From Vodka Sprites to Virgin Mules: Dead & Co at the Sphere, Then and Now

June 2024 – My First Sphere Show (Drinking Days)

Two years ago, June 2024, I walked into my very first Dead & Co Sphere show. We stayed at the Venetian as part of a Sphere package deal—pricey, but so worth it. The vibe was electric from the start.

Night One: On the Floor
We had floor tickets, and it was insane. Dancing, laughing, the kind of energy you can only get at a Dead show. We made fast friends with the guys around us—bonded instantly because one of them was rocking a Calvin & Hobbes shirt with the lyrics Not Fade Away. My Colin was wearing the exact same shirt. Even funnier? That guy’s name was Colin too—though he spelled it with two L’s… one too many! 🤣

The vodka Sprites were flowing, the music was magic, and for one night it felt perfect.

Day Two: Rallying
Morning wasn’t so fun (hangovers are cruel), but I rallied with a bloody mary. We spent the day at the Venetian’s private pool before heading out for Bravo-fueled fun. I hit up Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesar’s, then Vanderpump à Paris for dinner. (My Bravo obsession deserves its own blog post—it’s coming.)

Night Two: Up in the Seats
This time we were in the 300 level. The incline hit me hard—mini panic attack mixed with lingering hangover. My “solution”? Half a Xanax (prescribed for flight anxiety) washed down with a Tito’s Sprite. Not my proudest strategy, but it got me through. I stared at the wall until the lights dropped and then managed to stand. The show was amazing, but looking back—I know I needed a crutch to make it through.

That trip wasn’t a total disaster, but it was a version of me that leaned on booze and meds to cope.

April 2025 – My First AF Sphere Show

Fast forward less than a year later—April 2025. I was just over a month and a half alcohol-free (AF), and this time, everything was different. We brought friends along, and that made it even better.

Night One: Floor Tickets, Again
Two of our best friends from home joined us, and we had floor tickets again. The show was just as amazing—actually better, because I remembered everything. The Sphere only had NA IPAs (gross), but I came prepared with strawberry-kiwi electrolyte stir-ins (highly recommend). I danced for hours, fully present, fully alive.

The next morning? Sore calves, not a sore head. Worth it.

Colin’s Birthday + Cabana Day
The second day was Colin’s 46th birthday, and our east coast besties arrived. These people are medicine for the soul—they’ve loved me at my highest highs and lowest lows. We rented a cabana, I sipped virgin mules all afternoon, we gambled, and yes—I even won some money.

Night Two: Seats & Soul Food
That night we had 100 level seats with an obstruction, while our friends took the floor. Honestly? Having seats was a total flex after the floor workout the night before. I wasn’t missing a thing. After the show, I had arranged a limo service back to the hotel. Windows down, blasting 90s hip hop, the eight of us sang our lungs out like teenagers.

Back at the hotel, we had a little after-party in our suite. Thanks to stocking up on NA Coronas and High Noons when we landed, I could join in the fun without a drop of alcohol. And this time? I remembered every laugh, every lyric, every joke.

The Takeaway

That trip was a turning point. Three days in Las Vegas—without a drop of alcohol. I’ve been to Vegas a dozen times before, and most trips have giant blackout patches. But this time? I walked away with crystal-clear memories.

The music hit deeper. The fun was real. The joy wasn’t borrowed from a bottle—it was mine to keep.

I realized something huge: if I can do Vegas sober, I can do anything.

Let’s Make It Relatable

Have you ever gone back to the same place, same band, same city—but as a totally different version of yourself? Drop a comment and tell me your story. Or, if you’ve got a wild Vegas tale (sober or not), I want to hear it.

Because trust me, this ride’s only going to get weirder, louder, and way more relatable.

XOXO – Brittany Jo