By Adam Maidment

Copyright manchestereveningnews

It’s been 11 years since Lady Gaga last performed in Manchester. In this time, she’s won an Oscar, headlined the Super Bowl and even shimmied across the River Seine in high camp fashion for the Olympics. The less said about our own personal achievements in the same timeframe, perhaps the better. It simply can’t compare. So, it was always going to be a big turn out when she inevitably chose to return. And when it comes to the Mayhem Ball , she made it a show worth waiting so long for – with high fashion, high stakes production value, and an exhausting-in-the-best-way run-through of 30 songs. And, the dramatics began before she even took centre stage at the Co-Op Live on Tuesday night (October 7) for the first of two shows this week. For proceedings, the huge 24,000-capacity venue is turned into an operatic auditorium as Gaga herself appears on screen as she outlines the “Manifesto of Mayhem”. Not much happens, but it does set the tone of sorts. Stay connected with our City Life newsletter here When she eventually disappears off screen, the crowd roar into loud cheers and we know that the superstar is just moments away from appearing on stage. And appear she does. Body popping out of a huge crinoline dress slash gothic doily. It’s appropriately Gaga in every sense. It’s something perhaps only she could get away with. And along the way, there’s all kinds of shenanigans with plenty of costume changes, props, dance routines and pure production value. And did I mention there’s 30 songs performed? Starting with Bloody Mary, it’s a two-and-a-half-hour tour-de-force of the hits in the fact that pretty much no stone goes unturned, representing each era of her almost 20-year career (I’m not too sad that Joanne is represented by just the one song, but others might be). The likes of Just Dance, Applause and Bad Romance get a big response, but it’s Alejandro, Million Reasons, and Disease that also, perhaps surprisingly, also get a big amount of love here in Manchester. The story behind the Mayhem Ball is quite layered. The gist of it is that it’s split into five acts (Of Velvet and Vice; And She Fell Into A Gothic Dream; The Beautiful Nightmare That Knows Her Name; Every Chessboard Has Two Queens; Eternal Aria Of The Monster Heart). It’s Alice in Wonderland meets The Phantom Of The Opera. Some could argue not much makes sense, others will tell you it’s all about channelling your inner mayhems and welcoming the monster inside. Again, oh so Gaga. Backed by more than 20 dancers, it’s a show that never stops. Whether she’s swanning along in a boat, strutting around in crystallised crutches, awakening the dead whilst in an oversized litter tray, or hanging out on a gurney, there’s a lot going on – but it absolutely works. Backed by exquisite outfits from a range of designers, including Lisa Bruno and Michael Velasquez, the entire show is of such a high pedigree. It’s undeniably a career highlight. The set is also a mammoth of a highlight. Throughout, it seamlessly twists and turns from one thing into another – whether that’s the opera house columns or underworld ruins. It’s major, and no photo or video could possibly do it the full justice it deserves. Amongst many requests for the crowd to ‘put your paws up’, she also reminds the audience whilst it may be a school night, there’s no excuses. “Let’s get ****ed on a Tuesday,” she screams. As the name of the tour implies, the majority of her latest album Mayhem gets performed, including late addition The Dead Dance (from Netflix’s Wednesday). But the spooky-ooky-ness of the show adds to the album, and proves how she is also still impressing sonically. Now six albums deep, to many of Gaga’s fans, her music can be timestamped to a memory in their lifetime. For me, The Fame/The Fame Monster represents my time at university as me and my friends would wait patiently for the exact moment her latest music video premiered on YouTube. No more is this attachment showcased than with two special performances of Paparazzi and Born This Way, which serve as an important reminder that she has always been a singer to stick up for the underdog and enlighten her community. “We are monsters and monsters never die,” she reminds the crowd to huge cheers. A heartfelt moment of pure sincerity amongst the dazzling two-hour show comes when Gaga, sat by a piano, belts out pure emotion as she sings Die With a Smile. This is followed by a series of ‘surprise’ additions that often get switched up at each show. For night one in Manchester, she then played Dance in the Dark and Speechless – clearly caught back by the crowd’s reaction and the chance for her to pour her heart out. Clearly, this is a Gaga that is still in her element. Her DNA is entwined throughout every aspect of the show, and she is very evidently still having a great time. The Mayhem Ball is the singer at the best she’s ever been. Despite her recent health struggles, which have impacted some of her performances in the past, she does not let it stop her. In fact, this is her clearly showing it does not define her or her ability. It’s perhaps one of the best shows I’ve ever been to and I’m already experiencing the tragic comedown of not being able to enjoy it all over once again tonight. As I overheard one attendee say as we all walked out of the arena, jaws agog at what we just witnessed, “this was not a concert, this was theatre”. They then added to their bold statement: “Actually, this was bigger than theatre.” Gaga has always encouraged her fans to embrace themselves, be who they want to be and just relish in the joy of that. Amongst the dazzling costumes, which fans had clearly spent hours preparing, there was just pure happiness. One young boy in front of me was getting his life to Born This Way as his family looked on next to him in pure delight. And it was absolutely wonderful to see. And for someone who many will only recognise from the outlandish outfits and the ‘wacky’ persona, the encore sees Gaga strip off all her make-up and takes to the stage in a beanie hat and black top to give us her ‘warts and all’ as she plays How Bad Do You Want Me. It’s simple, effective and a beautiful finish. If you get a chance, you need to see the Mayhem Ball in person. Lady Gaga will play Co-op Live again tonight (October 8). Join our Manc Life WhatsApp group HERE