After a long week of work that included a major project go-live, we made our way to the Venetian Hotel. The main reason we chose Las Vegas as a stop on our adventure was to see a Dead and Company show at The Sphere.

If you haven’t been to Las Vegas since The Sphere was built, you need to visit. The dazzling lights dancing across this giant dome is a great add to the already fascinating skyline. The lights and patterns rotate with programmed content. They’ve been displaying a beautifully massive Stealie for months. Last night it acted as a beacon, calling all Heads to the show.

Clint said he had to create a new category for favorite shows. His favorite regular arena show was 31 Dec 2015 at the Forum in Los Angeles. Of course Bill Walton was in front of us for most the show, and then he was on stage as Father Time, welcoming the new year and the Doobie Canoe. Clint’s favorite digital show was last night.

Our tickets were in Section 106, Row 22, Seats 3 and 4. We were eye level with the band and we had about a 60% view of the whole Sphere. (If you go, try for tickets in rows 1-10). The stage is on the floor at the front of the auditorium. The backdrop is a very industrial scene that depicts backstage areas. After sitting for a few minutes I told Clint I thought it was a picture. After he looked and thought about it, each band would be creating their own theme. A woman sat down next to us. She’d been at one of the U2 shows and confirmed what we had been thinking.

Let me back up for just a minute. We’d received a warning that the bridge from the Venetian to the Sphere would be closed due to some convention. They hadn’t really thought this out too well as that is the primary method of access. The hotel had people with signs about every 50-100 feet showing the alternate route. This very inauspicious route had us walking to the farthest end of the Palazzo, through the lobby of the theater there, along the empty concession stand, and down some fire exit stairs to the street. We joined a small sidewalk that runs between the Palazzo and the Wynn on Sands Ave. We dodged convention ride share chaos and climbed over no less than 20 curbs, boxes, and grates to get to the last intersection. Everyone patiently waited for the traffic lights and we were underneath the closed walkway and herded toward some outside stairs. Once we climbed the stairs and got inside, it was really nice. We had to do a similar walk back, but they had closed some of the lanes on Sands Ave so the crowd could get to the Venetian a little more safely.

Back to the show. It advertised a 7:30 pm start time and the band came out about 7:40. We were totally expecting a Vegas style half show that most of the residencies produce. Instead, they played until 11:20 pm with about a 30 minute intermission.

To sum up: If you have the opportunity to see one of the shows, DO IT! Hop on a plane, grab a friend and do it! I would recommend this venue for any of your favorite bands that get the chance to play here. It is SO worth seeing.

The music and sound were great, the environment was stimulating, and the graphic, visual, and physical effects are unbelievable. For some of the show I felt I was in a VR set, especially when it felt like the whole place was moving. They started with Shakedown Street and the industrial backdrop opens to the Haight Ashbury house. The we lift off above San Francisco and the world. At the end you land back in front of the house and they finished with Casey Jones and showed a lot of pictures from their history. You can see some of the pictures and clips we shot at the show, but you should really see it for yourself.

The other observation I have is the graphics created visuals that one or more of us may have experienced as younger Heads who’d ingested various chemical or natural experience enhancements. It was very cool to feel like you were in a lava lamp, or when the marching swirl of dancing bears circled the whole place you watched them grow. It was really cool.

One last note, they paid tribute to Bill Walton several ways. They had tie dyed 32 decals on their guitars, had a video of him drumming during drums, showed a graphic of his arms outstretched, and had a great 32 and roses graphic to walk out to.

We have one more hotel day before we are back to Althea and heading west. We pick up the dogs from Camp Bow Wow tomorrow. We will spend today putting around some of the art exhibits that have been installed. Some are in a pop-up Dead Experience area and others are in some storefronts. Tonight we will meet one of Clint’s brothers for dinner and call our time here a total pleasure.

They’re a band beyond description, but for a taste, take a peek at the following videos (well, once Clint gets them uploaded).

-Cheryl