17 Comments
User's avatar
Immaculate Mutant's avatar

One thing I love about this newsletter is that it often reconnects me to music I haven't heard recently. Here's a couple songs I listened to after reading this:

You can love or hate this cover, but the man gives it his all.

Eddie Vedder - Masters of War https://youtu.be/dwa2jK0xglk?feature=shared

Juliana Hatfield Three - My Sister https://youtu.be/czL5FLV_K0k?feature=shared

Will did your dad sit at the same blackjack table all night again? You guys have fun at the game tomorrow!

Expand full comment
Alex Khalifa's avatar

I saw the Sphere as well! Not U2 though. https://socalbaseball.substack.com/p/the-future-has-arrived

Expand full comment
Sean McGurr's avatar

Who else can they get to play the Sphere that will do it justice? Radiohead, maybe, but I can’t see them doing it. Coldplay, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift. It really does seem like it was made for U2 and U2 alone.

Expand full comment
Will Leitch's avatar

I do think Radiohead would work, but I don't know if it would be their thing. I mean, it's only 18,000 seats. It could work as a more "conventional" venue if it had to. But that might take the fun out of it being at The Sphere.

Expand full comment
Immaculate Mutant's avatar

Nine Inch Nails?

Expand full comment
Stefan Shepherd's avatar

Seems like there are three types of bands that could play there:

1) Bands with big and/or monied audiences who probably wouldn't use the Sphere to its full potential -- Rolling Stones or Foo Fighters, perhaps (though each could probably pay someone to do something visually)

2) Bands who might put together something visually but the concert wouldn't happen -- I'm thinking here of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr playing together

3) Bands that might have the visual mojo but not the fanbase to have more than one concert at the most -- I'm thinking OK Go perhaps. And I think you have to have a multi-show run to make it worthwhile.

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift would make it work, but I don't see them wanting to (why would they? They can do something entirely on their own terms.)

Expand full comment
JorgeGeorge's avatar

What a great article! Thanks!

And the links! Awesome!

Expand full comment
Lee's avatar

Well that venue just needs to have a 90s style rave in it at some point

Expand full comment
Will Leitch's avatar

I think that might be sensory overload ...

Expand full comment
Stefan Shepherd's avatar

What a lot of people dislike about U2 and Bono in particular is a feature, not a bug. I can sort of get put off by Bono's attitude as well, but without it, there's no "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." I get why U2 can be insufferable, but it's part of the package.

Going Sunday night -- can't wait!

Expand full comment
Will Leitch's avatar

You'll love it. I totally agree: What makes some people dislike U2 is exactly what makes them so impossible to ignore. Enjoy the show!

Expand full comment
Rob Barnes's avatar

I'm glad you enjoy U2 so much, Will. I used to really enjoy them. My older brother bought me "Boy" shortly after it came out. Really ground breaking music, considering all the other stuff being released in 1980 (my freshman year at UI). I saw them from the 10th row at the (now named) Foellinger Auditorium in 1982 during their "October" tour. Incredible show, they even did a Hendrix cover.

Then I read their biography in the late 80's. I haven't been such a fan since. Way too into themselves. Yes, the music is really good, but really?

Same thing happened with Pete Townshend. I was a huge "Who" fan and after reading his biography I couldn't stand the guy for about a decade. I'm now finally listening to his work again. And I'd put him on a completely higher pedestal than U2.

I have a Grateful Dead biography. Haven't read it and don't plan on.

Expand full comment
Rick L's avatar

Springsteen basic? Oof. Opinions can vary. But damn. Poetry is one thing, and there is no shortage in the Springsteen catalog. but there is an entire novel in some of those songs.

Expand full comment
Steve's avatar

Have you watched BONO & THE EDGE: A SORT OF HOMECOMING, WITH DAVE LETTERMAN on Disney? You’ll like it.

Expand full comment
Will Leitch's avatar

I have been meaning to, and now I am DEFINITELY going to.

Expand full comment
Kyle Dean's avatar

We're going to the U2 show next Saturday, really looking forward to it. My wife keeps reading that it's hot in there? Did you notice anything?

Expand full comment
Will Leitch's avatar

I didn't think it was too hot, no. But to be fair, it has been oddly cold in Vegas all week.

Expand full comment