Review: Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga’s reputation will always precede her. These days, she is saddled with the burden of exceeding it or at least equaling it. 

Monday night, she headlined a show at the Sprint Center, two and a half years after she brought her spectacular Monster Ball Tour to the same arena — her first headlining show in Kansas City. That show was an extravagant spectacle, a garish and gargantuan two-hour dance-rock opera that followed a loose narrative about monsters and evil. She gave herself a hard act to follow.

Thirty months later, Lady Gaga (born Stefani Germanotta) isn’t quite the pop-culture phenom and force she was in 2010, and there’s evidence of that. Her latest album, “Born That Way,” has sold half as well as its predecessor, “The Fame Monster.” And the crowd of about 11,000 on Monday night was more than 25 percent smaller than the 15,000 who showed up at the Sprint Center in August 2010.

Nonetheless, the second time was a charm, too. Gaga gave the crowd a show that was every bit as extravagant, excessive and energetic as the “Monster” show. It was also 30 minutes longer.

There was a storyline to this show, too, but it was vague, and following it was unnecessary. Instead, the focus was on the headliner, her music, her troupe of 12 acrobatic dancers, her live band, the three-plus-story Medieval castle that took up most of the stage, the video screens that beamed images from around the arena, the blizzard of costume/wardrobe changes and the other props and gadgets that rolled and wheeled around the runway-stage that encircled the several hundred fans who scored spots in the pit, directly in front of the main stage.

Among those props: a unicorn, a monstrous and cartoonish representation of a pregnant woman’s loins and a three-wheel motorbike. The neon-and-glass electric chapel was also a visual distraction.

This wasn’t a show for the prudish. F-bombs were tossed around like candy at a parade, and there were some simulated sexual acts. There was also plenty of sincere preaching about being who you are and not caring what others think about you, as long as you’re true to yourself. 

The music for the most part was a relentless salvo of throbbing and melodic disco-pop anthems, most of which had the happy mob in the pit bouncing all night. She would cut a few songs short, like “Judas” and her finale, “Marry the Night.” And she stopped several times to deliver a homily on her main themes, especially equality. She also phoned one fan in the crowd, crowning him the winner of a backstage pass after the show. Twice, she invited people from the crowd on stage to join her on a number. 

But mostly she managed to sustain a pace that nearly became exhausting to watch. Gaga has plenty of talents, as a singer and a musician (she played piano, guitar, keytar). But just as notably, she can run and dance in high-high heels. Her stamina was impressive. Highlights included "Just Dance," which provoked the first real uproar of the night,   "Telephone," the duet she did with Beyonce (one night after Beyonce's triumphant Super Bowl performance), and her hit, "Poker Face."

She ended the extravagance 150 minutes after she started, and the end felt almost like relief. The assault of physical feats and flashy visuals and thunderous dance beats was over. This spectacle may not have been as polished or coherent as its predecessor, but it sure didn’t look like many people were feeling shortchanged as they left the place.

Setlist: Highway Unicorn (Road to Love); Government Hooker; Born This Way; Black Jesus / Amen Fashion; Bloody Mary; Bad Romance; Judas; Fashion of His Love; Just Dance; Love Game; Telephone; Hair; Electric Chapel; Heavy Metal Lover; Bad Kids; The Queen; You and I; Born This Way (solo piano); Americano; Poker Face; Alejandro; Paparazzi; Scheibe. Encore: The Edge of Glory; Marry the Night.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[Tony Cheray]

very good review I have the COMPLETE concert on my you tube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/mistabone66crush/videos?view=0

[Kurt]

Surprised that more went to Kid Rock(13,000) then, Lady Gaga(11,000). Ticket prices were as high as $175 also.

Lady Gaga did mostly sell outs in Australia/New Zealand, Asia, Europe and South America in 2012.

I read a review of this show in Portland, OR and it requires 31 semi trucks to Madonna's 29 semi trucks for the arena shows.

[Kurt]

Wikipedia says that all shows were sell outs except for a show in Bogota, Columbia. It was 84 percent of capacity. A show in Portland, OR was a sell out with around 8,800 and that's suspect.

[Blood Brothers Hack]

this is my firs visit i like u blog

[Adult Videos]

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[Kurt]

Did you hear that Lady Gaga canceled the rest of her tour? Some 21/22 shows were canceled and not sure if they will reshedule the shows later this year. Lady Gaga has a hip injury and needs surgery and rest.

Someone is going to eat a lot of money on these canceled shows.

[Jack]

""Someone is going to eat a lot of money on these canceled shows""

Yeah customers who will not get back the nonrefundable fees they paid.

btw- Word is that gaga was selling too poorly for this to continue. e.g. she came up 5,000 fewer seats sold in KC on this go around.

It seems her star is fading. byebye gaga

[Kurt]

I don't think we've seen the last of Lady Gaga. She's supposed to release the album 'Artpop' in 2013. Her 2012 tour in Australia/New Zealand, Asia, Europe and South America was sold out. The only show that didn't was in Bogota, Columbia with 84 percent of capacity. The North America tour was doing fine but, not up to her previous tours figures in the USA.

She did 4,000 less for her recent show then, the show in August 2010. The prices were not cheap either with tickets up to $175.

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