Scissor Sisters open for Gaga

Scissor Sisters at the Verizon Center last night. (Blade photo by Steve Fox)

It was a match made in gay heaven.

Scissor Sisters opened up for Lady Gaga at Verizon Center last night. The band hit the stage promptly at 8 p.m. and seemed determined to prove themselves the ultimate choice to warm up a crowd for the Grammy award-winning dame of media and pop.

Jake Shears and Ana Matronic could not help but address the obvious: “I wanna give a big, giant, massive thank you to Lady Gaga.” Given the sold-out arena of current and potential new Scissor Sisters fans, this was their time to shine. And they did.

Shears and Matronic, supported by two back-up singers and band members Babydaddy and Del Marquis, cranked through a six-song set list.  Fans of the band’s newer pieces were treated to “Night Work” and “Any Which Way” at the start. Smiling and striking poses through the hits, the band was there to entertain and have fun.

Rounding out the set with “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’,” “Running Out, “Take Your Mama” and “Filthy Gorgeous,” the crowd would have been happier if the Scissor Sisters had stayed for six more songs. Noticeably missing was “Return to Oz.” The classic Scissor Sisters song would have proven a fantastic lead in to Lady Gaga’s Oz-themed “Monster Ball.”

The bands music stands on its own, but the Scissor Sisters are also well known for outlandish costumes and sexually charged moves on stage. At one point Matronic hinted at her other talents by taking more than three-quarters of the microphone into her mouth. Shears, dressed to hit The Eagle post-show, ripped off as many items as he could in the final song and yanked his pants down to reveal his thonged behind.

In the end, the Scissor Sisters succeeded in their mission. The crowd was warmed-up and still had not lost sight of what they had come for: the main event. Matronic declared at the end of the set: “Stay tuned for your Lady Monster.” Part-time D.C resident, Al Coleman summed up the moment perfectly: “I’m hoping Lady Gaga will dazzle me as much as the Scissor Sisters did.”

Scissor Sisters will be returning to Washington to play a sold-out show at 9:30 Club on March 7.

(Blade photos by Steve Fox)