I saw Dead & Company at The Sphere and it completely changed live music for me.

Everywhere I look, Vegas is full of Deadheads.

The immortal hype about Americana icons The Grateful Dead knows no boundaries. Or age. Las Vegas is full of just about every type of person you can imagine at any given time, all coming to this great city to relax and have the time of their lives.

But Deadheads stand out like a sore thumb. And there are plenty of them in Vegas. From their tie-dye bandanas to the proud T-shirts that pay homage to their idols, these guys are easy to spot and storm into the Sphere like it’s Boxing Day at Macy’s.

This is of course because Dead & Company are currently doing a residency at Las Vegas’ futuristic venue. Only the third band to ever do so, after U2 And Phish.

For those unfamiliar with the band, Dead & Company is a sequel to The Grateful Dead and follows the death of Jerry Garcia in the mid-90s, as well as several other members of the legendary band. With John Mayer, the band has evolved but still maintains the exceptional musicianship that has delighted audiences for decades.

I can say that with certainty because I’m not a huge Grateful Dead fan. I know them. I’ve heard them. I’ve enjoyed them. But if you asked me why they have so many followers, I could have told you.

That is, before I saw them live. And before I saw them live at The Sphere.

The Sphere. This incredibly ambitious, five-year project by the Madison Square Garden Company and the Venetian is set to completely upend live entertainment as we know it and catapult it more than a few blocks into the future.

And I know that sounds obsequious, maybe a little disingenuous. But as I left the venue, I knew I would never look at live entertainment the same way again. I immediately started thinking about the possibilities that such a groundbreaking venue has opened up for live music. Flying Lotus? The Chemical Brothers? JAY-Z? Beyonce? Hell, a Taylor Swift concert at The Sphere would make an untold amount of money.

Coated on the outside with a whopping 1.2 million customizable LEDs, the Sphere looks like something only a mad Hollywood director could dream up. But it’s very real, and the 16K display inside – the only one of its kind – is one of the most stunning, dynamic, and exciting things I’ve ever seen. Probably ever.

Larry Heath wrote The Sphere when he remembered seeing the short film “Postcard From Earth” by Darren Aronofsky. From what I understand, the 50-minute short was specifically designed to show what The Sphere’s 15,000 square-foot, 256-million-pixel display can do. Much like Wii Sports or one of those dinosaur documentaries in IMAX. It’s a test run. And while I’m sure it’s spectacular, nothing compares to a full concert in that space. Honestly, Nothing.

Dead forever

‘Dead Forever’ is a high-concept performance from Dead & Company, and the band have clearly drawn on decades of history to create these monumental visuals. All of this is backed by a sharp, well-rehearsed setlist that runs from ‘Shakedown Streets’ to ‘Don’t Ease Me In’ before a short break.

Not knowing many of their classic songs put me at a bit of a disadvantage compared to the people around me. Everyone beamed with joy and nodded in agreement as Mayer threw in some great solos and played with bandleader Bob Weir as if they had always done this together.

Whether Mayer is the clear outsider of the band is hard to say. The man has already proven himself to be one of the greatest guitarists of our time, and so he seems tailor-made for these heady, grizzled instrumentals that are so finely layered yet have the energy of improvisation.

And I think that’s what sets The Grateful Dead apart and earns them their loyal fan base. These musicians are incomparable and when enhanced by the glorious visual effects of The Sphere, it’s almost too blissful.

You’ve no doubt already seen the many visuals from this show all over social media, so I won’t describe what you’ve already seen. From rainforests to red rocks (a location that has become important to The Grateful Dead), these were striking, cinematic scenes broadcast in 16K that threatened to overwhelm those of us who weren’t completely sober.

Mayer’s biggest challenge may be taking lead vocals on “Row Jimmy” and burning through Garcia’s beautiful lyrics, while the canvas of “The Sphere” plunges underwater, revealing the vibrant colors of the sea to envelop the audience in an incredibly intense experience.

Grateful Dead fans are used to seeing their heroes effortlessly glide through songs like “Uncle John’s Band” and “Hell in a Bucket.” Then throw The Sphere into the mix, and as someone who came in not really familiar with The Grateful Dead, I feel like this was the perfect combination to really kick Vegas’ ambitious, unique venue into high gear.

There are probably a million little details and references in these images that playfully allude to Deadheads, like an inside joke between close friends. These nuances were lost on me, though, mostly because I didn’t know whether to focus on the images or the music. Both are so big and impressive that it’s easy to get lost in one while only paying half attention to the other.

Perhaps that could be the criticism here. The experience is almost too good. Dead & Company have put on a mind-blowing musical odyssey the likes of which I’m unlikely to experience again. Because of this, it’s hard to get over the excitement and really take in the experience (assuming you only see the show once).

My advice: take it as it comes, stay sober and, for heaven’s sake, be thankful that you are witnessing music history live.

Dead & Company’s residency at The Sphere ends in August 2024. The Eagles are the next band confirmed to perform at the futuristic venue.

Take notes

The Sphere is a big deal for the Venetian. It’s a big deal for Las Vegas. And it’s a big deal for music fans around the world. That’s why every stop seems to be accompanied by an exhibition, too. Head to the Venetian and you’ll discover a rotating gallery space that reflects everything that’s happening at The Sphere. For the Dead Forever performance, the space becomes a museum dedicated to the Grateful Dead.

It’s better to come before the show rather than after, because that way you can put The Sphere into context and get a rough idea of what to expect. And while I would normally recommend going into this kind of experience knowing nothing at all, you might be surprised and overwhelmed right from the start. Don’t do that to yourself.