DATEBOOK24 Wednesday • Aug. 18, 2010 THEDAILYJOURNAL

By Julio LaraDAILY JOURNAL STAFF

It isn’t often you’ll go to a concertwhere you are amazed from the momentyou park at the arena and step outside towhen you lay your head to rest that night— and the word you keep repeating is“wow.”

Apparently, Lady Gaga has that kindof effect on people.

Gaga rolled through the Bay Area onher “The Monster Ball Tour” and, withthe help of thousands of her “little mon-sters,” tore the roof off the sold-out HPPavilion in San Jose. On stage and off,her latest performance is a prime exam-ple of why there isn’t a bigger or betterdraw in the music industry today.

That’s because Gaga has done whatfew artists these days have been able todo — transcend music to the point aconcert becomes an event, a spectacle,dare I say, like the Super Bowl of thesummer.

Judging by the scene at the HPPavilion, people had been preparing forthis concert for a while. They were elab-orate ensembles that ran the gamut ofstyle — from fishnet stockings and intri-cate head pieces to glittered out leotardsand pouches of fake blood. Not your typ-ical concert.

As a music act alone, Lady Gaga isspecial. Her two-hour set is complex,layered, art — what you’ve heard aboutthe over-the-top stage sets, costumechanges (of which I counted nine) and

overall shock value is true. But animportant thing to point out is that,amongst all that, Gaga’s music is neverlost. Separated into a handful of acts andpresented as a journey to, “The MonsterBall,” Lady Gaga’s fans were treated toall her hits — “Just Dance,” “Alejandro,”“Poker Face,” the dance numbers theartist rode to meteoric stardom.

But mixed in were interludes in whichGaga would show off her musical talentsay, by opening the hood of a busted-upyellow taxi to expose a piano she’d tick-le for a couple of bars, or strap on a key-tar and play the intro to one of her songs.Sure the show is loud and proud, butGaga made it a point to show that amidstall the noise she surrounded herself with,at her core, she is about the music andabout that journey that “will set youfree.”

Nowhere was that more evident thenduring her rendition of “Speechless,” asong she said she wrote about her father,which she performed solo on a grandpiano that, of course, was in flames. Shealso performed “You and I,” which Gagasaid, would be on her upcoming record,in similar fashion. Her musical talentscannot be overlooked.

Lady Gaga’s love affair with her mon-sters, her interaction with them through-out the trip to the Monster Ball was ahighlight — what comes across as gen-uine devotion between artist and fans istouching. During a time she took tospeak about one of her sponsors donat-ing money to her favorite charity, Gagawas showered with gifts flung toward

her on stage. The artist took the time tobend down, pick up some of the gar-ments and play dress-up with a shirt, aflower for her hair, decked-out sunglass-es, calling herself ‘the epitome of fash-ion” when she was done and performing“Telephone,” in the process.

But beyond the hits, the stage pres-ence, the interaction, to truly appreciateand be awed by Gaga’s latest visit youhave to step back and look at what hermusic has done and how it serves as atool to unify such a diverse spectrum ofpeople — it truly was a melting pot ofcultures.

You had your 20-somethings, yourgays, your grandfathers, hipsters, yourgroup of 40-something-year-old momswho did their best to squeeze into skinnyjeans, stilettos, tight tops and just letloose for a night. Over-the-top by “nor-mal” standards? Sure. But Gaga put itbest when she said that “the MonsterBall is a place where tonight, all thefreaks are outside.”

It’s true, the underlying themethroughout the night was “beauty,” andhow Gaga has changed it from a wordwith a soft connotation to something thatis loud, in your face and unapologetic.“You can be whoever you want to be,”she said. It really is a dazzling thing toobserve and witness — a “wow” experi-ence of the truest form.

Lady Gaga will return to the Bay AreaMarch 22, 2011 at the Oracle Arena inOakland. Tickets can be purchased atwww.livenation.com.

Lady Gaga brings the ‘wow’

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 18Lunch at Twin Pines. 11:30 a.m.Twin Pines Senior and CommunityCenter, 20 Twin Pines Lane,Belmont. Come join us for a healthylunch and make new friends. $3donation for 60 or over $6 for allother guest. For more informationplease call 595-7444.

Paws and Claws Wildlife Show.1:30 p.m. Coyote Point Museum,1651 Coyote Point Drive, SanMateo. Come join us in our WildlifeTheater and learn about CoyotePoint Museum’s non-releasable ani-mals. Free with admission. For moreinformation call 342-7755.

Movies at Little House. 1:30 p.m.Little House Auditorium, 800Middlefield Ave., Menlo Park.Featuring ‘Man of La Mancha.’ $2for members, $3 for non-members.For more information call 326-2025.

