Live review: Lady Gaga at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live

The chameleonic chanteuse's Monster Ball tour is a dazzling showcase for the singer-dancer-writer-clotheshorse, but also a tantalizing tease of things to come.

"A year ago this month I was opening for Natasha Bedingfield and the New Kids on the Block -- at this theater," said Lady Gaga on Monday night during the first of her three sold-out performances at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. She was posing as usual, her body elegantly contorted to show off a dazzlingly weird outfit. But she was also smiling, cracking a warm and surprisingly unaffected grin.

Gaga has arrived. She knows it, even when she sprawls on the floor in her cruelly shiny black bustier and declares herself a gothic Tinkerbell, in danger of dying unless her fans scream. They all know it too; they arrived Monday in homemade versions of those signature haute-art costumes and danced and screamed throughout the nearly two-hour show with the fervor of those whose team is headed for a championship.

Their loyalty and sense of community is a major theme of the Monster Ball tour, which celebrates the supernatural power of the pop headliner while mulling over its validity.

This is Lady Gaga, though, so the cultural theory is dressed up in red vinyl and crushed-rhinestone glitter, set to the beat of hits such as "LoveGame" and "Bad Romance," and fleshed out by dancers in white bodysuits or black feathers and by the singer-dancer-writer-clotheshorse herself.

She began the evening alone onstage, dressed in a lightbulb-festooned cat suit behind a graph-paper screen that made her look huge and vaguely robotic. As the show progressed, she sported crow feathers, a disco-ball hump and a red leather bikini, each costume meant to both fulfill and subvert various pop clichés.

The Monster Ball is an invigoratingly ambitious show, executed with vigor by its star and her expressive dancers. It offers a few musical wows, especially when Gaga sits (or stands or crouches in yogic contortions) at the piano. But like the artist herself, it's a whole package. There are provocative films -- in one, Lady Gaga wears a series of face-covering "gimp masks," while another has the brunet Gaga vomiting a sky-blue stream onto her blond alter ego -- and enough props, costumes and lights to make this a rare multimedia experience for such a relatively small venue.

Since the tour's first American date in Boston several weeks ago, when I first saw it, Gaga and her collaborators have made some small but significant changes, perfecting the pacing and execution of many numbers. She's also worked on her patter, luxuriating in it in ways that made the show feel intimate despite all the bells and whistles, and adding new signature lines about music being free, her fans being sexy and this show being one big act of carnal love.

The Rapunzel-like wig she wore in "Paparazzi" has been replaced by a smaller one that visually links her live performance to the bondage imagery in the film that precedes it. Subtle details seemed to have been fleshed out, like certain poses that evoked Catholic saints or macho hard-rockers. It's also possible, though, that I missed these details upon first seeing the show. It's so packed with ideas and images that some are bound to slip by without making a full impact.

Gaga is still working on linking her visions to an underlying narrative. She speaks her messages loud and clear, but the singer and her troupe's striking choreography didn't always communicate as clearly. The Nokia's big screens revealed a little stubble on her underarms and her occasional reliance, while executing difficult moves, on what seemed like a backing track. She's still balancing the confrontational rocker inside with the fabulous pop star.

At 23, Gaga is just beginning the life's work she takes so seriously. "This is our first date," she said to the crowd, "so I may not go all the way." Then she added an off-color declaration of freedom that shows one way this young modernizer of classic pop themes "works blue."

But that's just one color Gaga has in her wardrobe. We have years to see her mix and match, cut and shred and bedazzle more.

--Ann Powers

Photo: Pop artist Lady Gaga performs in Boston on Dec. 2, the night she received five Grammy nominations. Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Micawbers]

Give it three years, she will be forgotten.

[Gaga lover!]

The energy in the room last night was electric! Gaga's fans love her and she clearly loves them. "Dance In The Dark" was an amazing open, and "Speechless" was jaw-dropping. Other songs, notably, "Eh Eh (Nothing More I Can Say)" should be dropped from the overly long show - even Gaga herself looked lackluster at times. Lady Gaga is an amazing songwriter. Her show was a rip-off of Madonna's recent tours, which is not entirely a bad thing. Her stage patter kind of reminded me of Bette Midler - I think she's a smart, talented, fun lady, and I hope she doesn't start believing her own press and stays down to Earth - unlike her obvious idol, Madonna, who is a unbearable snot these days.

I think Gaga got lucky to explode just as the Gay Rights Era got kicked off - she's the obvious queen of the movement. Her new EP has 8 amazing songs, miles beyond anything on her debut. Now she has this huge show she is undertaking - if I were her, I would be shaking in my boots as to how I would top myself. I hope she can continue to keep it fresh. I love Gaga.

If you missed the show last night and you can score tix for tonight or tomorrow, do it!!!

[ofthrees]

you think it will take three? i give her till august 2010 before she begins her descent into obscurity.

whether or not she's talented isn't even the point. it's the fact that she's got a shtick that not only can she not possibly maintain, but which will wear thin quickly - and once her label sees the bloom is fading even slightly, they'll push her to the back of the shelf. she won't even have time to develop into a real artist before the audience stops caring and her label stops promoting.

