It was a perfect backdrop for Lady Gaga. This year's electro pop sensation kicked off two sold-out concerts in Boston at the lavish Wang Theatre amid opulent gold fixtures and marble friezes -- a gilded cage for an exotic songbird. Still, the old-world rococo splendor was equaled by Gaga's dizzying, high-tech stage set, which seemed to change as often as Gaga switched her barely-there costumes. That is, with every song.

This, her first headline tour, dubbed 'The Monster Ball,' replaced the canceled 'Fame Kills' tour with Kanye West. Gaga doesn't need West as she attempts to carve out her own permanent place in the pop canon. Songs from her career-launching debut, 'The Fame' and the newly released EP, 'The Fame Monster,' tumbled out in quick succession. A bevy of dancers and musicians -- the latter mostly hidden behind screens -- were efficient, but simply along for the ride. No matter what the set-up that embellished her gritty party tunes -- 'Just Dance,' 'LoveGame,' 'Monster,' 'Teeth,' 'Paparazzi,' -- all eyes were on Gaga, a relentless presence as she purposefully mixed performance art with pop show.