Computer Camera DiscussionGroup. 3 p.m. Veterans MemorialActivities Center, 1455 MadisonAve., Redwood City. Free. For moreinformation call 593-7012.

College Admissions: CSUs, UCsand the Financial Aid Process.6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Foster CityLibrary, 1000 E. Hillsdale Blvd.,Foster City. Learn how to navigatethe complex route to college with afree presentation from a collegeadmissions consultant. Free. Formore information call 574-4842.

Emergency Response Team train-ing. 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. San MateoDepartment Emergency OperationsCenter, 200 Franklin Parkway. Jointhis six-week course, for adults 18years and older, where participantsare trained in emergency skills thatwill include earthquake prepared-ness, disaster response, basic med-ical care and more. Free. For moreinformation call 522-7960.

Plants and People of NativeCalifornia. 7 p.m. San CarlosLibrary, 610 Elm St., San Carlos.Learn how to make your garden sus-tainable and ‘green’ by plantingCalifornia native plants to beautifyyour garden and provide habitats forbirds and butterflies. Free. For moreinformation visit cnps-scv.org.

Meditation: Find Peace andSerenity in an Uncertain World. 7p.m. San Carlos Library, 610 ElmSt., San Carlos. Learn how to medi-tate from psychiatrist and authorMarshall Zaslove. Free. For moreinformation call 591-0341.

THURSDAY, AUG. 19Beginning E-mail. 10 a.m. HalfMoon Bay Library, 620 Correas St.,Half Moon Bay. Set up your first e-mail account; learn how to log inand start sending and receiving e-mail messages. Free. For moreinformation call 726-2316.

Animals in Action. 10:30 a.m.Coyote Point Museum, 1651 CoyotePoint Drive, San Mateo This is anew and exciting opportunity to wit-ness our animals engaging in allkinds of activities. Free with admis-sion. For more information 342-7755.

Lunch at Twin Pines. 11:30 a.m.Twin Pines Senior and CommunityCenter, 20 Twin Pines Lane,Belmont. Come join us for a healthylunch and make new friends. $3donation for 60 or over $6 for allother guest. For more informationplease call 595-7444.

End of Life Decisions seminar.Noon to 1 p.m. 1528 S. El CaminoReal, Suite No. 301, San Mateo.Come receive expert information on‘How to save on Cemetery PropertyCosts’ and other end of life deci-sions. Free. For more informationcall 372-0795.

A Month for Artists at LittleHouse. 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. LittleHouse, 800 Middle Ave., MenloPark. Workshop for individual artiststo work with artists and art organiza-tions to find opportunities forexhibiting, networking, sharing ofideas, teaching and more. $7 per ses-sion, $20 for all workshops inAugust (held every Thursday). Formore information call 326-2025.

Folger Stable RenovationCommunity Open House. 2 p.m. to5 p.m. 4040 Woodside Road.Celebrating the completion of theFolger Stable Renovation. Activitiesinclude pony rides, petting zoo,leathercrafts and more. Free. Formore information call 851-2660.

Movie: ‘Flushed Away.’ 3:30 p.m.San Mateo Public Library, 55 W.Third Ave., San Mateo. Come seethe animated movie ‘Flushed Away’(rated PG) at the San Mateo PublicLibrary. Free, with free popcorn. Formore information call 522-7838.

MyLiberty San Mateo Meeting. 6p.m. to 7:30 p.m. American LegionHall, 130 South Blvd., San Mateo.Biweekly meeting of the conserva-tive group MyLiberty. Free. For

more information call PatriciaLindberg at 449-0088.

SMCL eBranch in Mandarin andEnglish. 6:30 p.m. Millbrae Library,1 Library Ave., Millbrae. Learnabout the library’s new website.Instructions in both English andMandarin. Free. For more informa-tion call 697-7607.

Birth of Impressionism:Masterpieces from the Museed’Orsay. 7 p.m. Portola ValleyLibrary, 765 Portola Road, PortolaValley. Fine arts docents presentpaintings from the Musee d’Orsaycreated by the masters of the mid- tolate-19th century. Free. For moreinformation e-mailconrad@smcl.org.

Movies on the Square. 8:45 p.m.Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway,Redwood City. Watch Pixar’sAcademy Award-winning ‘Up’ (PG).Free. For more information visitwww.redwoodcity.org/events/movi-eschedule.

FRIDAY, AUG. 2075th Anniversary of SocialSecurity. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.Burlingame Recreation Center, 850Burlingame Ave. Seniors are invitedto join Jackie Speier and celebratethe anniversary of Social Security.For more information e-mail recre-ation@burlingame.org.

Movies in the Park Series. 8 p.m.Washington Park at 850 BurlingameAve. Featuring ‘Up.’ Free. For moreinformation call 558-7300.

