Given the sheer size of Las Vegas' brand new Sphere, one could expect an amazing experience with just a few birds chirping and zooming around, but add U2’s beloved repertoire to the mix and you’ve got one hell of a show.
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Fresh with a brand new single, U2 blasted off over the weekend into their Las Vegas residency at the 35-story MSG Sphere -- a $2.3 billion venue with a wraparound interior LED screen and stage, which also boasts a 170,000 ultra-directional speaker sound system that would make your dad blush, perfectly targeting audio to every seat in the house.
U2 brought out all of their hits during the 22-song set that focused mainly on their 1991 album, Achtung Baby, while peppering in plenty of familiar favorites like “Where the Streets Have No Name,” With or Without You,” “Beautiful Day,” “Vertigo,” and of course, their brand new anthem “Atomic City,” dedicated to their adopted home for the next few months. The band also gave the crowd a taste of covers, including snippets of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Prince, Van Morrison, Thin Lizzy, and Beatles’ classics.
Throughout the event, artwork inspired by British artist and stage designer Es Devlin and musician Brian Eno was shown on the massive screen, giving way to a breathtaking view of Las Vegas during the band's "Atomic City" tribute.
Celebs spotted in the crowd on opening night included Metallica's Lars Ulrich, super-producer Dr. Dre and his pal Snoop Dogg, Katy Perry, G.O.A.T.s LeBron James and Oprah Winfrey, Public Enemy's Flavor Flav, Matt Damon, Bryan Cranston, and more. The Beatles' Paul McCartney was even spotted a number of times, leading frontman Bono to joke at one point, “Just know that we love you and we’ve stolen a lot of your songs.”
Take a look at even more of the incredible sights from the spectacle right HERE -- and be sure to pick up your tickets for U2:UV ACHTUNG BABY. LIVE AT SPHERE -- happening now through December 16 at Las Vegas's Sphere. View the opening night's setlist below.
U2:UV ACHTUNG BABY. LIVE AT SPHERE setlist:
‘Achtung Baby’ part one:
‘Zoo Station’
‘The Fly’
‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’
‘Mysterious Ways’
‘One’/’Purple Rain’/’Love Me Tender’
‘Until The End Of The World’
‘Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
‘Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World’
‘Rattle and Hum’ interlude:
‘All I Want Is You’
‘Desire’/’Love Me Do’
‘Angel Of Harlem’/’Into The Mystic’/’Dancing In The Moonlight’
‘Love Rescue Me’
‘Achtung Baby’ part two:
‘So Cruel’
‘Acrobat’
‘Ultraviolet (Light My Way)’
‘Love Is Blindness’
Encore:
‘Elevation’/’My Way’
‘Atomic City’
‘Vertigo’
‘Where The Streets Have No Name’
‘With Or Without You’
‘Beautiful Day’/’Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)’/’Blackbird’