U2 kicked off their “U2:UV Achtung Baby” residency at Las Vegas’ MSG Sphere on Friday night. The sphere, which cost $2.3 billion to construct, features a wraparound interior LED screen, 170,000 ultra-directional speakers that utilize beamforming technology to deliver targeted audio to every seat in the venue, and a haptic flooring system, among many other high-tech features.
Bono and co. made full use of these features as they ran through a 22-song set that included material from their 1991 studio album, Achtung Baby, as well as their new song “Atomic City” and classics like “Vertigo,” “Where the Streets Have No Name,” With or Without You,” and “Beautiful Day.”
Oftentimes, the 35-story building’s floor-to-ceiling screens would project Es Devlin and Brian Eno-inspired artwork, while fans were treated to a crystal clear street view of Sin City during their new Vegas-inspired song. At one point, moving visuals came down from the ceiling to suspend over the audience, while at another, it seemed as if the band and crowed were moving up. A lot of “stuff” was going on, as Bono put it.
Notable song selections included “Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World,” which was performed for the first time since 1993, and “So Cruel,” which was dusted off for the first time since 1992. U2 dedicated their performance of “All I Want Is You” to drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who is sitting out of the residency as he recovers from a recent surgery.
A number of A-lists were in attendance, including Paul McCartney, whose presence Bono acknowledged on several different occasions. “Just know that we love you and we’ve stolen a lot of your songs,” Bono quipped at one point. He also said, “the Sphere may have come into existence [owner] Jim Dolan [was] trying to solve the problem that The Beatles started when they played Shea Stadium. Nobody could hear you. You couldn’t hear yourselves. Well, the Sphere’s here – can you hear us?”
Other celebrities in attendance included Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, Katy Perry, Lars Ulrich, LeBron James, Oprah, Matt Damon, Snoop Dogg, Bryan Cranston, and Darren Aronofsky, among others.
U2’s “U2:UV Achtung Baby” residency spans 25 dates in total and runs through December. You can find tickets to upcoming performances here. See the full setlist and a photo gallery of the evening below.
U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere Photo Gallery:
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Live Nation
U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere Setlist:
Achtung Baby
Zoo Station
The Fly
Even Better Than the Real Thing
Mysterious Ways (first time since 2017)
One (with “Purple Rain” and “Love Me Tender” snippets)
Until the End of the World
Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World (first time since 1993)
Acoustic
All I Want Is You (first time since 2017)
Desire (with “Love Me Do” snippet)
Angel of Harlem (with “Into The Mystic” and ” Dancing in the Moonlight (It’s Caught Me in It’s Spotlight)” snippets)
Love Rescue Me (first time since 2011)
Achtung Baby (Continued)
So Cruel (first time since 1992)
Acrobat (with “Hall of Mirrors” and ” So Long, Farewell” snippets)
Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
Love Is Blindness (first time since 2006; with ” Viva Las Vegas” snippet)
Encore
Elevation (with “My Way” snippet)
Atomic City
Vertigo
Where the Streets Have No Name (with “Moment of Surrender” and “All You Need is Love” snippets)
With or Without You
Beautiful Day (with “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “Blackbird” snippets)