SMCL eBranch Introduction.10:30 a.m. Belmont Library, 1110Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont.Learn about the library’s new web-site. Free. For more information call591-8286.

‘August Summer Fun’ WesternParty. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. San BrunoSenior Center, 1555 Crystal SpringsRoad. Dance Lessons, music by the‘California Cowboys’ and barbecuelunch. $8 in advance $10 at the door.For more information call 616-7152.

Paws and Claws Wildlife Show.1:30 p.m. Coyote Point Museum,1651 Coyote Point Drive, SanMateo. Learn about Coyote PointMuseum’s non-releasable animals.Free with admission. For moreinformation call 342-7755.

‘The Music Man.’ 7 p.m. RedwoodCity Community Theatre,Carrington Hall, Sequoia HighSchool, 1201 Brewster Ave. at ElCamino Real. Redwood CityCommunity Theatre Presents ‘TheMusic Man.’ Tickets are $15 foradults, $10 for students and seniors.For more information and to ordertickets call 369-1411 ext. 6601.

Organ Concert by Steve Cram.7:30 p.m. Congregational Church ofBelmont, 751 Alameda de lasPulgas. Steve Cram will be playingthe 1918 Wicks pipe organ. Tickets$10. For more information call 593-4547.

Beresford Boogie Social Dance. 8p.m. to 10:45 p.m. BeresfordRecreation Center, 28th Avenue andParkview Way. Waltz lesson withJames Kleinrath. $12 for lesson,dance and snacks. For more infor-mation contact 571-0836.

SATURDAY, AUG. 21Tour De Menlo. 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.Menlo-Atherton High School, 555Middlefield Road, Atherton.Support local kids in a great bikeride. For more information call 854-2690.

Calendar

MATT MANIEGO/ONETIME INC.Lady Gaga will return to the Bay Area March 22,2011 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland.

The mother claims to have clearlyinformed police dispatch that her sonwas depressed after calling 911 Mondaynight and then informed the two officerswho arrived to her home that her son wasspecial and needed help.

“Why did I call the police? I shouldhave never have called. I called for hope.I didn’t want the police to kill my son. Itis my fault,” Aristondo said.

Burlingame police Capt. MikeMatteucci confirmed that the mother didwarn dispatch Monday night about herson’s depression before the two officersarrived at the scene.

“We have responded to the home anumber of times for similar disturbancesbut he was never arrested,” Matteuccisaid.

Aristondo was holding a large serratedsteak knife, Matteucci said.

The Aristondos live in a small cottagebehind the main house at 217 MyrtleRoad. Edgar Aristondo allegedly cameout of his cottage and approached hismother, a family friend and two policeofficers through a narrow corridor on theside of the main house as they discussed

the situation on the sidewalk.Police approached Aristondo in the

corridor, and then shot him momentslater, the mother said.

A neighbor said she heard three orfour shots fired although Matteuccicould not confirm that.

Aristondo had a knife, according topolice, and advanced on the officers.

The officers attempted to detain orarrest Aristondo but due to his actionsthey were forced to defend themselves,according to police. One officer fired hisTaser but Aristondo continued toadvance, according to police.

“An officer attempted to deploy theTaser but it didn’t strike,” Matteuccisaid.

Aristondo was then struck by gunfireand the officers immediately began torender aid, according to police.

Gladys Aristondo tried to see her sonafter he was shot but was kept back bypolice, she said.

“They wouldn’t even let me see him,”she said.

Edgar Aristondo graduated fromPeninsula High School in 1988 and hadlived at the Myrtle Road home for 15years. He was an avid video game play-er who also liked dogs.

“He had a nice heart. He never tookanything from anybody,” his mothersaid.

Police blocked off Myrtle Roadbetween Howard and Burlingameavenues and were on the scene until 3a.m., neighbors said.

Celestino Luque, Edgar Aristondo’suncle, described his nephew as humbleand quiet.

“He was a little peculiar,” Luque said.“The police were warned he had somemental issues. He shouldn’t be dead.”

The family was making funeralarrangements for Edgar Aristondo yes-terday.

“I never in my life will forget this.What they did,” his mother said.

An autopsy is scheduled for today at 1p.m., according to San Mateo CountyCoroner Robert Foucrault.

The San Mateo County DistrictAttorney’s Office is investigating theshooting along with Burlingame police.The involved officers have been placedon paid administrative leave while theinvestigation is under way.

The last homicide in Burlingame wasSept. 30, 2007, a shooting on Highway101 just north of the Broadway exit. Thelast officer-involved shooting inBurlingame was Nov. 3, 2002 at the RedRood Inn on Airport Boulevard.

Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail: sil-verfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone:(650) 344-5200 ext. 106.

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