[apple]

I took my daughter to the show last night. She loves Lady Gaga, and I can see why. I felt like I was watching a young Madonna. We were surrounded by "old people", 30-40-somethings who came to enjoy the show and got warmed up grooving to Michael Jackson during the break after the opening act. It was fun. Hopefully Lady Gaga can hold onto the spotlight and establish herself like her obvious influences, or at least enjoy it while she can.

[thekaliman]

I was there last night. a night to remember for ever. I was also at madonna's first tours. and her last. lady gaga has what madonna had before she became a corporation. grass roots fans. it was the same excitment nd desire to dress the part and be part of the concert. please lady gaga don't become a name brand.
also I was kick out of my house at 17 for been gay. I had to work and go to school. it was very hard and painful. she suports shelters for gay youth .
Thank you
the queen has die. long live the new queen
from an old but new monster

[krissy]

I saw her show in San Francisco and absolutely loved it. She is so exciting to watch, because you literally do not know what in the world is coming next. She makes you feel like anything is possible. She is so different from other pop stars...she isn't afraid to look scary or ugly, she isn't chained to the cliched idea of "sexy", she actually sings, and plays instruments. Her talent blended with her creativity and the supportive vibe that she provides for her shows is just intoxicating. She has created a community.

[DebbieR]

I saw Lady Gaga Monday night. I was floored. I've never seen a performance like hers. Her performance, the use of technology in her set design, the dancers. It looked like there was a backup band too (I was sitting in the Mezz). Loved the perfomance art aspect too. She is incredible and I'm very, very excited to see her grow as an artist.

Ann Powers...her underarm stubble, please. Is that the best you could do to find fault in her show? Why is that even important to mention?

I love you Lady Gaga, and so does my two-year-old son who always asks me to play Paparazzi and Poker Face in the car.

I'm a free bit@*!!!

[DebbieR]

I saw Lady Gaga Monday night. I was floored. I've never seen a performance like hers. Her performance, the use of technology in her set design, the dancers. It looked like there was a backup band too (I was sitting in the Mezz). Loved the perfomance art aspect too. She is incredible and I'm very, very excited to see her grow as an artist.

Ann Powers...her underarm stubble, please. Is that the best you could do to find fault in her show? Why is that even important to mention?

I love you Lady Gaga, and so does my two-year-old son who always asks me to play Paparazzi and Poker Face in the car.

I'm a free bit@*!!!

[tim dufelmeier]

Isn't it curious that neither Ms Powers, nor the fans who commented, uttered a word about the music?

[Sara]

I want to see her again ASAP!!! AMAZING SHOW!!

[gaga 4 gaga]

My husband and I are going to the show tonight. What time does Lady Gaga
actually begin her part of the concert?
Thanks!

[Michael]

The Force is strong with this one.

[Rod James]

I attended the Monday night show. I had never seen her live before and had high hopes. Luckily she exceeded my expectations and then some.

The stage presentation was like nothing I've seen before. Kudos to her and the Haus of GaGa for creating a dimensionally unique set with amazing visual montages that were accompanied by masterfully progressive, remixed tracks.

As for Lady GaGa herself, she impressed me to pieces. She has an amazing voice and belted out notes that deservedly forced us monsters to wail out in greedy approval. Coupling that with the fact that some of those notes were sung while in the middle of complex choreography just adds to her vocal abilities. She engaged her monsters even more when speaking to us and sharing her genuine appreciation for our presence and devotion to her vision.

There's this underlying presence of design, forethought and provocation that all elements of this Monster Ball point to and is successfully executed thanks to its head Monstress... Lady GaGa. It became quite clear that her message is for all her monsters to join hands and embrace EVERYTHING about ourselves, the good, the bad, and most definitely the ugly! I've seen other artists attempting to convey this message but usually fail to surpass a certain vain, sexy barrier that ends up castrating the very point they thought they were making. What I've never seen before is someone so willing, ready, and actually waiting to fully go to that extreme point where this message actually stems from... a dark, insecure, lonely center where few among us can look at in our inner self let alone embrace it and reveal it to the world. Between her lyrics, her voice and inflections there in, the beautifully awkward poses, and the visuals, she clearly taps into a uniquely familiar language that only a pack of monsters would understand.

Thanks Lady GaGa, for what I hope is the first of many memorable exhibits I'll have the honor of raising my claws to!

[TONY]

great concert people.. if you missed it your an idiot.. we saw the birth of a future icon.. in 25 yrs we'll be talking about this concert like we are doing about madonna now.. anybody know why she didnt sing telephone?.. my only complaint.. oh another complaint, the L.A. younger generation concert goers, when a singer ends the show, you should hang out , stomp your feet, chant their name, clap those hands.... when the lights go on dont stop... they will sing an encore.. last night the people didnt even wiat till they exited the stage.. they were up and racing to the exit.. listen to my advice , take it from a 40 something year old.. who came from n.y and saw many concerts in the big apple.. enjoy her music... and DANCE... JUST DANCE!!!!!!!!!

[gaga fan]

Hey Tim Dufel, did you miss this part?
"It offers a few musical wows, especially when Gaga sits (or stands or crouches in yogic contortions) at the piano."

Go find videos of Lady Gaga playing the piano and your preconceptions might get shattered.

[Boris]

Wow! Between this month's insipid interviews and now this review, I can see that Ann Powers has bought into Gaga's act hook, line and sinker. Sad.