It’s been nearly two years since the relentless Eurothump and Glee-friendly electro-metal of Born This Way, the towering manifesto of unfettered inclusivity that consummated Lady Gaga’s improbably triumphant campaign of complete saturation. After three albums in as many years, she hasn’t even dropped a single since 2011. Apparently she’s been traveling: The Born This Way Ball Tour spent 2012 giant-striding its way across five continents. So here’s the victorious homecoming, fingers crossed that we haven’t just forgotten her. To be clear, this isn’t really even pop music anymore; we’re talking full-on gonzo, symbolist, Brechtian musical theater (cum Armani-appointed fashion show). An excerpt from Wikipedia’s nearly thousand-word synopsis of the tour’s “plot”: “She emerges from the stage sitting on a meat couch … with her gun bra and green trousers. … Mother G.O.A.T. flies around the castle lip-syncing the words to ‘Paparazzi’ until Gaga returns to kill her with her new disco stick.” Good luck.
Tue.-Wed., Feb. 19-20, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$175, Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St., 800-298-4200, wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
UPDATE: Never mind. The tour is canceled. Live Nation Philly issued this statement:
Live Nation Global Touring has confirmed that the remainder of the Lady Gaga Born This Way Ball performances have been cancelled, including her two shows at Wells Fargo Center on February 19 and 20 in Philadelphia.
After additional tests this morning to review the severity of the issue, it has been determined that Lady Gaga has a labral tear of the right hip. She will need surgery to repair the problem, followed by strict down time to recover. This unfortunately, will force her to cancel the tour so she can heal.
Refunds for the cancelled performances will be available at point of purchase starting Feb 14, 2013.
