Showdate: August 19, 2010
Here we are. The spectacle of the summer. I’m hitting this for the scene. I’m definitely down for many of Lady Gaga’s tracks. The problem I have with these dance diva-superstar-pop type live shows is, bluntly, the lip syncing and pre-recorded backings/loops. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think it is humanly possible to dance like a maniac and belt songs all night. Something has to give. That’s the downside. The obvious upside is way bigger. I think Lady Gaga is entertaining, talented, and rich enough to indulge her eccentricities. Quality show ingredients. And I’m sucker for lyrics that spark visuals in my head. Shit like ‘you taste like glitter mixed with rock ‘n roll’ gives me a happy shiver.
Thursday night. Portland. Rose Garden. Mixing business with pleather. Hoping Lady Gaga brings out the gamut of what Portland has to offer. The carnal and the carnie. A carnal-carnie combo platter. Holy shit, the Carnal Carnie. I think I just created an STD awareness mascot! Or a porn star for Juggaloes.
Alright, enough of that shit. Let’s scope this scene out, get a feel. C’mon. Show me some skin carnal, show me what you got. Bark for me carnie, show me your teeth. Do it.
Overall, the crowd is pretty slammin’. Lotta skin. Lots of boys, boys, boys who like boys, boys, boys. Portland looking sexy in our way. Lot of fabulousness. Give it up, carnal won. And one of the most chill crowds in Portland in a long time. Great vibe. Very positive. Love.
I’ve got a floor ticket. I want to see this spectacular, spectacular from close-ish. The $175/ticket for reserved lowers has pegged the needle on my getthefuckoutofhere meter. The floor is general admission, standing room only. I’m hoping the floor is like a packed dance club. Unfortunately, minus semi-available access to the 3 b’s: booze, bathrooms, and black market stimulants.
The floor is awesome, and where I would choose to view this if your legs can hang. Gaga spends most of her time front and center and the action concentrates there. The staging and production are lavish. Only word for it. Lady Gaga changes outfits more often than I can track, but cutting edge video screen-curtains drape down and entertain in between stage/costume sets. The show doesn’t really lag til the end where after about two hours my knees felt cartilage free and my feet were on fire more than my sex. However, that’s when the energy pumps up again and all is well.
The Monster Ball is like a huge Broadway show coming to your town with a gay-friendly burlesque backbone. Gaga will preach her message of inclusion and being who you are. There’s your theme: you’re never a freak at the Monster Ball. To my jaded rocker self, this seemed like a crock of shit. But, after I thought about it, there are far worse messages out there to bang out than that. And I certainly had a great fucking time, and that is what it is all about in the end anyways. I’ll spare my usual cynical bullshit.
I’m not going to do a costume run down or set list. If you are a superfan, you know that shit anyways. She played all the songs you would want and they were often remixed to be interesting and she sang a lot of the parts for real. Musically, I was more than happy. From a dance and staging aspect, the whole show is pretty mind blowing.
The obvious comparisons Lady Gaga draws to Madonna are understandable. But, like it or not, Lady Gaga is the here and now. Madonna is now more of a nostalgic tour. I’m surprised at how much fire, angst, and hurt Lady Gaga puts on display at her shows. Artists who produce art from anger and hurt are always more interesting to me, even though they seem to burn out quicker.
Overall, The Monster Ball is a dope show. This isn’t usually my thing, but I danced and partied on the floor with the chillest crowd-EVER. I definitely will do it again. Little monsters.
