Nearing close of ‘Jazz + Piano,’ Lady Gaga is not done in Vegas
Lady Gaga’s performances at Dolby Live on have been was 99 percent jazz revival, one percent breaking-news update.
But the news has been significant.
Gaga told her packed crowds over the weekend that she plans to return to the Strip, as “Jazz + Piano” closes next Saturday.
She hinted the musicians on stage would be involved in the next production, whatever it is.
“We only have four shows left,” the superstar said Saturday, breaking from the show-closing “New York, New York” amid a rain of gold confetti. “We’ll be back. I can’t leave these guys. I love these guys too much.”
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She doffed her top hat to the orchestra, “To all my shows.”
Sunday, she told the crowd she is planning a pop-themed show. “I’m excited for some of my fans that love jazz music to come to the next pop show,” she said from the piano. “That’s exciting.”
The four shows Gaga mentioned Saturday included the now-performed Sunday show. The final three are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, which will shut down this production after 48 shows.
Gaga’s options include retaining any or all of the “Jazz + Piano” players, re-stating a pop production as “Enigma” has been parked since the pandemic, or both.
Lady Gaga confirmed tonight that the pop show is coming back to Las Vegas! pic.twitter.com/zokxHElkGn
— Gaga Notify (@gaganotify) July 1, 2024
Gaga reportedly plans to issue her seventh studio album, “LG7,” this year. She is also co-starring in “Joker 2.” The been hinting at new music by posting photos from the recording studio to while filming her role as Harley Quinn in “Joker 2.”
On May 23, at her “Gaga Chromatica Ball” premiere in L.A., the superstar said during a Q&A, “I am in the studio every single day. I have written so many songs, I’ve been producing so many songs, and it’s nothing like anything that I’ve ever made before. I love to break genre, and I love to explore music. There’s something really beautiful about knowing that you will be loved no matter what you do.”
During Saturday’s performance at Dolby Live, the superstar also dedicated “Bad Romance” to her beau, entrepreneur Michael Polansky, referring to him as “my best friend.” She then performed the hit from the piano, halting after the singing the lyric, “I don’t want to be friends.”
“Wait, I just said I just said he is my best friend,” Gaga said, laughing, then continuing the song. The headliner introduced her parents, Cynthia and Joe Germanotta; and Tony Bennett’s widow, Susan Benedetto.
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Before singing, “Fly Me to The Moon,” Gaga said she thought of Bennett during the number. “I wonder how he would have sung it,” she said. She sang a section a capella, as a kind of tribute.
The audience, many of whom would not be at a jazz show if not for this one, cheered back. When “LG” and her team chart a new production in Las Vegas, this type of signature moment is a good place to start.
‘Loom’ is large
Imagine Dragons released their sixth studio album, “Loom,” on Friday. I was taken by the whimsical first single, “Nice to Meet You.” The song opens with a whispery backing vocal that reminds of music played in a department store in the 1970s. A sly artistic touch that sounds like something Weezer would uncork.
That is intentional. Imagine Dragons front man Dan Reynolds said during an iHeart Radio album release event Thursday that Weezer looms behind the new album.
“Loom” is a nine-track album. “Mercury — Acts 1 &2,” its predecessor, has 32 songs. The band has more than 100 songs to pick from when assembling an album.
“We wanted to make a record that was concise, that was re-playable,” Reynolds said during the show hosted by L.A. podcast hosts Booker & Stryker. “One of my favorite records growing up was The Blue Album by Weezer, and you would just listen from start to finish and there was actually a lot going on but there was no fat … We wanted to do that on this record.”
Produced by the songwriting/production duo Mattman & Robin, “Loom” is the center of the band’s upcoming, and fifth, North American tour. No Vegas dates, but four at the Hollywood Bowl Oct. 22-23 and 26-27.
“Loom” is also the first Imagine Dragons album released as a trio, with Reynolds, guitar great Wayne Sermon and adroit bassist Ben McKee the listed musicians. Drummer Daniel Platzman has been on hiatus since March 2023.
Platzman still creates music for his “Platz Cats,” with a series on his X page in which he crosses music genres. On June 17, he released a disco version of “The Godfather” theme. He calls it “Disco Father,” saying, “We’re still working on the title.” No matter. As someone said, it’s pretty rad.
Cool Hang Alert
The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails at Cosmopolitan presents, “It’s Not a Phase, Mom” Emo Nights, a new night of live music featuring Emo fan favorites. The show is set for 10 p.m. Thursday (or, July 4), so keep it safe and sane. Reservations at thebarbershoplv.com/saloon-reservations.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
