I saw Lady Gaga in concert last night. She actually put on a high-energy show, only slowing down on a few occasions. At one of those junctures, she sat at a piano to sing "Dope" - perhaps the highlight of the night, and a slower version of "Born This Way." The costume changes were many - although there really didn't seem like much she was wearing. There was, like, an inflatable Octopus thing, lots of wigs, leather-fringed leg warmers, the famous seashell bikini, and what seemed to be different styles of just bras and panties.

DO NOT GO, if you plan to go, FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS AFTER THE TIME ON YOUR TICKET, HOWEVER. She did not come out until nearly two hours after the 7:30 start time. Before that, she has a HORRIBLE warm-up act, Babymetal. The group is comprised of three Japanese girls who do their best to make your ears bleed. Language barriers aside, their singing and "music" was utterly unbearable. Luckily, they only played for less than half an hour, but still - more than half of the crowd actually left the arena to go wander the halls and wait for the NOISE to stop. And then after that, the crowd was treated to the terrible DJ skills of Lady Starlight. I'd heard the name and actually thought she would thrill the crowd because she is a friend and collaborator of Gaga's. Instead, she is actually a terrible "DJ" because all she did was change the pitch of thumping beats while waving her hands around her head as if she was conducting some imaginary band. Her set went on for at least 45 minutes. Both opening acts could have been avoided altogether because the background music played between them and before Gaga, was FAR BETTER than either openers. In fact, why would Gaga even need an opening act? What a waste! Just get people in their seats at 7:30, get them amped-up by not coming out until 8, then come out and sing your 90-minutes and be done by 10. Simple! Anyway...

Gaga's set was almost Cirque du Soleil-like. The larger stage (where the actual band played played in front of a large video screen) jetted out to four mini-stage areas above the standing Little Monsters. (There were no floor seats.) And from the 5th row, just about 10 feet from one of the mini-stages, Gaga and dancers seemed almost close enough to touch! During "Venus" a number of air-filled set decorations sprang up from the mini-stages' floors, giving an almost tropical feel to the set. At a few points in the show, Gaga came and went through stage elevators only to pop-up later in a different costume to sing a different song. Otherwise she and her dancers paraded from mini-stage to mini-stage across catwalk-like ramps between them throughout the concert.

All in all, I did think it was a good show. Perhaps Tony Bennet might have it right when he's referred to Gaga as - perhaps - the best singer in contemporary music today. I know... That comment is enough to solicit boos and hisses from most people. But the gal can really sing when given a change and she gives up the "gimmick" long enough to actually emote and sing. As one online newspaper reviewer put it, from looking at the crowd - one has to wonder if they would be willing to actually pay and hear her simply sing, perhaps seated at a piano, longer than a song or two.

After the show, it is reported (and from Gaga's own Instagram we have a pic) that she was hospitalized with altitude sickness. People who suffer from it are to avoid exercise. That's certainly NOT what Lady Gaga did onstage last night. She sang and danced... a lot. Here is a pic of the set and the setlist. Don't mind the haters. If you like Gaga, her music, or her message... by all means... GO! (Seattle, you're next, on Friday!)

SETLIST: Artpop, G.U.Y., Donatella, Venus, Manicure, Just Dance, Poker Face, Telephone, Partynauseous, Paparazzi, Do What U Want, Dope, Born This Way, Jewels n' Drugs, Edge of Glory (only an intro), Judas, Aura, SeXXX Dreams, Alejandro, Ratchet, Bad Romance, Applause, Swine, Gypsy

[Edited 8/7/14 16:12pm]

I'm jealous you got to see Babymetal.

saw it here in the bay area.. didnt expect much.. was blown away...

GREAT show... not self indulgent, fans were going nuts, voice was incredible...

VERY impressed.

itsjustaroundthecorner said:

She's the only pop singer out now that I find remotely intersting.
Her live performances are incredible. Even her artistic failures are

worth a listen.

I think she's been judged harshly for Artpop, and at this point

we should be looking at the overall curve her career has over time.

I don't see her going away anytime soon...unless she burns out.

I agree that Babymetal isnt exactly the best opening act for her.

Their music isnt exactly mainstream friendly, and on top of that, unless you're into games/anime/j-pop or anything else coming directly from Japan, you probably won't have any idea who Babymetal are. Same with Hatsune Miku, who I believed she had on as her opening act for a few dates.

Blixical said:

She's the only pop singer out now that I find remotely intersting.
Her live performances are incredible. Even her artistic failures are

worth a listen.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. I don't listen to that much pop music, but I've seen Gaga live two times now - soon three. Her concerts are amazing.

I went to Monster Ball before it evolved into the Born This Way tour...and actually fell asleep sitting down and my eyes were shutting while without me realizing until I was being woken up. This never happened again, so it's not a disorder either, I was just that bored and emotionally drained over other things at the time. Her music was good and she's very talented, but I felt I'd seen it all before at madonna's shows I guess.

[Edited 8/13/14 22:43pm]