Thurs. July 1

Was it just a year or so that Lady Gaga was working the clubs? We saw her at House of Blues and thought, "Yes, this new Madonna was a great sense of style, sexuality and smarts, could be big." We could not have predicted how big. Gaga is a thoroughly modern artist in that she is all into striking while the iron is hot. You never know how long it's going to stay hot and over the past year she's been everywhere in print, on the tube, on the Web and in person. She comes to the TD Garden July 1 and 2 and of course they're sold clean. But Kings has squirreled away a pair at each of their spots, in Dedham and in Boston's Back Bay, and is holding, yes, a Gaga-themed karaoke contest - call in the "Monster Ball" - and giving away a total of 4 tickets for the July 2 show. The PR copy reads: "All the little fame monsters are encouraged to come glammed out in their craziest Gaga attire and step up to the microphone to belt out the pop icon’s biggest hits for a chance to win cool prizes. One lucky grand prize winner who walks the walk and talks the talk will take home two tickets to see Gaga live on July 2 at the TD Garden in Boston. Contestants will be judged on voice quality, originality, charisma and audience response." Each event starts at 9. Free to enter.

Wow. What can you do before your turn at the mic comes? Just drink. Lady Gaga-themed colored liquid. Again from the PR people: "Fans can sip on specialty concoctions including the My My My Mai-Tini (pineapple rum, citrus rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, grenadine and a float of Myers dark rum), Bad Romance (coconut rum, mango rum, pineapple juice, and a splash of cranberry juice) Bubble Dress (bubblegum vodka, peach liquor, triple sec, pineapple juice and a splash of cranberry juice).
Food too: Pokerface Potato Skins, Alejandro’s Artichoke Dip, Paparazzi Popcorn Shrimp and more.

Now, when Gaga is done, will Kings lay low on the karaoke front? Nope, it's part of an expanded celebrity karaoke competition series that the venues plan to host throughout the year. Additional competitions will be announced at a later date.
Kings being a bowling alley and sports bar, you can rest assured big screen TVs will keep you bathed in colorful light and big balls will roll down lanes, making sonic boom sounds at the conclusion of the journey.

Kings Dedham, 600 Legacy Place, Dedham, 781-329-6000 www.KingsDedham.com Kings Back Bay, 50 Dalton St.617-266-2695 www.kingsbackbay.com