With nearly 20,000 screaming little monsters in the audience, Lady Gaga brought her “Monster Ball” tour to the Oklahoma City Ford Center on Tuesday night.
Gaga never disappointed. The monster mistress is an in-your-face whirlwind; combining theatrics, raw musical talent and fantastic choreography on her path to the elusive Monster Ball that she seemed destined to lead her fans to.
The fans in particular were another accessory to the show itself, with her fans dressed as extensions of the various costumes she’s worn in previous videos and performances. Many of the better dressed were stopped by other fans to take pictures.
Gaga used every talent she had working over the crowd through her nearly two hour and fifteen minute set, and the Oklahoma City crowd ate it up. The mosh pit bounced along in unison during the whole show to the driving beat of the incredible live band that backed her.
The louder the crowd became, the harder and louder Gaga performed.
“I used to not be brave, you made me brave,” she said during one of her breaks to interact with her fans. It was during one of those interactions she called a fan in the audience as prelude to her hit song “Telephone,” and moved them closer to the stage.
Gaga also took time to talk several times about the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender community and the need to be a supportive society. Gaga, along with wireless carrier and tour sponsor, Virgin Mobile, donates $20,000 to her favorite charity for homeless LGBT youth as part of each show.
Lady Gaga has all the tools of a season-staged performer. As she slowed her set down at the mid-way point to debut a new-to-some song, “You and I,” that may become another No. 1 hit for her. As the piano lit on fire and she discussed the drunken male influences on her music, the setting provides for a very Elton John-esque vibe.
From her stage presence to her vocals, which she effortlessly displayed during “Teeth,” instrumental performances and her dance routines, Gaga left it all out there for the world to see.
As show wound down crowd favorite songs, outfits and set pieces were brought to the stage, including the fire-shooting bra and panties and the large squid that stripped various pieces of a green dress during “Paparazzi.”
Her influences are obvious, but Gaga is no slouch. Right now she is the world’s biggest music star and she makes no apology for her antics.
“When they asked you how the Lady Gaga show was…,” Gaga said breathlessly near the end of the show. “Tell ‘em we burned the place to the fuckin’ ground!”