The Sphere venue in Las Vegas

[Logic]

I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with The Sphere in Las Vegas, but...it's am approximately 18,000 seat venue, inside which the the entire ceiling/walls comprise a 3D, wraparound 4K video screen. Bands are starting to book residencies there and put on shows with crazy graphics involved. 






It looks like a pretty incredible sensory experience.

I just got tickets to two Dead and Company shows for May, and based on video I've seen from other bands' live shows, I fear that if If I, um....apply certain stimuli known to be associated with Grateful Dead related concerts, I may completely depart this dimension.

Anyway...Technology is an amazing thing. I'll report back if I make it out intact. 

 

 

[teef]

i saw the clip where it was trolling the drives of golfers.  that thing is very cool.

[Augie]

You might want to cut back on your normal gummy or shroom dosage.  

 

 

For better or for worse. You be you. 

 

 

.

Edited February 5 by Augie

[BuffaloBill]

4 minutes ago, Augie said:

You might want to cut back on your normal gummy of shroom dosage. 

 

Yeah and hope they do not show any porn videos in the “Sphere” format.

[Logic]

5 minutes ago, Augie said:

You might want to cut back on your normal gummy of shroom dosage. 

100%. 

Vegas is already a place with weird and sinister vibes. Now Add THAT video screen madness to the mix?! Yeeeeeee.

[Simon]

4 minutes ago, Logic said:

100%. 

Vegas is already a place with weird and sinister vibes. Now Add THAT video screen madness to the mix?! Yeeeeeee.

 

Buy the ticket, take the ride 🤙

[eball]

I'm headed out to Vegas on Friday and seeing the U2 show there...very excited.

 

[Logic]

8 minutes ago, eball said:

I'm headed out to Vegas on Friday and seeing the U2 show there...very excited.

 

Awesome!

That's what the video I linked to is of, the U2 show. Probably don't wanna watch it much because it'll spoil the good parts.

Holy hell, looks like it's gonna be more fun than a frog in a glass of milk.

[Augie]

3 minutes ago, Logic said:

Awesome!

That's what the video I linked to is of, the U2 show. Probably don't wanna watch it much because it'll spoil the good parts.

Holy hell, looks like it's gonna be more fun than a frog in a glass of milk.

 

This makes me wonder how many frogs and glasses of milk will be sacrificed for this post.  Everyone is looking for a good time! 

[BillsPride12]

Looks cool...would like to see a show there someday 

[muppy]

I would love to go. I am obsessed with the visual possibilities of this venue. Unique and all encompassing is an understatement

 

More like visual and auditory WOW. This is worthy of a family vacation. JUST DO IT for muppy until I can 🙂

[Doc]

The ticket prices are ridiculous.  I think I'd be fine just going to the Sphere, hanging-out outside and listening to the Best of U2.

[Logic]

13 hours ago, Doc said:

The ticket prices are ridiculous.  I think I'd be fine just going to the Sphere, hanging-out outside and listening to the Best of U2.

I feel like that's a statement on concert prices in general these days. Outrageously priced across the board. The only way one can see a live show is if one is willing to part with $500 for a pair of tickets. It's insane.

Case in point: You can get a general admission ticket -- meaning it's on the floor, directly in front of the stage -- in the Sphere for this Friday night's U2 show for $236. In the grand scheme of concert prices across America, that's actually pretty good. In a vacuum, that's a crazy amount to have to pay to see some live music.

I blame Ticketmaster, mostly. I bought three tickets for a show to the Sphere and the service charges ALONE for those three tickets came to $230. That's outrageous. That's highway robbery. Legalized price gouging and monopoly. I hate it so much.

Alas, life is short and I love live music so much, I'm a willing (if grumbly) hostage to their nonsense.

[Fr. Jerk]

Can't wait for Insane Clown Posse to play there, ya dig?

[Nextmanup]

Looks like something that would have been perfectly suited to Pink Floyd back in the day.

 

They were always into the "visual display" stuff on top of the music.

So was/is U2.

 

I prefer the Led Zeppelin approach.  Go out on stage, play your balls off for 3 hours, leave stage.

 

No need for a "show."

 

It's funny that nowadays in pop music, the emphasis seems to be 99% on "Show" and most of these popular singers now have to jump around with 175 support dancers behind them in unison....the singing is secondary...and that's all pre-recorded anyway.

