The band recently launched its out of this world Las Vegas residency
There are marriages of star and room that cement the entertainment legacy of the shimmering mirages in the Las Vegas desert. Elvis at Hilton (now the Westgate); Celine Dion’s “A New Day” launching the Colosseum at Caesars Palace with awe-inspiring spectacle. Now, U2 joins the stories history of inaugurating Vegas venues. At Sphere, they set the bar higher than anyone has ever set it in the desert.
It’s no secret that U2 is known for their over-the-top stage shows. During their nearly 50 year career, they’ve played massive stages throughout the world using futuristic technology, including an oversized lemon (1997-1998’s Pop Mart Tour), 96-foot long double sided screen (2014-2015’s Innocence + Experience Tour), and sensory overload (1992-1993’s Zoo TV Tour) with large video screens, effects and text that satirized television and radio news outlets.
The “sensory overload” they cautioned during the Zoo TV Tour has been at the forefront of our lives over the past two decades with the invention of social media and smart phones. That message is on full display with the band’s new sold out 25 date residency at U2:UV Aching Baby Live at Sphere in Las Vegas. The iconic group and their team take live entertainment out of this world with the newly built $2.3 billion dollar facility that sits off the famous Las Vegas Strip.
Never a group to rest on its laurels, they continue to outdo themselves with each new live show, while keeping music at the forefront of it all. The Sphere shows are focused on their 1991 album Achtung Baby, played in its entirety in two parts, and the aforementioned Zoo TV Tour. Both the album and tour saw the band reinvent themselves with a new musical direction and elaborately staged multimedia spectacle.
Unlike U2 shows from the past 30 years, the band performs on a minimalist stage that’s an overside replica of a limited edition turntable designed by the band’s longtime collaborator Brian Eno. Twelve lights surround the platform while the walls of the venue itself project the bulk of the lighting. Fans are taken on a roller coaster ride through the immersive imagery that is displayed on the venue walls and ceiling as if a magician performed a trick and made the the venue disappear.
“Was that David Copperfield of us? Was that David Blaine of us that we made the city disappear,” Bono asks during a behind-the-scenes tour of Sphere with Apple Music.
The color of the stage and some of the lighting is controlled by a generative algorithm created by Brian Eno, producing a unique color palette for each show. Visuals include repurposed clips from the Zoo TV Tour, a 100-year time lapse of the Vegas Strip, and a show-closing sequence that was inspired by all 152 endangered species in the state of Nevada, designed by Es Devlin.
“This can bring you to any time of place and make you think you are there,” The Edge adds.
The audio is next generation as well with Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HoloPlot, which provides crystal-clear, individualized sound to every seat in Sphere, giving fans the same mix no matter where they sit or stand. The system consists of approximately 1,600 permanently installed and 300 mobile HoloPlot X1 Matrix Array loudspeaker modules and includes a total of 167,000 individually amplified loudspeaker drivers.
Not every song utilizes immersive video sequences. Parts of the show feel very intimate with lighting and fog accompanying the band. The production of Vegas proportions complement but never overpower the music, making this the must-see show of the century!
Dutch drummer Bram van den Berg joins Bono, The Edge and Adam Clayton on stage for the run of shows as Larry Mullen, Jr. recuperates from shoulder surgery. Mullen Jr is featured on the band’s new single, “Atomic City,” which was named for the city’s vivid history as not only an atomic test site, but ground zero for the best in entertainment. The Edge has teased that the residency could return in 2024 with Larry behind the kit, although no confirmation has been announced.
This night featured songs from 1988’s Rattle & Hum mid set. “All I Want Is You” was dedicated to Mullen, Jr, with Bono introducing the band ahead of “Desire.”
“We love this country,” Bono offers. “There’s no part of the United States we would want to fly over. We spent a lot of time on the bus everywhere. It was work really fun, an adventure. We learned so much from your country: music, blues, country, gospel and shit we knew nothing about. Can you imagine hearing Billie Holiday for the first time? We borrowed these chords from Bob Dylan” before breaking into to “Angel of Harlem” with a snippet of Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.”
Without mentioning it specifically, Bono dedicated “Love Rescue Me,” which was written with Dylan, to the victims of current situation in the Middle East.
The band was tight and Bono’s vocals were top notch, despite what the dryness of the desert can do to singer’s throats.
Vibee, the Live Nation-founded destination experience company and VIP package provider for the band’s Sphere shows, has developed Zoo Station: A U2:UV Experience, the ultimate hub for fans. The fan portal, which officially opened on September 28th inside the Venetian was created to support U2’s groundbreaking run of shows, which saw the world’s biggest rock band launch the world’s most state-of-the-art venue in Las Vegas.
Developed in collaboration with Gavin Friday, U2’s longtime Creative Director, and with direct input from the band, Zoo Station comprises more than 12,000 square feet of interactive exhibit space across two floors. Fans can explore U2’s celebrated album Achtung Baby through interactive experiences, the Anton Corbijn Gallery, limited edition merchandise, VIP lounges, and more. Additionally, fans can check out Zoo TV Cinema, the exclusive cinematic experience only available at Zoo Station, curated by The Edge and powered by Dolby Atmos. Zoo TV Cinema offers daily film screenings that feature rare concert footage from U2 performances around the globe. The cinema also showcases original content, including “Beyond The Tour” and “A Day In The Life Of The Edge,” giving visitors a unique glimpse into the life of The Edge and the band.
We had a chance to tour the facility ahead of the show and visited the Satellite of Love stage where I played drums and Matt hopped on the bass for a cool gif we got to keep. The satellite lights up blue whenever someone is “transmitting” their image to their email. Fans can also sit in the one of the cars used in the album imaging that features interactive elements.
Zoo Station is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am until 9 pm during the residency.
