Kia Forum Los Angeles, CA
Web: ladygaga.com
Approximately seven months after Lady Gagakicked off this Mayhem Ball tour, quickly playing four dates at the Kia Forum in July and August, the pop megastar is back at the same venue for four more shows. Gaga has taken Mayhem all over Europe, to Australia and Japan, before returning to North America and, at this point, the whole thing is a finely-tuned machine. That’s probably why these Forum shows are being filmed, presumably for a future release.
The tour has been written about at length during its run up to now, yet still it feels like the majesty of the event, the bold ambition and the vitality, has yet to be done justice. You’ll hear a lot about the theatricality, the choreography and the costume design—and all of things deserve all of that attention. The Mayhem Ball looks stunning! But the themes are fascinating—of light and dark, angels and devils, temptation and restraint.
The old house on stage looks like the one that Mrs. Havisham lives in, in Great Expectations. The live band is usually holed away in what looks like the living room and dining room, viewable through the windows and occasionally wandering out (like Estella in Great Expectations).
The rest of everything changes dramatically throughout the evening; at one point, Gaga shows up in a sandbox surrounded by skeletons, most of which turn out to be alive. There’s so much so soak up and bathe in. And through it all, Gaga herself is magnificent.
The set is split into four acts, plus a finale and an encore. Set one hammers home those “naughty and nice themes, named as it is “Of Velvet and Vice.” First song is “Bloody Mary” from the Born This Way album, Gaga emerging atop a cylindrical cage like she›s a figurine on a massive cake. There are strong Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland) vibes about the star, continuing a gothic literary feel to the whole thing.
“Scheiße,” “Judas,” and the title track from Born This Way are highlights, as are all the classics from The Fame and The Fame Monster. But the material taken from Mayhem is equally celebrated by the adoring crowd.
The anti-tabloid “Perfect Celebrity,” “Zomboid,” and “The Dead Dance” are particularly incredible, as the deliciously macabre, Poe-esque joy carries through.
The piano-less version of “Shallow” from A Star is Born is stark, minimalist and Eno-esque. As a result, it’s mind-blowingly beautiful. “Million Reasons” is similarly gorgeous, and “Bad Romance” is predictably celebratory.
This writer has caught enormo-shows by Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Katy Perry in recent years, but as far as we’re concerned The Mayhem Ball has cemented Gaga’s standing as the current Queen of Pop.
