared. Finally, pop-up bar Don’t Speak Easy was a hot ticket off the strip.

Fans arrive through an orange grove, before entering recreations of notable locations like Fender’s Ballroom. “The Fender’s Ballroom exhibit was really important to me,” says Kanal. “It was one of the early venues we played a lot.”