U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere

Sep 30 2023
Las Vegas, NV, US / Sphere
with Pauli The PSM
7

 

'In Flirting Form'

Night two of U2:UV was giving big second-date vibes. All swagger and romance, origin stories and spirits recognizing spirits.

Any getting-to-know-you-again opening-night nerves had disappeared like vapor through the cyber-oculus at the top of Sphere's Pantheon-esque dome by the time the helicopter appeared and the band took the stage.

The capacity crowd was on its feet from the moment Bono, Edge, Adam, and Bram Van den Berg walked onto the huge turntable stage as the final strains of Brian Eno's bespoke choral introduction heralded their arrival and they stood, danced, and bounced throughout a walloping 22-song show that included all of Achtung Baby as well as tracks from Rattle and Hum, All That You Can't Leave Behind, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, The Joshua Tree, and their brand-new single, 'Atomic City'. 

Along the way, Bono threw in a bit of French and German, a touch of Elvis ('Love Me Tender') and Sinatra/Sid Vicious ('My Way'), nods to Donna Summer ('I Feel Love'), Edith Piaf ('Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien'), and Lou Reed ('Walk on the Wild Side), and a heartfelt tribute/lament for the band's longtime friend Sinéad O'Connor, who left us on July 26 ('Nothing Compares 2 U'). 

The evening closed with a moment of true rock 'n' roll transcendence in 'Beautiful Day', with some new lyrics that reflected the show's artistic and ideological focus on the natural world, including dozens of endangered species native to Nevada. 

See the world in green and blue, all these creatures right in front of you … see the peregrine falcon in the sky, there are no monarch butterflies… 
U2 return to Sphere next Thursday, October 5, for their third date.

What did Bono Say

While it might be a tad premature for a second date, Bono proposed before launching into 'Mysterious Ways', shouting: 'Let's get married later, in the Elvis chapel, cathedral!'

Speaking of Elvis, before making his group proposal, the lead vocalist recalled a theory he'd heard from a punter who claimed that Elvis is alive; it's the rest of us who are dead. 'Tonight's show is an attempt to disprove at least one part of that calculus, is it not, The Edge?' Bono told a roaring crowd. 'Because we're all feeling very much alive this evening! Very much alive. Feeling grateful for it. Indeed, we are in flirting form, are we not?"

(After singing a few lines of Reed's 'Wild Side' — 'Holly came from Miami F-L-A…'):
"Everyone is welcome here! All the burlesque artists in this city — welcome to our show. Everyone is welcome in our show. Whatever you do!" 

"Let me introduce you to a man who became a fan of U2 with the Pop album in 1998. Not only a fan, a man who became a student of Larry Mullen, Jr., a man we send our love to this evening, an injured man, whom we love, utterly love."

Introducing Bram: "When we were rehearsing in Dublin and I wasn't there for the first few days — it's a singer thing — real musicians like to get on with their real musician stuff. Anyway, I came in on the third day and I was talking to Edge and Adam asking how it was going and in came this big man, this incredible man, Bram. And my first reaction was He's too tall, that will never work; he's too good looking. I looked at him, he looked at me, and the first words out of his Dutch mouth was, he says, 'Oh, there is a fourth member of U2'."

"Is there anything you'd like to say tonight?" Bono asked Bram, who responded by laying down a few measures of the iconic 'Desire' Bo Diddly beat. "That's very Larry Mullen of you," Bono said. 

"Did you hear that? All the way up did you hear that? Those whispers were for you," Bono asked fans in seats high up in the nearly 400-foot tall indoor amphitheater with state-of-the-acoustics, who cheered in response. "It cost about $2.3 billion to hear those whispers."

In The Press

"If there was a perfect choice to open the Sphere, it was U2. Plenty of pop culture X (formerly Twitter) accounts are reposting video footage from the first concert — the band's first time in pop culture since the iTunes debacle — and I've seen many ponder: Why U2? Achtung, y'all, it's because they're still the best live band on earth." 
— Clutch Points

"Despite fancy Las Vegas Sphere, U2 reaffirms its strengths lie in connection" — Riff Magazine

On The Socials

'Videos, photos, and words can never describe seeing #U2 at the @SphereVegas. An incredible experience, and thanks to the @VenetianVegas for above and beyond hospitality'. — Danny Kushmer on X 
 
'Live Music has just had it's equivalent of someone turning on the Internet for the first time :astonished::astonished::astonished: That U2 show is beyond description and off the walls ...The Fly is back' — John Harpur on X
 
'Breathtaking. I'm in love all over again. Thank you @U2' — rebecca on X

Zootopia:

'When I heard these songs live last night it reminded me so much of when I originally saw ZOO TV tour (and happened to be here in Vegas, Nov 1992). They definitely trigger that memory, particularly "Until The End of the World"'.
 — lukyls

If you were at the show in Vegas tonight, add your own review and upload your photos below.

V-U2 An Immersive Concert Film at Sphere Las Vegas (Official Trailer)
Comments
7
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Ewa Campbell
Around the World with U2
Dublin, Cardiff, London, Paris, Tokyo, Denver, Las Vegas. Thanks for the trip! It’s always a lifetime memory and The Sphere show on 093023 didn’t disappoint!
mchspd
U2 UV Opening Weekend II
What a night! Great to have been there opening weekend! The Sphere is next level. U2 was the only band that could have opened this place up! Bono was on point! The show will get more crisp and the possibilities are endless but what a treat to be there with die hard fans from all over the world!!!
bignewfy
Magnificent!!!
U2 didn't disappoint!!! I went to the 29th and 30th shows and both were Magnificent! Bono's voice was clear and resonated throughout the venue with crystal clarity. I did think he was more relaxed in the second show. The sound system worked as designed giving clear resonating music to each seat in the venue. The graphics were mesmerizing, but I watched the band mostly. Would do again next weekend, if I could rearrange things. Bram did a great job too, and I thought Bono showed due appreciation for his efforts. Thanks for all the great shows and music over the years! What a thrill!!!
yable
I’m still trying to recover
I flew in all the way from Ottawa, Canada to witness this. No words can describe this moment in communion with all these amazing fans and the best band on Earth. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
pollodaniel
Sphere + U2 = Superb show
This show is just out of this world. There are not enough words to express our fantastic experience with this show. I was able to see 360 Tour and Vertigo Tour, and still, you can not compare the greatness of this show. Although Brand van den Berg did an outstanding job, we still missed Larry. This is a show that everyone has to see. The future is here!
D_Stapleton
Special Request!
After waiting my whole life, I will FINALLY be going to the U2 concert in Vegas on September 30th!!! I am asking for a special request for the band to play “With or Without You.” I understand this song is not part of their Achtung record but I LOVE THIS SONG and it would mean the world to me to see it performed live. I am traveling from Arizona, celebrating my birthday and sharing this magical night with my sister. U2 has always held a dear spot in my heart ♥️ See you in a few weeks!
roger_a
Greetings from holland
WOW, i am a very lucky guy . I have tickets for the show on 30 sept. I will visit Las Vegas with my daughter for this concert all the way form the Netherlands. My first U2 concert was in 1987 in Rotterdam and after that i have seen all the tours. Achtung Baby is my favorite album and i am so glad U2 will play this album in the best concert hall of the world. It will be a very special concert in The Sphere with all the high tech. See U (2) in Vegas!!!! Greetings Roger and Melanie
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