On Father's Day (Happy Father's Day to all of those out there), it felt appropriate to look back at one of the marquee moments with mine. Last year, we saw U2 play at the Sphere in Las Vegas. It was the second show of the 40-night residency, and we lucked into face-value-priced tickets.
Getting there
September 30, 2023, 2:55 a.m.: In about 20 hours, I would be seeing U2 at the Sphere. I had waited months for this show. It was my fourth concert — for my father, it was his first.
For months, the two of us had been hyping it up. Little teasers for U2's Sphere show had been released, but we did not know what was in store. (Although, I did peek at the setlist from the band's inaugural show the night before — I couldn't resist.)
But first, we had to travel to Las Vegas. At this point, I was running on two hours of sleep and hungry. Many different thoughts were on my mind as I stared at the Pilot gas station's hot food section.
As a kid, I was a regular customer of their nachos. Anytime my family made the trek to New York or New Jersey, I stopped for these nachos. I remember the times when I'd be screwed when the cheese was running on fumes. (I had already opened the bag of chips and was all in at this point.)
What caught my eye was a spicy chicken biscuit sandwich. I felt like I could down two of these on-site.
Luckily, it quickly dawned on me that it was nearly 3 a.m. and I quickly walked out of the gas station. This quick pit stop was the first of many on this journey to Las Vegas.
September 30, 2023, 5:34 a.m.: Almost three hours later and I finally got my breakfast sandwich. In true New Jersey fashion, they took their time and served the sandwich with a side of attitude. I had to speed-eat it with less than 10 minutes to spare before my flight.
Front row in Las Vegas
September 30, 2023, 10:55 a.m. (PT): We landed in Los Angeles, California, for a layover. I fell asleep for most of the flight listening to Ed Sheeran.
The time zone change is demoralizing. It's like restarting a video game from the earliest level. U2's Sphere show started at 8 p.m. PT, so we were still hours away. It felt like I was swimming against a tide.
During our layover, I caught up with my then-girlfriend (now fiancée, thanks to U2's “All I Want Is You”). My father was catching up with Wes Anderson's Roald Dahl collection beginning with The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.
September 30, 2023: 1:53 p.m.: I had never been to Las Vegas before this trip. However, I should not have been shocked to be greeted by slot machines right out of the gate.
The next few hours of the trip were a blur. The time zone change was getting to me. To my father's credit, who was traveling with a cane, he was eager to explore Las Vegas upon arriving.
I wish I was equally eager. Even with his cane, we walked through the streets of Las Vegas. Whiffs of body odor and booze (and a hint of urine) overwhelmed my senses. It amazed me how many people were walking around sipping alcoholic slushies mid-afternoon. It was like senior week in Ocean City but even more depressing if you can believe it.
Navigating the Venetian
September 30, 2023, 4 p.m.: At this point, I've lost precise measurements of time. One of the benefits of staying so close to the Sphere is being able to buy merch ahead of time.
We walked through the Venetian, a hotel full of people with deep pockets, trying to find the Zoo Station exhibit. I had seen murmurs of an Achtung Baby-themed denim jacket that I had to get my hands on. That wouldn't happen until later thanks to the Venetian being a maze.
Eventually, we got to the Sphere. The merch line wasn't nearly as long as it is during showtime. Still, people took this as the go-ahead to take their sweet time picking out the shirts and hoodies they wanted.
When I got to the front of the line, I bought my shirt. My father also picked out a black version of the same T-shirt he still proudly wears today. He also smartly got a second one to resell at a later time.
Right before the show, we found the Zoo Station exhibit. I bought the denim jacket and wore it to the show. I also found a poster (they were all sold out outside of them at the Sphere, much to my dismay).
The lithograph featured the algorithm visuals seen during “The Fly” later that night and sits proudly on my wall of concert lithographs with Paul McCartney, Queen, the Rolling Stones, and Bono's solo tour.
Showtime
September 30, 2023, 7:45 p.m.: It's finally time for the show. Walking into the Sphere, we were greeted by enthusiastic employees who welcomed all of the attendees. It was like being at Chick-fil-A.
To be honest, I was fatigued at this point. I tried to nap in the afternoon, but I was struggling after being awake for the entire day. As usual, my father attempted to keep a positive mindset and bought me a water bottle.
That helped me get back in the game — I was seeing U2 at the freaking Sphere for God's sake.
And then, the opening act fiasco happened. Pauli “the PSM” Lovejoy DJ'd a set before U2 took the stage. The first 40 minutes felt standard, but then it was getting well past 9 p.m. and the band was nowhere to be found.
