Las Vegas has always been about excess—bright lights, sensory overload, and the thrill of seeing something you’ll never forget. So when U2 announced their U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency, it just made sense. If any band was going to redefine what a live concert experience could be, it was U2. And when they brought it to Dolby Live at The Sphere in March 2024, the result was nothing short of breathtaking. This wasn’t just another tour stop—it was part concert, part immersive art installation, and part spiritual revival led by one of rock’s most enduring frontmen.
Even for fans who’ve seen U2 dozens of times over the decades, this was something entirely new. The visuals were staggering—massive LED screens that wrapped the audience in a living, breathing world of color and motion, perfectly timed with the band’s music. But as stunning as the technology was, it never overpowered the soul of the performance. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Bram van den Berg (filling in for Larry Mullen Jr. while he recovered from surgery) played with a passion that reminded everyone why U2 has stayed relevant for nearly half a century.
Setlist and Flow
Setlist:
Zoo Station
(with “I Couldn’t Find You” intro)
The Fly
(with The Beatles’ “Drive My Car” intro)
Even Better Than the Real Thing
Mysterious Ways
(with George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” and Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” snippets)
One
(with Daniel Lanois) (dedicated to Daniel Lanois; with “Invisible” and Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender” snippets)
Until the End of the World
(with The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Paint it Black” snippets)
Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World
(with “Landlady” snippet)
All I Want Is You
(with Coldplay’s “Yellow” snippet; dedicated to all the women in their lives and Dr. Jill Biden)
Desire
(with The Crickets’ “Not Fade Away” snippet; before the song Bram thanks U2 and Larry)
Angel of Harlem
Don’t Dream It’s Over
(Crowded House cover) (a duet with Neil Finn via tape; dedicated to Yulia Navalnaya)
Acrobat
So Cruel
Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
Love Is Blindness
(with Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas” snippet outro sung by Bono)
Viva Las Vegas
(Elvis Presley song)
Elevation Remix
Encore:
Elevation
(with Claude François’ “My Way” snippet)
Atomic City
Vertigo
Where the Streets Have No Name
(with “Moment of Surrender” and The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love” snippets)
With or Without You
Beautiful Day
(with “Gloria,” “Miserere” & “Blackbird” snippets)
40
(residency debut; first time since 2016)
The Performance
The show opened with “Zoo Station,” the pounding intro from Achtung Baby—a fitting start for a performance that celebrated the album’s reinvention of U2’s sound and image. Bono emerged silhouetted against a wall of digital static, his voice still crisp and commanding as ever. The Edge’s distorted riffs sliced through the air, and within seconds, the audience was engulfed in a swirl of light and color.
“The Fly” followed, and Bono was clearly having fun with it, blending in snippets of The Beatles’ “Drive My Car.” It was a sly nod to The Sphere’s multimedia spectacle—music history colliding with innovation. When “Even Better Than the Real Thing” hit, the entire venue seemed to come alive. The visuals bent reality—literally—turning the digital walls into a twisting, spinning kaleidoscope that made the audience feel like they were inside a living record sleeve.
“Mysterious Ways” turned into a crowd-wide dance party. Bono blended in snippets of George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” and Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love,” transforming the song into a shimmering disco-gospel hybrid. The band was tight and joyful, and even without Larry behind the kit, the chemistry felt intact. Bram van den Berg brought energy and finesse, showing reverence for U2’s sound while adding his own flavor.
When “One” arrived, Bono invited producer Daniel Lanois to join in, dedicating the song to him. It was one of the night’s most emotional moments—a reminder that Achtung Baby wasn’t just an album, but a collaboration that reshaped U2’s legacy. Bono laced the performance with snippets of “Invisible” and “Love Me Tender,” giving the already soulful anthem an added layer of warmth.
“Until the End of the World” exploded next, its chaotic energy amplified by visuals of burning skies and cascading debris. Bono wove in bits of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Paint It Black,” a fitting homage to rock’s darker edge.
As the band transitioned to “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” and “Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World,” Bono became more playful, bantering with fans and pacing the stage like a man half his age. “All I Want Is You” was another emotional highlight, dedicated “to all the women in our lives and to Dr. Jill Biden,” Bono announced. A snippet of Coldplay’s “Yellow” added a sweet touch that drew applause from the crowd.
