Gaga has never been shy about her love of larger-than-life performance art, and The Mayhem Ball is not an exception. In fact, among all of Gaga’s globe-trotting tours, this one likely is the most interested in the artifice of the show itself — along with giving you an opportunity to watch Mother Monster perform the hits live, you’re getting a story alongside it.

That story, much like the album this tour was inspired by, sees Stefani Germanotta in a soul-wrenching battle with the monster of her own creation, Lady Gaga. Throughout the different acts of this rock opera (the gothic proscenium adorning the stage, along with the bits of scripted dialogue Gaga recites in between, give The Mayhem Ball the vibe of an actual narrative musical), different sides win out. But in the end, the two sides of Gaga fuse into one glorious whole as she finds the beauty in her own personal chaos.

While Gagachella was heralded by everyone as an all-time great performance at the annual festival, some Little Monsters were left wanting when Gaga did not perform any of the tracks off her weird and wild 2013 album Artpop. But those fans will be delighted to know that Gaga heard their protests and added two Artpop tracks to the setlist for The Mayhem Ball.

First, Gaga lit up the Garden with a truncated performance of Artpop opener “Aura,” immediately prompting fans to squeal along with her as she raved that “Enigma popstar is fun, she wear burqa for fashion.” But one of the most energetic reactions from the crowd on Friday night came when Gaga launched into a high-energy rendition of “Applause,” as the entire arena screamed the lyrics along with her.

While Gaga remained largely on-script for most of the show, she could not hold back the tears. After giving a heartfelt rendition of her smash-hit “Die With a Smile,” a stunned Gaga looked into the crowd as her fans cheered her on before launching into a heartfelt speech about what it meant for her to finally be back in her hometown.

“I know that it’s me standing up here, but you’re all standing in here with me, you know what I’m saying? I feel so honored to be here tonight at Madison Square Garden,” Gaga said while fans held up signs, including one that welcomed the “Italian girl from New York” back home. “I’m sure you can tell if you listen to the music that I am from here. Everything about my artistry, I think, was born in this town.”

The pop superstar also shared a vulnerable story with fans about a conversation she had backstage with her backup dancer China Taylor where she said that she felt like she needed to fight through her first performance at MSG. “When I’m in New York, I fight,” Gaga said. “But she said something really special to me. She said, ‘Sometimes, you don’t have to fight; you just have to show up.’” And show up Gaga did.

To go along with her moving speech to the crowd, Gaga also revealed that she had “prepared something special” for the audience at MSG on Friday. For the first time since her Born This Way Ball wrapped in 2013, Gaga gave a stirring rendition of “Hair,” her anthem of self-empowerment off her 2011 album Born This Way. “I’m sure that all my albums could not have been made without New York but I am sure this album would not have been made without New York,” a tearful Gaga declared. “This is for all of you and all your dreams; for maybe sometimes no more fighting and just showing up.”

Sat at an upright piano at the end of a catwalk, Gaga led the crowd in a choral-like chant of the song as she offered up its central “prayer,” promising that she and by extension her audience would “die living just as free as my hair.”

While other albums like The Fame and Born This Way were given their proper shine throughout the evening, this was The Mayhem Ball after all — songs from Mayhem provided the central backbone for the evening’s performance. Kicking off with a rousing rendition of “Abracadabra,” Gaga weaved through almost every song on the album (only “Don’t Call Tonight” and “Blade of Grass” didn’t make appearances during the evening).

A number of standouts emerged among the crowded field of Mayhem tracks. Her gothic high-camp performance of “Killah” saw audiences join her in deeply cathartic screams; both “Perfect Celebrity” and “Disease” featured Gaga thrashing around onstage; and after running through “Garden of Eden” early in the show, Gaga looked shocked as audiences gave her minutes-long standing ovations for unwavering commitment to performance.

In nearly two decades making music, Gaga has never shied away from her unapologetic love for LGBTQ+ community — and that certainly did not stop on Friday night. Throughout her show she gave nods both subtle and overt to those who helped make her superstar.

Sometimes that meant ceding stage space to ballroom dancers who cut up catwalk between Acts I and II. Other times it saw Gaga engaging in some not-so-subtle symbolism as her gigantic flowing train lit up with rainbow colors during an excellent rendition of “Paparazzi.” But naturally, Gaga made sure that audiences knew exactly what she was trying to say; before launching into rousing rendition of “Born This Way,” she made it clear: “We are here for queer community; do you hear me?” She yelled into crowd. “This show was made with love for you because we need world love right now.”