 

What an odd form of "entertainment."

 

If you want to see people dance, go to the ballet.  Music is a lot better too.

 

 

 

[nemhoff]

I went to U2 at the sphere back in October and it was insane, very cool, and overwhelming at times.  I have seen them a lot and it was an incredible show and so different than any concert that I have ever been to.  Any concert there will be a super unique way to see your favorite band

[davefan66]

15 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

Looks like something that would have been perfectly suited to Pink Floyd back in the day.

 

 

 

Would be amazing seeing Roger Waters play there!  Dude is a bit over the top, but the visuals would be insane!

[Gugny]

18 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

Looks like something that would have been perfectly suited to Pink Floyd back in the day.

 

They were always into the "visual display" stuff on top of the music.

So was/is U2.

 

I prefer the Led Zeppelin approach.  Go out on stage, play your balls off for 3 hours, leave stage.

 

No need for a "show."

 

It's funny that nowadays in pop music, the emphasis seems to be 99% on "Show" and most of these popular singers now have to jump around with 175 support dancers behind them in unison....the singing is secondary...and that's all pre-recorded anyway.

 

What an odd form of "entertainment."

 

If you want to see people dance, go to the ballet.  Music is a lot better too.

 

 

 

I wish U2 would have gone away in about 1989. 
 

They put out fantastic albums in the 80s, then went to pure crap. 
 

At this point, they’re just annoying. 

[RkFast]

Dead and Company is doing a residency there next Spring/Summer. Tempted but going to pass. Saving my pennies for Bills tickets which aint getting any cheaper (Im downstate, so any game involves travel and hotel). Plus...call me old school but when I go to a show I want to see...THE BAND. Unless Im sitting far far away I try to ignore all the lights and hokey graphics and I focus on the band playing. So a giant light show doesnt really appeal to me. YMMV. 

 

That said...a little fungus in that joint...yeesh that would be something. 

Edited February 7 by RkFast

[Logic]

21 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

Looks like something that would have been perfectly suited to Pink Floyd back in the day.

 

They were always into the "visual display" stuff on top of the music.

So was/is U2.

 

I prefer the Led Zeppelin approach.  Go out on stage, play your balls off for 3 hours, leave stage.

 

No need for a "show."

 

It's funny that nowadays in pop music, the emphasis seems to be 99% on "Show" and most of these popular singers now have to jump around with 175 support dancers behind them in unison....the singing is secondary...and that's all pre-recorded anyway.

 

What an odd form of "entertainment."

 

If you want to see people dance, go to the ballet.  Music is a lot better too.

 

 

 

 

2 minutes ago, RkFast said:

Dead and Company is doing a residency there next Spring/Summer. Tempted but going to pass. Saving my pennies for Bills tickets which aint getting any cheaper (Im downstate, so any game involves travel and hotel). Plus...call me old school but when I go to a show I want to see...THE BAND. Unless Im sitting far far away I try to ignore all the lights and hokey graphics and I focus on the band playing. So a giant light show doesnt really appeal to me. YMMV. 

 

That said...a little fungus in that joint...yeesh that would be something. 

The Dead have definitely always been the quintessential "just go out and play" band, with very little "show" at their concerts, other than the liquid light shows in the ballrooms in the late 60s in San Francisco. Ever since then, they've been about as anti "show" as a band can get.

If you know about the audience of the Dead, though, you know that they tend to enjoy imbibing certain recreational and botanical substances that would make something like a three dimensional immersive 4K sphere rather...interesting? Terrifying? Life-changing? Not sure the right word. 

Hokey light shows don't really appeal to me either, but if you've taken a peak at the stuff U2 did at their show at the Sphere, it's certainly far beyond a light show. Futhermore, I've seen Dead and Co a bunch in recent years, and save for John Mayer, they really aren't much to look at  

Most of the time at Dead concerts, I experience much of the show with my eyes closed. This'll be the first time in a while that I (and my mycologically enhanced brain) will be doing some watching. Can't wait to see what they have in store.

And lastly...Yes. Prices for this residency are/were outrageous. I don't blame anyone who doesn't wanna shell out this kind of cash. Highway robbery. I'm gonna take in two shows (maybe three) and make a weekend of it with my Deadhead pod of friends. The circus that is 20,000 Deadheads descending on the circus that is Vegas. Gonna be a hoot.