That One Time, in Las Vegas

When I was a kid, I saw the Four Tops live on stage at the state fair. I got to see them for two reasons: first, it was really cheap to get in and second, they were one of my dad's favorite musical groups.

Val & her daughter waiting for the concert to start. Photo Val Davidson/TSM.

Live music is one of my favorite things, so my family and I invest in concerts and live events whenever possible. I feel I was seriously under-musicated as a kid and I vowed I would never let that happen to my offspring.

Depeche Mode

When the band Depeche Mode announced their new album and tour a few months back, we jumped in as quickly as we could.

In honor of Fletch. Depeche Mode Concert. Photo Val Davidson/TSM.

The options were Los Angeles or Las Vegas, because curiously, they were not scheduled to visit Phoenix this time around. So, we left for Las Vegas, hitting the road for an extended weekend.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is just about as far opposite of Cochise County as you could possibly get. The feel, the spirit, the people, the crushing level of tourists. It was an experience, no doubt about it.

The Strat. Photo Via Canva

The concert lived up to everything we'd hoped for. But the highlight of the trip was a connection we made with an old friend of ours. Andi* was born and raised in Las Vegas, spent time as a soldier, and now works security in one of the biggest property groups in Vegas.

Behind the Scenes

Andi knows the ins and outs of Vegas really well. She also seems to know nearly everyone who works there, and if she doesn't know them personally, it's only a few moments before she does.

View from the top of the Stratosphere. Photo Val Davidson/TSM.

I'm pretty sure even the Rat Pack would find something new if they were around to take her off-the-strip tour. She took us to the top of the Stratosphere, or Strat, as the natives know it, and used the map and the view to give

Photo Via Canva

us an amazing, behind-the-scenes tour.