The Middle Stretch – From Energy to Reflection
The show’s midpoint was where U2 mixed surprise with intimacy. “Desire” brought a burst of swagger, complete with a snippet of “Not Fade Away” and a shout-out from drummer Bram, who thanked both U2 and Larry Mullen Jr. for their trust. “Angel of Harlem” turned into a joyous singalong, while “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” performed as a virtual duet with Neil Finn, brought the audience to a hush. Dedicated to Yulia Navalnaya, the performance was moving and deeply human—a reminder that even amid spectacle, U2 never forgets the message.
Then came the Achtung Baby deep cuts—“Acrobat,” “So Cruel,” and “Ultraviolet (Light My Way)”—a trifecta that took longtime fans back to 1991. Bono’s voice soared during “So Cruel,” his delivery raw and vulnerable, while “Ultraviolet” turned into a glowing visual poem about resilience and light.
“Love Is Blindness” was perhaps the most haunting moment of the night. The stage went dark except for a single white light that illuminated Bono’s face as he crooned the song’s final lines. Then, with a wry grin, he slipped into a few lines of Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas,” setting up a full cover of the song that followed. The crowd went wild. Only Bono could make an Elvis tribute feel like both parody and reverence.
An “Elevation Remix” followed, transforming the iconic track into a pulsating dance floor moment that made the Sphere feel like an enormous nightclub.
The Encore – Joy, Faith, and Nostalgia
When the band returned for the encore, they wasted no time launching into “Elevation” proper, complete with a snippet of “My Way.” It was Bono in full Vegas mode—part showman, part preacher, part rock star—and he pulled it off effortlessly.
“Atomic City,” their 2023 single inspired by Vegas itself, fit perfectly here. It’s an ode to reinvention and glitz, to the contradictions of fame and faith. Live, it pulsed with urgency and pride.
“Vertigo” and “Where the Streets Have No Name” followed, two crowd-pleasers that had the entire audience on their feet. Bono stitched in bits of “Moment of Surrender” and “All You Need Is Love,” merging spiritual transcendence with pure rock euphoria.
“With or Without You” was as emotional as ever—Bono’s voice cracked just enough to remind you that this song still means something, even after decades of performance. “Beautiful Day” lifted the crowd one last time, filled with snippets of “Gloria,” “Miserere,” and The Beatles’ “Blackbird.” It felt like the band was tracing their lineage through rock history in real time.
And then came “40.”
For longtime fans, this was a gift. The song hadn’t been played since 2016, and when Adam Clayton’s bass line began to hum, the entire venue erupted. Bono’s voice was reflective, almost fragile, as he sang, “How long to sing this song?” It was the perfect closer—humble, nostalgic, and transcendent.
The Experience of The Sphere
Of course, it would be impossible to talk about this show without mentioning the venue itself. The Sphere isn’t just another concert hall—it’s an entirely new way to experience music. With its 360-degree visuals and cutting-edge acoustics, it creates an immersive environment unlike anything else in the world. During songs like “One” and “Until the End of the World,” the visuals wrapped around the audience like living art. For “Where the Streets Have No Name,” the walls became a massive desert sunrise, evoking the band’s Joshua Tree era in breathtaking detail.
Yet even with all the technology, the band remained the focus. Bono’s charisma, The Edge’s shimmering guitar work, Adam’s steady bass groove, and Bram’s energetic drumming made sure that humanity, not digital effects, remained at the heart of the show.
Closing Thoughts
By the end of the night, it was clear that U2 had once again done what they do best—push boundaries while staying true to their essence. This show wasn’t just a nostalgic victory lap; it was proof that U2 still has something vital to say and a breathtaking new way to say it.
The Sphere, for all its technological wizardry, could have easily swallowed a lesser band whole. But U2 used it as an extension of their art, turning a high-tech stage into an instrument of emotion and unity. From the dance-floor pulse of “Mysterious Ways” to the aching beauty of “One” and the spiritual glow of “40,” the concert was a reminder that U2’s music—no matter how big the production—has always been about connection.
As fans poured out of The Venetian into the neon night, one truth hung in the air: U2 didn’t just play Las Vegas—they conquered it, reshaped it, and made it sing.