The opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere, took place over the weekend, as U2 launched a new era of live music in the history making Sphere.
A night which carried such significance for so many reasons, not least a chance to see if the sphere could hold giant concerts, instead of just stadiums and arenas, as well as Vegas’ hopes of adding another attraction to bring the tourists to their city for years to come.
However, thanks to its incredible 16k resolution screen which transported 18,600 fans from the night sky to collage of visual images, right through to the information overload from Zoo TV, it was a success.
The band had previously confirmed the addition of ‘Zoo Station’ ahead of their residency. More on this here.
U2 Rock Vegas Audience
While it was initially unerring to see U2 on a stage without drummer Larry Mullen Jr, who continues to recover from back surgery, his deputy Bram Van Den Burg did not let the side down, with a strong performance on the sticks in the band’s performance of ‘Zoo Station’.
Later in the show, Bono introduced Van Den Berg to the crowd, “I’d like to introduce you to the only man we’d ask to stand…sit in his shoes. It’s his birthday! It’s Bram Van Den Berg! Do you have anything to say these people”.
Van Den Berg’s response went down very well with the audience, “Let there be no mistake”, adding, “There is only one Larry Mullen Jr”.
Fans lucky enough to attend this phenomenon of a gig, felt like it was more than just a show, with the remarkable collage of imagery in the background as U2 performed hits.
The night saw U2 perform ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’, which included a collage of Vegas images such as archival clips Johnny Depp’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Nicolas Cage’s Leaving Las Vegas, as well as Elvis Presley show clips.
Other tracks included ‘All I Want Is You’, ‘Age Of Harlem’, and ‘Love Rescue Me’, which Bono dedicated to the late Jimmy Buffet.
The night also saw the band perform “Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World” for the first time in 30 years.
Having performed mostly from their back catalogue, U2 also treated fans to tunes from the noughties, including ‘Elevation’, as well as performing their latest track ‘Atomic City’, which they released last week.
They also performed ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’, before closing with ‘Beautiful Day’, which sent the crowd into a frenzy.
U2’s next Vegas show takes place on October 5.
