Lady Gaga Wows L.A. with Electrifying Mayhem Ball at Kia Forum
LOS ANGELES — Lady Gaga’s return to the stage Monday night at the Kia Forum proved why she remains one of pop music’s most theatrical forces. Performing the first of four shows in Inglewood as part of her Mayhem Ball tour, the 39-year-old superstar delivered a twisted, emotional, and visually explosive concert that blended gothic opera with electro-pop chaos.
A surreal opening fit for Mother Monster
From the jump, Gaga stunned fans with a dramatic opening number: a mashup of Bloody Mary and Abracadabra, performed while she stood atop an enormous red hoop skirt. In true Gaga fashion, the skirt concealed a troupe of dancers beneath its folds — drawing parallels to The Nutcracker’s Mother Ginger. Despite being restricted to upper-body movement, Gaga’s expressive power shone through.
Skeletons, crutches, and celebrity cameos
Gaga didn’t hold back theatrics throughout the night. She dry-humped a skeleton in a sandbox during Perfect Celebrity, and later performed Paparazzi in a chrome helmet and crutches — all while her shimmering gown trailed dramatically down the stage runway.
While no political figures were spotted this time (unlike Nancy Pelosi’s front-row appearance in San Francisco), the Los Angeles crowd included pop stars like Olivia Rodrigo, Matty Healy of The 1975, and Chappell Roan, who was seen singing along to Born This Way.
A tribute to her roots and fans
Gaga continued to mix the new with the nostalgic, performing older hits like LoveGame and Just Dance while paying tribute to her early New York theater days and her breakthrough collaborations with producer RedOne. Her rendition of Summerboy was raw and electric, featuring live guitar and a backdrop of writhing dancers.
Red light anthems and emotional speeches
Mid-show, Gaga transitioned into a block of ’80s-inspired tracks — Killah, Zombieboy, and LoveDrug — all delivered while donning a Cruella de Vil–style outfit. The absence of these songs from mainstream radio was noted by fans and critics alike, who called it a missed opportunity for chart-topping success.
Still, the show wasn’t without tender moments. Gaga transformed Million Reasons into a haunting church-organ ballad, and floated down a foggy river in a gondola for a moody reimagining of Shallow. One of the night’s emotional peaks came when she addressed the crowd after Die With A Smile, thanking them for always believing in her, even when others in L.A. hadn’t.
“You were always there for me,” Gaga said tearfully. “Community loves you even when you’re at your lowest.”
Encore with a twist and family tribute
The night closed with a unique backstage-to-stage encore. As How Bad Do U Want Me played, Gaga appeared onscreen wiping off her makeup before walking through a behind-the-scenes maze to emerge once more in front of fans. She then performed Vanish Into You, dedicating the song to her two nieces in attendance.
The Mayhem Ball continues through Saturday at the Forum, and judging by opening night — this isn’t a show anyone wants to miss.
What was your favorite Gaga era? Her theatrical ballads or raw club hits? Share your favorite tour memory in the comments at ChicagoMusicGuide.com.