MTV:
Entering the 20,000+ capacity Allphones Arena last Saturday for Lady Gaga’s ArtRave: The Artpop Ball – all the talk of poor ticket sales was not at all evident. The place was absolutely heaving with Little Monsters waiting for Mother Monster to take to the stage.
The show is already feeling like
Gaga wants the audience to be more included in the night’s proceedings compared to her previous tours. You get the feeling she truly wants this to be an Art ‘rave.’
Mid-way through ‘Artpop,’ Gaga hits the piano to remind us all that she doesn’t just sing and dance.
The tracks from the new album are plentiful, with Gaga going straight into ‘G.U.Y,’ ‘Donatella,’ and ‘Venus.’ There is so much happening around her, including impressive giant flowers sprouting all over the stage, however petite
Gaga commands your attention the entire time. This show is hers and nobody else's!
She loses the tentacles and takes a seat in a manicured silver claw that ascends above the stage, singing one of the stronger tracks from the new album: ‘Do what U want.’
Her voice is a powerhouse when she lets it shine.
Now, off the manicured claw she again makes use of the entire stage, fans are throwing plush toys and Australian paraphernalia at her from the pit, Gaga stops and picks up an Australian flag drapes herself in it and slumps to the ground to sing an interlude of Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You.’
Gaga makes her way back to her piano and this is where her voice really shines. She is very poised and in her element behind the keys as she dedicates ‘Dope’ to her fans saying, “Close your eyes and listen to these words, I wrote them just for you”.
Wow. What a show and if the art and pop worlds were to get married and live happily ever after then Gaga would definitely be their celebrant.
Full review.