Unlike any concert experience I’ve ever had! Almost like a 3-D movie-scape that 17,600 people have just been dropped into, the immersive experience “takes you” into whatever content has been created for the songs being performed. It’s like we’re all in every video setting they’ve chosen for the songs. Although you are clearly inside a venue because you go in and, in our case, ride massive escalators up two levels, you get to the end of the little tunnel and step “outside” into some version of LA that has existed over time in the band members’ memories. From the Pacific Ocean rolling up on the beach on one side to the Hollywood sign on the other, with iconic hotels, restaurants, and playing venues from across time sprinkled everywhere in-between, to the flag waving in the nonexistent wind on the Columbia Records Building in the background, to the car lights racing by on Sunset Boulevard, you are plunged deeply into the experiences of The Eagles, landmarks fabled in pop culture that, for tonight, at least, belong to all of us. And this is only the beginning. It doesn’t matter that we’re so far from the stage I can only see the band members when I do a 15x Zoom. Because The Sphere itself is the stage tonight. It looms in front of us, that far up, stretches beyond us in panoramic fashion. I’m sure my videos on Facebook don’t do it justice – almost 170,000 speakers inside (how can I describe that). Art never imitates life quite accurately. But maybe you’ll get a sense of it if you go there and watch them. A taste for it. There are now weekends extending the opportunity into September, October, and November. You have time. Spend the money to go to Vegas to experience one of the truly great bands — who still sound amazing — in a setting you won’t find anywhere else!
The Eagles are sooooo amazing! The Sphere — that whole experience — is just mind-blowing! Although I will admit, Thrill-Seeker Chrissie was a little taken aback when we first got to the seats. I felt like I was falling off the side of a cliff, the seating seemed so steep to me. There was a feeling of movement – the “wind,” which was, in all likelihood, just the air circulating in the venue – the “cars” speeding along the “street” far below us – the “ocean waves” rolling in from the great Pacific. Everything was very realistic. And that sense of movement was a little unsettling until I got my bearings. Once I got my breath, though, once I calmed down and was able to stand up with my back to it all for a selfie with Russ, I knew I would be okay. Then the real fun started as a “blimp” appeared in the sky to countdown the last few minutes before the show and a “thunderstorm” rose up out of nowhere, piercing the “sky,” leading into “Hotel California,” the perfect opening song for the perfect concert!
Every song was a highlight. I literally video’d part of every song and put it on Facebook. There was nothing that was not worthy of putting up to share with my friends. Joe Walsh, ever the comedian, made me laugh with his funny faces and perfectly timed humorous lines. Timothy B. Schmidt seems to have lost a little of his range, but is still really great on “I Can’t Tell You Why.” And I could gush about Don Henley for hours. I have to stop myself, or I will. Suffice to say, time has been good to him – both vocally and in the looks department.
My personal favorites were “Seven Bridges Road,” where the harmonies were as perfect as ever; “Boys of Summer,” which will always be a sort of religious experience for me; “and “Desperado,” which will always remind me of Penny Stevens and crazy weekends at Emory & Henry.
Vince Gill does a great job on tenor and does lead vocals on several of the songs the our beloved Glenn Frey sang lead on; Frey’s son, Deacon, who looks a lot like a younger version of his father, does a great job on several of his dad’s other songs. While they’re not Glenn Frey, they’re also not trying to be, which is a relief – and it is notable that it takes two highly skilled musicians to fill that soulful vacancy.
I’ve never walked so many steps for a musical event in my life! We took an Uber to the show, but getting one back to our hotel was next to impossible. So, we just started walking, thinking we would eventually find a place to call one. The evening was great, and we were riding high on emotion, talking with others walking in the same direction about how phenomenal the whole thing had been. And before we knew it, Treasure Island was in sight. Now, I have learned something important in Vegas over the past two days: just because it LOOKS like it’s close, doesn’t mean it is, lol! But it wasn’t bad. Although, I’d walked over 13,500 steps that day and was definitely ready for bed when we got back to Treasure Island from The Sphere. Did I mention – it was sooooo great?!? Don Henley still has every ounce of his vocals! Yes, that concert was worth every step and then some! And I still can’t believe we were really that far up at The Sphere! (But really, it didn’t matter at all, once the show started!) A special thanks to my amazing husband for the out-of-this-world Christmas gift! You really outdid yourself! Talk about a “Peaceful, Easy Feeling” — I am there!
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