Apologies are all the rage these days when it comes to difficult-to-procureconcert tickets. And Adele, whose much anticipated Las Vegas residencylaunched on Friday (Nov. 18) at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, was notexempt from her own. “I’m truly sorry for any inconvenience and anydisappointment that I’ve caused, but we’re here tonight and together” she saidfrom the stage. Delaying the run, she added, “was the best decision I evermade.”
It was a reminder of the long road to the Colosseum. Originally scheduled tokick off in January, production issues — and Adele’s own dissatisfaction withthe staging — caused a nine-month delay, during which time rumors circulatedsuggesting that the show may move venues or be called off altogether. “I’dreally like to thank Caesars because there’s been a lot of shit written aboutme since I canceled those shows,” Adele said. “Ninety percent of it iscompletely made up, but not once did [Caesars] ask any questions,” Adeledefended, remarking how dealing with business is the part of her job as aworld-renowned singer that she doesn’t always enjoy. “That’s why I fuck offfor six years at a time,” she cracked.
Truth be told, no one was complaining. If anything, the crowd of 4,100 — whichincluded James Corden, director Baz Luhrmann, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Britishartist Stormzy (seated with Adele’s beau Rich Paul) in attendance, as well asSony Music Group’s Rob Stringer and Afo Verde and CBS executive Jack Sussman —were audibly and visibly thrilled to be a part of Adele’s opening night, asdemonstrated by their screams and frequent standing ovations.
Still, Adele was nervous, and said so at the top of the show as she belted“Hello” and warmed up her voice. “I’m so scared and so happy,” she confessed,before asking rhetorically, “How are you all?”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 18: Adele performs onstage during the “Weekendswith Adele” Residency Opening at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on November18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for AD) Getty Images for AD
Adele explained that she wanted the show to “start small” with just her and apiano. She also warned the audience that bangers were scanning, so to take theopportunity to dance when an up-tempo tune comes. “I don’t know what I wasthinking,” she said of front-loading the show with ballads.
“I’ve got a lot to tell you,” Adele continued in her trademark banter. “It’s abloody massive week for me — it’s the ‘Walking Dead’ finale on Sunday! Andit’s the Grammys and the World Cup. … I’m talking this much because I’m sonervous.” Indeed, she joked and regaled the crowd with stories for a total ofalmost 30 minutes during the two-hour show, covering everything from theweather (unseasonably cold in Vegas) to her “love of sitting down” to musicdiscovery and the mechanics of the show, and even made two Canadian audiencemembers’ night by reassigning them from the worst seats in the house toorchestra center (she plans to repeat the deed on future shows), and a fewmore fans got T-shirts shot at them from a gun. (Next door to the venue is anAdele store selling merch and knick-knacks and displaying a selection of herdresses and awards.)
Working her way through her greatest hits — “Easy On Me,” “Rumour Has It,”“Send My Love,” “Skyfall,” “Set Fire to the Rain,” “When We Were Young,”“Someone Like You” — it became clearer as the night went on that the less-is-more production complemented the music in a way that didn’t distract butrather enhanced the art of the performance. Outside of the rain fall andflames that accompanied “Set Fire to the Rain,” videos of a stunning Adelealong with picturesque landscapes and a wall of string players brought aclassiness to the show — the sort that maybe could justify spending north of$800 for a seat.
But what truly made the show worth every penny was Adele’s promise that itwould be an intimate experience. She came through in every regard, walking upand down the aisles, meeting and kissing her fans, asking about their lives.“The whole reason I wanted to play a small room was to be close to you,” shesaid during an emotional moment just before the encore (“Rolling in the Deep”and “Love Is a Game”). “I was just flailing around London when I was 21 yearsold and I wrote an album that ended up changing my life,” Adele continued. “Ihad no idea that my life would end up becoming what it is. Every day, I havean out of body experience.”
You could say the same of the crowd’s Friday night.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 18: Adele performs onstage during the “Weekendswith Adele” Residency Opening at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on November18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for AD) Getty Images for AD
Set List:
Hello Easy On Me Turning Tables Take It All I Drink Wine Water Under the Bridge Send My Love Oh My God One And Only Don’t You Remember Rumor Has It Skyfall Hometown Love in the Dark Cry Your Heart Out Set Fire to the Rain When We Were Young hold-on Someone Like You Rolling in the Deep Love Is a Game
Correction: A previous version of this article mistakenly listed WeWorkfounder Adam Newman in attendance.