A Week at the Sphere

Dear everybody,

You will have heard by now that I disappeared for a week and came back sunburned in the shape of a grin. Confirmed: seven nights at the Sphere in Las Vegas to see the band that has served as my house of worship since before most of you were born. My knees complain about a lot of things these days; for three hours a night they stood at attention without a word.

The building is from the future

For those who haven't been: the Sphere is a 366-foot glowing sphere with a screen inside so enormous it stops registering as a screen. When the band plays, the whole dome becomes weather, canyon, ocean, outer space. During Terrapin Station I am told I gripped the armrest like turbulence. I have no notes.

Jerry Garcia, front and center — Not the Sphere itself - the spirit of the thing. Jerry and the tie-dye say the rest.

Field notes from the week, in order of importance:

The lot scene now includes people who weren't born when I started doing this. They share their fries. The future is fine.
John's drum solo made a man in a parachute-harness dance like a puppet. I checked; there was no puppeteer.
Somebody recognized my old tour jacket and asked if I was at Rich Stadium in '89. I said yes and got a high five and a granola bar.
Vegas in September is 106 degrees. The Sphere is 68 degrees. Bring the hoodie. This is not a joke.

Shakedown Street, slightly out of focus, entirely accurate — Shakedown Street at golden hour. If you know, you know. If you don't, the parking lot is half the show.

One strong opinion

A newsletter needs a strong opinion, so here is mine: parking at the Sphere is the seventh circle, and the monorail is the secret. That's all I'll say. The rest of the review is that the band played like the music was still happening to them, which after all these years is the whole trick.

Next from the road: the family reunion, and after that, rumor has it, a liveaboard dive boat in November. Two trips, one newsletter. It's good to be retired.

Yours, ears still ringing pleasantly,