Aliens & Dancing Fools

In monster oops, Lady Gaga mistakenly thanks Dallas at Houston concert

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.

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