The crowd booed as Lovejoy attempted to keep the mood up. However, 18,000 angry middle-aged U2 fans are an angry mob. He eventually stopped trying to start positive chants and went back to queueing music.
It wouldn't be until months later that I understood it further. After U2's Sphere residency concluded, I got to speak with Lovejoy, who called it “one of the most difficult moments of my professional career.” He was in the dark and was left high and dry at this moment.
Showtime (for real this time)
September 30, 2023, 9:05 p.m.: Finally, U2 takes the stage. Seeing Bono four months prior at the Beacon gave me chills. Seeing him with The Edge, Adam Clayton, and even Bram van den Berg also gave me that sensation.
Bono starts the show with some vocalized Sean-nós intro. The Edge comes crashing in with the opening notes of “Zoo Station,” and the screen changes. For the entire opening set, it looked like the interior of a silo or bomb of some kind. The Edge's guitar playing caused the structure to shatter and break into a Church of Light-like image.
Seeing Bono, The Edge, and Adam Clayton in 16K resolution reminded me why I loved the band. I hadn't seen them together since 2018's “Experience + Innocence” tour. Even then, the view wasn't this crystal clear.
And then there was Bram van den Berg filling in for Larry Mullen Jr. While no one can replace Mullen, van den Berg did an admirable job. Plus, he looked so happy to be on stage with the rock icons.
I can speak for me and my father when I say that “The Fly” and “Even Better Than the Real Thing” were breathtaking. From a code-breaking algorithm to an Elvis kaleidoscope, it was unlike anything we had seen before.
The rest of the Achtung Baby opening numbers were great. I have always been a fan of “Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses,” and I know my dad was thanks to him borrowing my CD.
A funny Lou Reed nod
To break up Achtung Baby, U2 plays an acoustic set in the middle of the show. It begins with “All I Want Is You” in the Songs of Surrender arrangement. As the crowd sang the closing refrain, Bono sang lines from Lou Reed's “Walk on the Wild Side.”
I then heard an audible chuckle from my father, a fan of Reed himself. Then the band played “Desire” and “Angel of Harlem.”
When introducing the latter, Bono asked the crowd, “Mind readers, guess the city that inspired our next song before you hear it.”
Some fans threw out Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, which made Bono and my father chuckle. The second the question was asked, my father, who recently needed knee-replacement surgery, nearly jumped out of his seat exclaiming, “New York!”
He was right and wasn't alone, as Bono conceded, “Several of you are right,” before going into the song.
The four-song acoustic set ended with a deep cut, “Love Rescue Me.” My father has always been a defender of Rattle and Hum. This was the perfect curated mini-set for someone like him.
Finishing off Achtung Baby
The last four songs of Achtung Baby were then played. “So Cruel” became a favorite of my father's and he was blown away by U2's rendition at the Sphere.
As I noted, my father has since gotten knee replacement surgery. His discomfort couldn't keep him down for “Where the Streets Have No Name” in the encore. The song brings a sense of euphoria that no other band can.
During “With or Without You,” the song builds to its crescendo and projects dozens of endangered species on the screen. It was stunning and remained on the screen through the show's final song, “Beautiful Day.”
Post-U2 show withdrawal
We still had time the next day to explore Las Vegas. We went back to the Zoo Station exhibit to take it all in. For lunch, my father tried to surprise me with chicken and waffles, a dish I got him to try during an earlier trip to Nashville.
However, it was an acclaimed spot. And with that comes long waits. As much as I love chicken and waffles, I was starving and couldn't wait for an hour and a half. Instead, we enjoyed brunch at another spot nearby.
It then dawned on me that Las Vegas is a hollow place to go for non-gamblers. There were no malls in sight, just casinos and clubs.
Admittedly, at this time, I was eager to get home — something I couldn't impact given we flew there — and was still tired. We eventually did get to the airport and flew back in first class.
How this show brought me and my father closer
Seeing U2 in concert is a big landmark in my relationships. My aunt, who got me into the band, has seen them three times with me. I've also gone with both of my parents and made them fans and I am now awaiting the chance to take my fiancée to a show.
The U2 Sphere show was unique in that it wasn't a two-hour drive to see the show. We had to travel across the country to see my favorite band. Ultimately, it was an adventure and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I'm not a perfect child. I know my father and I have had our differences. But for once, seeing U2 puts all those moments aside for two hours.
And since then, we've both raved about the Sphere. I know he still wears his U2 shirt and raves about the show. It's a shared experience that we'll both remember until the day we die.
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