“Madonna wraps up her two-concert visit to Arizona tonight at Glendale Arena, and judging from reaction from critics and fans who attended Thursday’s nearly sold-out show, the 47-year-old superstar is delivering the goods” – Larry Rodgers writes on the Arizona Republic.

Some tickets remain for tonight’s performance, which should last nearly two hours and spotlight Madonna’s new dance-heavy album, Confessions on a Dance Floor.

If you’re headed out, be aware that Madonna has asked for minimal air-conditioning, resulting in temperatures reaching 87 degrees in the floor seating Thursday. Also, construction around the arena is slowing the flow of traffic in and out, so allow a little extra driving time.

Arizona Republic music writer Larry Rodgers writes in his online review: “Madonna may be 47 and the mother of two, but on Thursday night, she was the hottest, wildest woman in Arizona. Showing off her well-honed physique, an array of costumes ranging from naughty to amusing, the energy of an aerobics instructor and some choice expletives aimed at the president and the audience, the superstar left no doubt that her Confessions tour is the summer’s biggest concert spectacle.”

AzCentral blogger Theresa Cano writes: “Madonna seems to be in a great mood tonight, laughing, talking and interacting with crowd more than I’ve ever seen her do… I’m ready to buy a ticket for Saturday night’s show. I have to see it again to catch what I missed the first time. If you didn’t make it (Thursday), hopefully you’ll go Saturday because it cannot be missed for any music and especially any Madonna fan.”

Read on the Full Article link below for more comments from the newspapers staff (who all seem to have gone to see the show!) and fans,
Thanks to Daniel.

“I thought it was a flawless performance. I compared it to a high-end Broadway musical. It was such a treat, the costumes and the dancing. I enjoyed her joke when she was asking everybody if they could sing and dance at the same time.”

Sharla Hartgraves, 41, Tempe

“Her performance was like she was 20 years old. She was just unbelievable. It was worth every penny. Her energy and her look – she hasn’t changed at all. She’s got the whole package.”

Debra Berg, 47, Scottsdale

“She was in incredible shape and her voice was so good. All her songs were great, the dance-themed stuff was incredible. It’s the second time I’ve seen her . . . she’s just so comfortable onstage. I’ve never seen her in this good of shape.”

Kathy Ortez, 53, Paradise Valley

“I love the Confessions CD. I was glad she did that mainly. When she mixed in Disco Inferno (from Saturday Night Fever) with (her own) Music and she had the dancers on roller skates, that was the best one.”

Timothy Stewart, 38, Youngtown

“Some people burn crosses; others merely bear them. But to retrofit one with mirrors and dangle from it while singing a ballad about AIDS, well, for that you need Madonna. But the world’s most glamorous martyrdom was only the second-craziest thing she did; Number 1, of course, was her sadistic campaign against the air-conditioning. I soaked through my shirt about 10 minutes into the show.”

Casey Newton, 25, reporter, The Republic

“Madonna helped me hate my body in new and exciting ways Thursday night. After watching her squat-thrust her way through a two-hour show, my friends and I are embarking on a new, squats-only workout regimen, punctuated by marathon hot-box yoga sessions and ritual starvation, all while listening to the Immaculate Collection, so as to purify ourselves for the next tour.”

Megan Finnerty, 26, fashion writer, Yes

“As the least hip person at the Madonna concert (read: no floor seats, not dressed like Madonna at any age, not doing shots and not dancing – even when Madonna commanded it), this is what I have to say: Wow! At 47, this mother of two kicks butt onstage. Women 20 years younger couldn’t keep up.”

Kelly Ettenborough, 39, editor, Yes

“She sure knows how to make an entrance. Her opening scene was spectacular, with an equestrian motif, the sound and images of horses stampeding in the background and her dancers roped up like horses running on stage, combined with Future Lovers from her newest album. The heat in the arena didn’t bother me at all; in fact, I couldn’t stop jumping up and down, even the times when she didn’t ask us to. The visual effects she used with the show were mind-boggling; you just won’t see it anywhere else.”

Sarah Muench, 23, reporter, The Republic

“My favorite part of the concert was when she put on her white disco suit and danced like she just kicked John Travolta off the dance floor. She exudes so much energy, you just want to join her on the dance floor. I also loved that she flipped off the crowd. She’s so bad!”

Michelle Saldana, 37, Republic advertising artist

Compiled by Larry Rodgers, The Arizona Republic.
From www.azcentral.com.