Just back from Mother’s opening night stint at the Wachovia in Philadelphia, M-Tribe contributor Keeneye says “even a jaded c-nt like myself was totally blown away”.

“I’ve seen the show several times already, and have of course seen hundreds of posted clips and vids from almost every city, and tonight was really special.

At first I thought it was because of my seats tonight, which were fourth row from the
main stage. (I’ve been very lucky and have seen it each time before front
and center at the end of the main catwalk.) But it wasn’t just the seats –
the show really was cranked up a bit more than usual tonight. This is the
only stop I’m not seeing by myself, as I usually cut up more when alone. I’m
good at striking up conversations with strangers, putting them at ease, and
getting them excited. My friend was kind of amazed at the crowd. (More on
them below.) Was a really good mix of rabid fans, circuit boys, drags,
messes, curious first timers, and duds with tons of spare coins who had good
connections and just wanted to say there were “there.” In short, the usual.

The Wachovia was mobbed beyond belief when we arrived around 7:30 – outside, the halls, the bars, everywhere. (I mean PACKED.) Was great to see.

People were really drinking hard and fast, and carrying on like mad. The humidity
and heat in Philly today was intense, hovering around 90, so most folks were
not dressed up. UGH. Whatever. But there were definitely plenty of pretty
boys ‘n girls about, and some sick drags and club kids who went all out.
Loved it.

The show started even a tad later than usual. Ticket time was the
pretty-standard 8:00, and I expected her on around 8:40-8:45, but it was
almost 9:00 before she hit. Also, there wasn’t the usual blackout tonight;
the house lights dimmed about 3/4 and stayed that way for a good 4 to 5
minutes before the screens came alive. (In all likelihood due to some last
minute backstage goings-on as well as the cast and crew trying to gauge the
crowd.) When the band took the stage, I was a few feet from Monte – who’s
name I roared out at the top of my lungs like some 14 y.o. girl on crack. (I
really rattled the folks around me, which of course I loved.) He looked
around a bit after strapping on his guitar trying to locate where the voice
was coming from, so I yelled it again. He saw me, gave a huge smile and a
thumbs-up. (Getting recognized on such a powerhouse artist’s tour has to
feel good.) Throughout the rest of the night we eyed each other, me in full
smile, him smiling back. Made the show very intimate. I saw Guy on the floor
up front, went up and showed him the t-shirt I had made: “The Audience is
Listening… And Mother is Speaking.” (He took a shot of it; maybe it’ll end
up somewhere. Most of the rest of the people in my section were totally
baffled by it as they hadn’t seen the show yet; kinda cute.)

Click on the Full Article link below to continue reading this cool review by Keeneye.

The floor was even hotter than usual, between the outside humidity, the a/c
being off (of course) and people trying to re-jockey their seating
positions. Speaking of the floor, some thoughts. As I said, I’ve been lucky
enough to snag front row end of main catwalk seats each time before tonight,
which really is the best place to take in the theatricality of it all.

There’s just nothing more stunning than having her appear before your eyes
as the ball flowers open and you see that insanely sick-killer smile on her
face. She loves it, you love it, its a perfect moment. But being so close to
the front has its plusses and minusses. On the plus – duh, the close
proximity to her. Even if you can’t stand her, seeing her in person that
close is surreal. She looks fantastic of course, and you really get to see
how hard she works to entertain. (Even on “off nights,” when the crowd is
not with her 100%, she gives it to you HARD.) After her carousel dismount
during LAV, she stopped midway along the left catwalk, and I was literally
about 7 feet from her. I flashed her my t-shirt, which she caught. I’m
almost positive she didn’t catch the entire text, but she must’ve at least
caught “The Audience is Listening” part at the top, because she broke into a
grin and pointed down at me. And yes, as everyone has said before who has
had an up-close with her, it is a bit surreal and time stops for a second.
Being so close you get to take in the dancers as well (more on them in a
sec) and the overall production.

A few minuses being so far up front: The side catwalks block the overhead
subwoofers and stage speakers a bit, so you miss out on the thunderous “in
your chest” whoomph on some numbers, notably the “Music/Disco Inferno” mash
up, “Ray Of Light”, and the gagger that is the “Sorry” interlude (which also loses some
of its impact that close). Of course, the entrance is not as dramatic, as
you’re not getting her face backed by those truly awe-inspiring backdrop
films. (I had my friend toggle back and forth Wimbledon style beteen the
ball and the screens tonight.) Not even complaints, just observations. I
wouldn’t have traded it for the world, but I’m glad the rest of my shows are
either right against the middle catwalk or front row end of main catwalk.
(Yes, it costs a sh-tload to support one’s Mother addiction, but seeing this
show from various vantage points really is the only way.)

