If you were to ask Madison Square Garden Entertainment about the Sphere, they’d tell you their shiny new Las Vegas venue is the greatest place for a concert in the entire world. But if you ask country music legend Vince Gill the same question, he’d say that the Sphere isn’t what it’s all cracked up to be.
In a recent interview, Gill was asked about his experience playing in the Sphere with The Eagles – whom he’s played with since 2017, when Eagles founder and frontman Glenn Frey passed away. In case you didn’t know, the Eagles have had a residency at the Sphere for much of the latter part of 2024, so Gill has made his way out to Sin City anytime they’ve had a show to play.
In his opinion, the Sphere is a wonderful concept, but in his own opinion, the visual aspect detracts too much attention away from the music:
“It’s the most people I’ve ever been ignored by when I play (at the Sphere). You’re playing and they’re looking at all the stuff on the ceiling. They’re not paying any attention to you.”
Now that might sound like a “traditional” thing to say. However, when you hear Vince’s reasoning for saying that, you’ll better understand where he’s coming from.
Gill believes that music, as an audio medium, doesn’t require all of the additives that most modern day concerts feature. He’s the type of person that wants to experience the music, and solely the music, if he goes to a show. As he put it, all of the other stuff around the songs themselves isn’t necessary:
“Music, to me, has never been visual. And the whole point of that show and that building is the visual side of it. I never wanted to see anybody running around on the stage, yelling at me and being aerobic (with) bombs and pyro going off…
A great show to me is watching Merle Haggard stand there singing me great song after great song after great song. That’s still what I want to hear when I go to hear music. I don’t necessarily go to see it.”
Vince makes a good point there. Country music legends like Merle Haggard certainly wouldn’t be running around stage, or dropping down from the rafters of the venue their playing. Back in the good ol’ days, you just stood at the microphone and sang your songs. Because what other reason are people there for?
You can hear more from Vince Gill on his thoughts about the Sphere in the interview below:
