U2 – “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere”
February 2, 2024
Sphere – Las Vegas, Nevada

For those not aware, the band U2 has been performing a Las Vegas residency at the unique new venue “Sphere”. U2 opened the venue back in September 2023. For this set of dates, U2 is focusing on their 1991 release “Achtung Baby”. It is also important to note U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr is not performing at this set of shows – he is recovering from surgery. U2 is using drummer Bram van den Berg for these dates, marking the first time U2 has performed without Larry. After an initial 25 dates in 2023, an additional 15 dates were added to 2024. The total 40 concerts seem to coincidently line up with 40 track count on their recent “Songs of Surrender – super deluxe” version, as well as their song “40” based on Psalm 40. The performances at Sphere have been extremely popular and successful.

“Sphere” is a unique performance venue, the only of its kind in the world. From the Wikipedia description “The 18,600-seat auditorium is being marketed for its immersive video and audio capabilities, which include a 16K resolution wraparound interior LED screen, speakers with beamforming and wave field synthesis technologies, and 4D physical effects. The venue’s exterior also features 580,000 sq ft (54,000 m²) of LED displays. Sphere measures 366 feet (112 m) high and 516 feet (157 m) wide. The arena cost $2.3 billion, making it by far the most expensive entertainment venue built in Las Vegas.” To say the venue is unusual is an understatement. The biggest challenge for owners Madison Square Garden Entertainment is being able to eventually pay off the cost.

As you might expect, any performance at the venue would require unique video and audio design. According to Wikipedia, “Sphere Studios, originally MSG Sphere Studios, opened in Burbank, California, in May 2022. The facility handles production and post-production work for the Las Vegas sphere and future spheres. MSG Sphere Studios sought to collaborate with filmmakers and musicians to create some of the content for the Las Vegas sphere.”

After some discussion with friends of ours, we decided to make the trip out to Las Vegas to see this unique concert experience. It isn’t cheap to consider traveling across the country just to see a rock concert, but this particular venue and performance is NOT something you can see anywhere else. For several reasons, this was worth the effort.

As we approached the Sphere, the exterior LED had various moving graphics of the U2:UV tour graphic, and a video of an “Achtung Baby” looking at the approaching crowds. This looks great from a distance, and as you get closer you can see the pixels in the LEDs – but it still is just HUGE up close. Considering the venue holds 18,000+, the venue staff did a great job getting us in quickly. Some entrance areas had longer lines, but getting into the main lobby was fast for us. The main lobby is all lit with soft blue lighting and has 7 levels of seating. At the center of the lobby, was a hanging LED screen with the “U2:UV” graphic. There are escalators and elevators available to ascend and descend the upper tiers. Each level has food vendors, band merchandise tables, bathrooms, and open views of the lobby – very nice. Ambient music is playing throughout the lobby. This all creates a calm feeling in the lobby.

Inside the performance area, they have a standing only floor area, level 100 reserved seating, level 1 suites, level 200 reserved seating, level 2 suites, level 300 reserved seating, and level 400 reserved seating. We had seats in the 200 section, which was just right for viewing the band as well as the entire interior display. Before we got to our seats, we ventured up to level 7 to see the view from the top. This proved interesting, as the curved wall made the view still good and it did not feel as “high” as you might expect.

As we walked in, a DJ Pauli “the PSM” Lovejoy was getting the crowd going with various dance tracks, primarily focused on 80s hits. Lovejoy was standing in a light-rope illuminated small “Trabant” car, which moved around the crowd on the standing floor area. Many in the crowd seemed to enjoy the DJ, and points to Lovejoy for doing everything to engage the crowd. All during the DJ set, the dome wall had the appearance of a concrete wall.

Before I get into the set itself, it is important to note the stage and stage lighting is very minimal. The featured visual at Sphere is the massive 16K LED interior wall, so they intentionally limit the stage lighting. The audio is immersive throughout the venue, so no large sound system is on the stage – no amps on stage and everyone has in-ear monitors. The stage is designed to resemble a turntable with a small slow-spinning stage Bono spends a little time with.

The lights dim down, and more ambient music takes over. Each member comes onto the turntable-themed stage from a different location, making for an interesting visual. Bono starts off with some acapella singing to match the ambient music, before the rest of the band starts “Zoo Station”. While the song gets going, the concrete wall visual begins opening in a cross shape, with each band member in live video in each quadrant. Bono spends most of the song on the center small rotating stage, with a microphone stand he can hold on while the small stage spins – see video below. Various word graphics are interspersed into the video as well.

U2 continues with songs from “Achtung Baby”, with “The Fly” which had a great optical illusion of the ceiling coming down on the audience – this looked amazing. Then moving to “Even Better Than the Real Thing”, with a huge kaleidoscope display including graphics of Las Vegas, Elvis, various Indian icons, gold – just tons of stuff in the screen from floor to ceiling. Next was “Mysterious Ways”, with live full band showing on screens along with moving block bars – see video below. Next was “One” with night sky type imagery behind the band. “Until the End of the World” was very energetic with lightning flashes and band member visuals – see video below. “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” was a simple performance with video of flaming ember remnants and live band member video. “Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World” featured a nice visual where Bono holds a rope going almost up to the top of the dome. At the top, is a chalk drawing balloon, appearing to be attached to the rope. While holding the rope, Bono walks around the edge of the stage, while hop-scotch type sidewalk graphics are displayed on the stage areas – all ending at a chalk drawing of a door where Bono leaves the rope.

U2 moves away from “Achtung Baby”, and we get “Rattle and Hum” tracks “All I Want Is You”, “Desire”, Angel of Harlem”, and “Love Rescue Me”. I thought “Love Rescue Me” was great with Edge just playing bass (no other instrumentation), and Bono singing – Edge occasionally harmonizing – see my video below.

Then back to “Achtung Baby”, with “So Cruel”, “Acrobat”, “Ultraviolet (Light My Way)”, and “Love Is Blindness”. This closed out the complete “Achtung Baby” performance.

U2 finished the evening with “Elevation”, new track “Atomic City”, “Vertigo”, “Where the Streets Have No Name”, “With or Without You”, and “Beautiful Day”. During “Atomic City”, the video screen was showing the Vegas strip buildings slowing being demolished leaving the entire area as it may appear without all the buildings – see video below. For “Vertigo”, the video screens showed incoming military helicopters, and the helicopters appear to have spotlights highlighting band members on the video screens – very cool effect. “Where the Streets Have No Name” is presented with an HD-looking desert panorama full view from side-to-side and top-to-bottom of the dome – looking amazing – see video below. “With or Without You” is accompanied by a display of water washing onto the desert scene, and a large sphere floating towards the audience. You are eventually brought inside the floating sphere with a daylight type view of various animals across the screen. The band ends with “Beautiful Day” while the animal display separates to allow full band live video with a bright color resembling daylight. It was truly immersive.

With the immersive sound feature, there were times when U2 had sound effects and loops coming from a variety of locations around the dome areas. Although we could not hear it well, I could also tell there was an audio effect where Bono would whisper into the microphone, and this was only directed to the highest level sections – he did this at least twice during the performance. The volume was loud, but the concert was NOT overwhelmingly loud. I think this had much to do with the unique sound setup, and the fact it was very carefully engineered for the venue. It sounded fantastic inside.

Even with all the technology, U2 was able to use this to connect with the audience. The live band video was designed to make it appear we were all in the “front row” for the show. On more than one occasion, it appeared Bono and Edge were looking right at you. U2 does use some guitar loops and supporting ambient sounds, but the full band was performing live. Vocals were all live, with Bono and Edge not always perfectly in sync. Adam Clayton bass guitar had effects, but he appeared to be playing everything live. Drummer Bram did a great job covering the Larry Mullen Jr role, while making sure to not draw too much attention to himself.

Overall, the show is awesome and not something you will see anywhere else. U2 will likely use some elements in coming tours, but since much of this is designed specifically for Sphere, it can’t be exactly the same. U2 might come back to Sphere, but I’m sure they would make adjustments to the performance – there were minor changes between the first 25 shows and these last 15. Although the trip and tickets were not cheap, we ended up thinking it was worth the trip and a “once in a lifetime” type experience.

Thanks to Bono, Edge, Adam, and Bram (and Larry).

Here’s the setlist as posted to setlist.fm: