Lady Gaga is a freak -- in the oddest, craziest, fiercest sense of the word.
The pop superstar espoused "freedom and music" Sunday night inside Toyota Center, the first of two consecutive sold-out shows. (She'll be back for a third in April.)
"I didn't used to be brave. In fact, I was not brave at all," Gaga told her screaming, sweating fans, many of whom had been in line for hours in the Houston heat and humidity. (The floor area was general admission.)
"A lot of people didn't believe in me. But you have made me brave now. Little monsters make me brave."
Indeed, her show was equal parts pop showcase and roaring call-to-arms. (Seriously, she often ended her exclamations with guttural grunts and roars.) Gaga frequently championed GLBT causes, urged young fans to love their parents and promoted self-confidence (in a parade of outlandish costumes, of course).
Neon-lit phrases -- "Sexy Ugly," "Injured Children," "Death Cases" -- decorated her stage. The show was constructed around Gaga's journey to the Monster Ball, from stalled auto to subway car to Wizard of Oz-esque finale.
Musically, she moved easily through basic dance-pop, from Dance In the Dark and Just Dance to Beautiful Dirty Rich, Vanity and an electric Lovegame (dressed as a naughty, haute-couture nun). She was in strong voice, and her dancing has improved since being on the road.
There were, yes, shades of Madonna in the aggressive stance, the parade of androgynous, athletic dancers and the outfits. But Gaga is a wholly different creature. She's more sensitive and is more engaging with her crowd. At times, she seemed almost on the verge of tears.
"I promised myself when I got on this stage, I would be more grateful than she was," Gaga said -- likely an allusion to her pop predecessor.
She talked frequently between, and sometimes during, tunes. Piano opus Speechless was peppered with tales of her drunk, lovable parents. She called a hysterical fan on the phone and promised to meet with her after the show. She shouted out all the "Houston gay cowboys," asked if the crowd thought she was sexy and earned the requisite boos after mentioning Dallas. (BOO.)
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