Kenny Chesney Kicks Off Sphere Residency

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Kenny Chesney. Photo: Alive Coverage

Kenny Chesney kicked off his Las Vegas residency over the weekend at The Sphere.

Chesney kicked off the show with “Beer In Mexico,” a longtime fan-favorite. From the technicolor immersion of cell phones in an aquatic tank in “Welcome to the Fish Bowl,” a song Chesney wrote 15 years ago to take on the invasiveness of social media, to the multi-dimensional midway carnival of “Til It’s Gone” and the swirl of tiles featuring images from the “Noise” video, Chesney saw an audience dancing and clapping with stadium-sized abandon. Drawing on songs never performed live, including “One Lonely Island” and “Seven Days,” the show also creates an intimacy never before seen in Chesney’s massive stadium concerts.

Kelsea Ballerini & Kenny Chesney. Photo: Alive Coverage

“It’s overwhelming a little,” Chesney said, “beyond the visuals, which build and move, the fans are so close – even in the 400 section – that you’re consumed by all of it when you look up. But it makes you feel so alive to have everyone right there, rocking, singing and almost beyond being in the moment.”

The first night, Kelsea Ballerini surprised the crowd for performances of their No. 1 hit, “Half Of My Hometown,” “You & Tequila” and an impromptu duet of “She Thinks My Tractors Sexy.”

Grace Potter also arrived for the weekend shows, to perform the Grammy-nominated “You & Tequila” with Chesney.

There were also special guests attending the show inside the sphere, including Lainey Wilson, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton, Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell.

“Having friends stop by, having friends get up on stage,” Chesney says, “this is about creating a whole new experience for No Shoes Nation. Something that could only happen here – a venue built around this groundbreaking technology – I’m so grateful so many members of No Shoes Nation were willing to travel to the desert to experience this with us. It’s strange in the best way: the intensity, the immersion, the way songs come to life almost literally.”

Limited tickets are available for select remaining dates.

Photo: Allister Ann

Kenny Chesney & Grace Potter. Photo: Allister Ann

Lauryn Sink
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