As Lady Gaga Announces New Tour Dates, 'Mayhem' Sparks Debate on the Dance Floor
It's been 10 days since Lady Gaga's Mayhem debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking her seventh chart-topper and, according to Billboard, the biggest album by a woman so far this year. While her upcoming Coachella appearance will draw festival-shy fans to the desert next month, today's announcement of her summer-fall 2025 Mayhem Ball tour dates has sparked anticipation for the full Mayhem experience."This is my first arena tour since 2018," Gaga stated about the tour. "There's something electric about a stadium, and I love every moment of those shows. But with The MAYHEM Ball, I wanted to create a different kind of experience — something more intimate — closer, more connected — that lends itself to the live theatrical art I love to create."If Mastercard's record release party/"Club Mayhem" event in Hollywood on March 16 (the album's release date) offers any preview, the tour promises to be thoroughly immersive. Held at Milk Studios, the event attracted devoted fans and dance community members for a Gagathon featuring photo opportunities, themed refreshments, and DJs spinning the new album, plus a Mother Monster mashup of early hits and an appearance by the popstar herself alongside choreographer Parris Goebel.
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Mastercard's viral dance contest, which emerged from the "Abracadabra" music video that premiered during last month's Grammys, has proven the new record to be perfectly suited not only for viral social media clips but for in-person club experiences as well. Billboard ranked each song in a recent piece, but while their top five selections are solid, their number one choice raises questions. "Perfect Celebrity" delivers dramatic musical and vocal moments with appreciated rock elements, but it lacks the ear-catching appeal of Mayhem's dance-driven tracks and doesn't translate well to club settings.
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At Club Mayhem, "Zombieboy" clearly dominated the dance floor—drag queens, fashionably dressed attendees, and glamour enthusiasts alike chanted every word from its "Holla Back Girl"-style rap opener. The track increasingly impresses as a pop-goth crossover, particularly for its lyrics.Other standouts include "Garden of Eden" and "Killah," which capture Gaga's playful sensibilities and funky, eccentric references ranging from Prince to Wham. "Disease," the first release, may not have garnered as much attention as "Abracadabra," but distinguishes itself through industrial elements and moody atmosphere—like Nine Inch Nails meeting Madonna in a taut, tense yet sexy, synth-heavy track. "How Bad Do You Want Me," a Swift-reminiscent ballad suited for car singalongs (though not dance floors), also deserves mention, much like the early release duet with Bruno Mars, "Die With A Smile."
Jason Lavitt, promoter of Club 90's and numerous legendary L.A. dance parties, concurs with this assessment of the top five tracks, though he notes that "Abracadabra" remains the biggest crowd-pleaser at his clubs. Witness this yourself at his upcoming Lady Gaga Night event at The Vermont.
Which track tops your list? Tag @LAmag and @linalecaro on social media to share your favorite!
Photos from Club Mayhem below, courtesy Mastercard/Izzy Calderon and Lina Lecaro.
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