Hard as this may sound, tonight I actually kept a close eye on the dancers.
(Of course, anytime M was mainstage or near me my eyes never moved off her;
I’m speaking mainly during her end-of-center catwalk numbers, which I’ve
seen up close from that vantage point, and are pretty much obscured from
being up front.) I know hundreds of postings have been done about the
dancers, but they really are stu-f-cking-pendously talented. Yes, Mihran,
Cloud and Jason are sickeningly beautiful, but the crew – from Parkour
flyboys on down – works their asses off, and its no wonder M is so damned
proud of them. During “Hung Up” I screamed up to Cloud and Tamara, got both their attention at the same time and gave them some face ‘n hand signs.
Cloud gave me a great smile and Tamara was yelling something back at me but
I missed most of it. (By the way, if any of you get sprayed with Jason’s
massive sweat-spooging consider yourselves lucky.)

A few show highlights:
M was very talkative tonight. As widely reported already she’s definitely
interacting more with her audiences than anytime in her live career on this
tour. But tonight she was really on point. During her mini-break before
launching into Drowned World (which was surprisingly sung aloud by most of
the front half of the floor along with her), she of course pulled out the
“front row bitches” line, and battered on some lame-ass who was sitting, but
she told a few locally flavored jokes, thanked the crowd profusely, said she
was having a lot of fun, and made some under-her-breath shout outs to the
first row of section 3.

During “Let it Will Be” she did something new tonight – she took a cowboy hat
from a fan in section 3 who was right against the catwalk (lucky bastard
must’ve s-it himself), wore it for a bit, then tossed it into the crowd on
the opposite side. VERY spontaneous and totally cool. “Ray Of Light” of course blew the place apart (she knows that it’s the one real number that shakes the arena
she’s in to the core), and there seemed to be more balloons tonight than
before; more were dropped on the sides than I’ve seen so far. (The same
dumpster diving and greedy grabbing goes on, though.)

The place was 100% packed tonight – many more side and obstructed view seats were sold tonight than on other shows – but what was so curious was the
front-floor crowd. There only a few sitting, and only now and then (mainly
older cash-rich yuppie doorknobs who were there simply because they could
afford the seats and need something to talk about at soccer practice on
Sunday), but the first 15 rows were not dancing as much. Certainly not
nearly as much as the sides and further backs. In fact, I was gazing around
at the nosebleeds in the back and THEY were all carrying on more. Like I
said, from talking to folks around me many said they were seeing her live
for the first time ever, and I guess its the combination of being so close
to her, possibly not knowing COADF well outside of Hung Up, and not wanting
to “look foolish” dancing. WHATEVER. Everyone was in a good and/or great
mood it seemed, just a bit passive in the front sections where I was. But
obviously, it didn’t stop me – my voice right now sounds like Selma
Diamond’s and Rosie the Quicker-Picker-Upper’s. (Yes, it’s shot and yes I’m
seeing Mother again on Thursday.)

I saw many of what I assumed to be ICONERS, judging by the homemade looking
lanyards and the fan club membership t-shirts everywhere. People were
definitely running on a combination adrenaline and being tanked/cranked, but
everyone seemed to be kicking it hard and lovely. I’m not a heavy sweater,
but I was dripping wet by show’s end again… loving every second of it. M’s
voice sounded superb, there were no tech glitches whatsoever (seeing Erotica
up close though does give you a glimpse into how her pre-recorded vocals
mesh with the dance in the number; her live mic is timed perfectly with her
recorded vocals, and she has it down pat, but it works better from afar, as
some of the illusion of the number is gone when seeing it up close). The
show felt very smooth and 100% top notch, yet in no way pre-fab or
“machine-like” (and let’s face it – this show is the most professionally
executed machine of the year if not the decade). It truly runs like an art
installation piece – albeit with the most-famous woman on Earth at the helm.

I met Madiva at Woody’s afterwards. Totally sweet, totally nice, totally
giving it to you. She looks GREAT. Woody’s was kinda lame – it was packed to the gills and it was all M’s music (mostly well-known remixes) and videos, but the crowd
was a combination of bitchy boyz who couldn’t get tix to tonight’s show,
folks who were at the show and were so exhausted they really had no energy
left, to mid-week trashy drunk boys. Kinda ick. The after-party for
Thursday’s show should be off the hook. It’s the WB official
post-Confessions tour party (Tracy Young is spinning) combined with the TLA
Video Gay & Lesbian Film Festival kick-off (3rd biggest fest in the U.S.),
so this party’s gonna be mega-mobbed. Get there early.

In closing, Mother will most definitely give it to you every night, but
tonight was a REALLY good one. I’m already pumped for tomorrow’s show at the
Wachovia again, (holy s-it it’s 4:30am and I have to be at work at 8am) as
well as MSG in my beloved NYC on 7/19, and London on Her birthday (8/16).

I hope all who went tonight were floored by what they got to see. I sure as
s-it know I was – yet again.”

Keeneye