Miss us last week? Last week’s issue didn’t go out, and hopefully I don’t find myself having to rename this to the “Bi-Weekly Light”.  

When I committed to writing a weekly newsletter, I knew it would be a massive commitment with everything else on our plates.

We’re a team of 2 here, wearing every hat in the business, while also parenting toddlers, a combination that’s well beyond a full-time job of its own.

Sometimes, you just need a break.

For me last week, that break was sneaking away for a weekend to see my favorite band play in the Sphere, the coolest indoor venue built in modern times.

If you haven’t been to the Sphere yet, make it happen.

I’m sure the Wizard of Oz is an awesome experience if you find yourself in Vegas, but this room was built for music, and it’s hands down the most surreal, out-of-body, audio-visual experience imaginable.

The Sphere screen isn’t just tall or wide like a massive IMAX. When done right, it truly feels infinite.

The music, coming from 167,000(!) speakers, swirls and jumps around you in a way that you can’t comprehend until you’ve experienced it in person. And the haptic seats (if you’re able to sit down in your excitement) send each note through your body in a way that isn’t gimmicky, but blissful.

“It’s like you’re living inside the songs.”

I heard someone say this during the show, and there’s just no better way to explain it. None of the Instagram stories or photos you’ve seen of the Sphere will ever capture what it’s really like. The visuals are the only thing social media will convey to you (and poorly), but it's the sound in the room that you'll remember for the rest of your life.

I’m an analog guy at heart. I like my music on vinyl. I like to read my books on real paper. I’d rather be outdoors than in 9 times out of 10.

Everything in me wants to rebel against the creation of an indoor concert experience that surrounds you with screens. And everything in me wants to rebel against the creep of AI into the creative things I love most, especially art and music.

And yet, I’ll tell you now with no hint of irony, that the Sphere is a modern Wonder of the World. It’s digital, but it represents a pinnacle of human artistry in our lifetime. There’s no denying the use of AI in its implementation, but it’s undeniably a work of art.

Before I get attacked in the comments, I’m not saying that the Sphere is BETTER than a magical outdoor show at Red Rocks, seeing your favorite band play a small club, or even just driving down the road with the windows down and your favorite song turned up loud.

Those experiences have a purity and context that can’t be argued with. It’s apples and oranges.

When you look around at a sea of 20,000 humans - dancing, smiling, and sharing a communal artistic experience that surpasses anything they’ve felt before - well, the screens become secondary, and that shared peak experience is about as analog as it gets.

So, get yourself to the Sphere to see your favorite band, or any band. And say hello to me when you get there, I’m still there.

- Seth

Workin' Together
Ike & Tina Turner

Back in 2009, I bought my first record player and went to a local record store to get some albums to play. I immediately got sticker shock and realized I wasn’t ready to drop a ton of money on records yet, so I swung by the bargain bin and started picking through.

I can’t say exactly why, but this was the album that called to me. Maybe it was the $3 price tag.

I knew the history of Ike & Tina’s relationship and abuse, but outside of Tina’s biggest hits (mostly hearing ‘(Simply) The Best’ in every commercial), it was all pretty undiscovered territory for me.

Thanks to the covers, I was hooked from the start - from the Beatles’ ‘Get Back’ and “Let It Be”, to the crown jewel “Proud Mary”. But really, it was the funkiest song on the album that got me, with the funkiest name to boot: “Funkier Than A Mosquita’s Tweeter”.

Finding this gold in the bargain bin, and successfully rolling the dice on an album I had never heard before, sent me down a long journey of discovering some of the best music in my collection.

And 17 years later, I still put this one on and enjoy every minute. Not bad for $3!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

The Best Margarita You've Ever Had:
José Andrés' Salt Air Margarita

I first had this cocktail at a José Andrés restaurant in Las Vegas, and I immediately found myself searching for the recipe. Next thing I knew I was buying something called ‘sucrose esters’ and making these at home. Life would never be the same, or at least it would have more salt air in it.

The “Salt Air” is an easy-to-make foam (you just need the sucrose ingredient mentioned above). It sits on top of your margarita, and you’ll immediately see why it earns its name. With every sip, you get a light and airy touch of salt and lime that will make you wonder how you’ll ever drink a normal margarita again.

The effect is just subtle enough that it even won over those in our group who never normally ask for a salted rim. And it’s easy to adjust: add more or less salt and lime, or substitute Tajin for the salt if you want.

I even took the Salt Air recipe and added celery bitters and a little hot sauce to make a Bloody Mary topper that would be a winner on any brunch menu. The world is your Salt Air.

If you try it, let me know what you think.