My Three Thoughts - U2 at The Sphere
The Las Vegas Super Bowl Week gave us an amazing concert opportunity
On Wednesday we had the opportunity we couldn’t believe. The chance to see U2 – a band that has meant more to me than maybe any band – live at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
It is hard to say which portion of that experience I was looking forward to more.
On one hand, you have U2. The first CD I bought as a 14-year old who was experiencing music on my own terms as 14-year olds will was The Joshua Tree. To suggest I listened to it a million times sounds about right. The first major concert I attended was U2 on September 23, 1992 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, to see the Zoo TV tour (with special guest Public Enemy). Admittedly, I have expanded my musical palate quite a bit over time and there are years where we grow apart, but over my 51 years of life, I can safely say the top spot in my head and heart for any band is reserved for these boys from Ireland. We have all sort of grown old together.
And on the other hand, you have this technological marvel venue that has just popped on the scene as the potential future of live shows. The Sphere would have been a centerpiece field trip to just tour it and see it’s structure and design, but to experience my favorite band paired with a venue I wasn’t sure I would ever experience seemed too good to be true. Then, to have it on a “work trip” and on an available night where we could secure tickets (good ones!) and see it happen in front of us? I am thinking I might have won the lottery again.
Well, I have a thousand thoughts and a few dozen photos and videos, but in the interest of time, let me just hit the highlights here.
These, like I did when I wrote up the Pearl Jam show last September, will have to pass as my Three Thoughts:
– “I CAN’T STOP SMILING!” – Me, talking to Craig Miller who was on my left for this concert.
We all live lives where the mundane often wins. The routines and the duties and the responsibilities of making sure we check all of the boxes on the to-do list of each day/week/year to stay an employee in good standing, a husband and father of reasonably-high regard, and a guy who can still see his feet and not let the body get too far off the rails in the wrong direction as the metabolism slows down.
So, when you have a chance to just buy a night where you feel nothing but pure joy and happiness, I highly recommend it.
That was this for me. I will tell you the truth, when we started hearing about U2’s stay in Las Vegas, my wife and I (we have seen them every five years or so since the early 1990s together as we approach our 30th anniversary together) said we have to figure this out. But, we have three kids in three directions that needed us for their initial schedule from September to December and were bummed, but we couldn’t make it work. We really wanted to drop everything and go see them, but didn’t do it.
But, in the back of my head was always Super Bowl 58 and my irrational belief that maybe they will extend it knowing the giant media population that would visit Las Vegas in early February would not only want to see it, but in turn, tell everyone they know how great the Sphere is if they could experience it and be blown away.
Well, U2 did extend their stay through the Super Bowl and the tickets went on sale. I would not be denied and even risked violating the man code of Super Bowl week by having my wife drop in for a 15-hour stay in the city so she could be on my opposite side from Craig to see the show with me. My guys were obviously cool with her attending, except that their wives probably wanted answers why they didn’t get the call. Apologies!
Back to the general feeling over the 2 hours and 10 minutes of a constant smile was impossible to erase. The spectacular visuals of seeing that band at what seemed an amazing spot for our seats with the backdrop of the incredible walls of The Sphere coming to life was too much.
Let me show you.
This video is about 2 minutes of the highlight of any U2 show. When the Edge starts playing the riff to Where The Streets Have No Name, the crowd loses its mind. It is the pinnacle of the show in so many ways and the experience hits every time.
But, this time, they could ask a million LED panels to kick it up a notch. Press Play and see what I mean.
Yes, there were tears in my eyes. I can’t help it and even if I could, I am not sure I would want to help it.
It makes me feel all the emotions of what that song and band mean to me. Then, for them to pretty much be able to take us out to the desert was too much for the senses to handle. It is what pure joy hitting the heart feels like. And frankly, it is why live music seems worth the trouble to me when I gear up for a highly anticipated show.
– Trying to explain how The Sphere adds to a normal concert is like trying to explain the Grand Canyon to someone who has never been there. I am not sure words will help on this one. For that matter, I am not sure photos or videos will help, either.
It is the craziest thing I have ever seen. I mean that. The ability for that place to change the math on how we see a live show is off the charts. U2 definitely gave the venue a workout with videos and effects that added to every song in a way that I was very unfamiliar with. They can not only offer visuals, but they can absolutely mess with your senses in a way that is tough to comprehend. You feel the ceiling is dropping or the walls are closing or somehow this circular venue is now a square? I don’t quite understand it, but they can create water flowing and birds flying and so many high-definition settings and experiences that maybe the musical artist doesn’t matter as much?
Again, I have seen a hundred concerts over the years and almost all of them are interchangeable in venue. I have never been to Red Rocks (must!) and I have not seen Pearl Jam or the Foo Fighters at Fenway or Wrigley. But, most venues are simply the stage and lights and let’s hear the band.
But, this was different in a way that is very difficult to express. But I will say this: If you love live music and being blown away, go to a show at the Sphere. You must. In a world where we promise technology is changing the game, this time it is no false alarm. This place has absolutely changed the game. I cannot wait to see what artists are able to make it even more mind-blowing.
Again, I am sure I am not doing it justice, but the ability for them to take you anywhere and your mind is convinced you are at a totally new location is hard to believe.
Also, I would add, I did pay for the pricey tickets (YOLO), but we toured the place all the way to the top and would love to come again and see the place from the 300 or 400 level because I am pretty convinced your proximity to the stage may not be as important for a show like this. They had many occasions where they can put Bono or The Edge in such high definition on these towering walls that they bring them right to you.
Even better than the Real Thing!
– The Setlist was beautifully done and I am going to offer a note about how I have absolutely no notes.
The premise of the show was to play the entire 1991 Achtung Baby album all the way through. This was the official soundtrack of my college dorm room as my buddy and I would play Sega Genesis every night, often switching from Sonic the Hedgehog to NHL 92 back and forth while pizza was consumed.
I didn’t quite know how they would put that on a setlist and if there would be a lot more added, but I think you can see below (thank you Setlist.fm) that they hit some beautiful options I didn’t see coming.
I have never heard “All I Want is You” live and it was magical. And a Crowded House cover was delightful. Zoo Station was insane with the visuals. And yes, 18-23 was just enough to make a grown man weep.
Look, you don’t want to spend a ton of money for an experience like this too often because we should not spend it all, but once in a while, you got to say its just money. Sometimes, life is about the rare experiences that you share with those you love. I have zero regrets and would love nothing more than to do it again sometime.
U2 may not tour too much down the road as time is getting away from all of us, but they gave the audience everything they could handle on this magical night. It was most likely the best concert experience I have ever been privileged to attend.
I hope you enjoyed this report as sometimes you have to drop everything and write about a rare concert experience with U2.
It was absolutely amazing on every single level.
I saw U2 in concert in 1987 at the Tarrant County Convention Center. It was like a religious experience. I feel like I've got to see them at the Sphere now.
<looking up concert schedule now>