After a January 29 concert at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Monster Mother of them all Lady Gaga brought her Born This Way Ball show to Houston's Toyota Center. It's just a trip down I-45, but we all know what a change those 200-plus miles brings. All of us except for Gaga, it seems.
On January 31, Gaga entertained adoring fans in Houston with two-and-a-half hour spectacle featuring oversized meat grinders, a medieval castle and a mechanical horse.
The concert strings together more than 20 songs into a sort of rock opera starring Gaga as a dangerous fugitive from outer space. (Stay with me here.) She escapes from G.O.A.T. — Government-Owned Alien Territory — only to be chased down by a creepy animatronic head plastered with Gaga's own face.
It all works out in the end — but, my God, were there some twists and turns along the way. The biggest surprise of the night was arguably when, thanks to sponsor Virgin Mobile, Lady Gaga called a random guest in the crowd and offered a chance to hang backstage.
It was a touching scene, actually, as she sat at a piano surrounded by five young fans handpicked from the stageside VIP section. She sang a soothing acoustic rendition of "Born This Way" — then mistakenly thanked "Dallas" for such a great night.
Knowing that you don't just call Houston "Dallas," Gaga apologized profusely — not something the superstar is known for doing.
Lady Gaga made upwards of 14 costume changes throughout the concert, wearing everything from a meat dress to a machine-gun bra. It brought back visions of some of her best concerts past (included the one featured in this pic).
