So “Date Night” with the missus brings me to the Hydro to see and hear Lady Gaga in all her glory amongst her die-hard fans or ‘Monsters’ as she calls them. On arriving at the Hydro the first thing that struck me was the stage set-up which is absolutely massive and it is clear Gaga is not going to be restricted by a traditional stage type set-up.
Thankfully we arrived not too early as the support DJ does my head in from the off and it is a blessing when she eventually leaves the stage. Gaga takes the stage around 9.00 pm in the first of many outfits and opens up proceedings with ‘ARTPOP’ and follows this up with ‘G.U.Y’ and another song called ‘Donatella’. From the off, Gaga works her crowd and with the accompanying dancers, musicians and ever-changing stage set-up it is a visual spectacular. Neither my wife nor I are Gaga disciples but enjoy the ‘show-womanship’ and spectacle that is being provided. Between songs Gaga appears to enjoy getting the crowd fired-up by screaming at them “sing your f**kers” repeatedly and that for me appears to be the only place there is a lack of imagination on her part. Repeatedly, Lady Gaga thanks her ‘Monsters’ for being the best fans in the world and encourages everyone to take pride in their individuality as human beings. Credit to the lady she wears it on her sleeve and it appears to me Gaga has perhaps picked-up the baton when perhaps Madonna has been getting her botox fix.
A track called ‘Venus’ gets the crowd going and Gaga then dips into a couple of her staple hits in the form of debut single ‘Just Dance’ and the catchy as ‘Pokerface’. Other biggies ‘ Telephone’ and ‘Pappazzi’ follow and the Hydro is well and truly bouncing with the ‘Monsters’ in attendance showing their appreciation in the traditional style of “Here we, here we….” as well as showering the stage runways with letters, soft-toys and underwear amongst other things. One thing about the night and Gaga strikes me throughout the concert and that is the authenticity of the woman herself who strikes me as being very genuine. This is highlighted in a touching moment when Gaga reads out one of the letters from a couple of Scots fans in attendance and then asks them to join her on the stage.
‘You and I’ is perhaps my own highlight of the evening and whilst Gaga is not the Piano-man she does do a mean job when sitting at the ivories. ‘Born This Way’, ‘The Edge Of Glory’ and ‘Judas’ keep things moving along and before we know it the night is moving towards the curfew. A chilling rendition of ‘Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)’ sounds terrific and this is followed by the smash ‘Bad Romance’ before the night is brought to the close with a track called ‘Swine’ and then finally (after a long delay) ‘Gypsy’.
All in a rather entertaining evening with many highpoints!
Bazza Mills
@bazzamills
Photo: Beverly Lyons
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