U2 shocks Vegas fans with pop-up concert on Fremont Street ahead of MSG Sphere residency

Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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U2 surprised Las Vegas fans with a pop-up show Sunday ahead of their 29 concerts at the MSG Sphere this month.

Outside the Plaza Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas, the rock group debuted "Atomic City," an original song dedicated to the City of Sin. The song contains the lyrics "I’m free. I came here for the fight. I’m front row in Las Vegas. And there’s a big one on tonight."

The group performed their hit "I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For" from their 1987 "The Joshua Tree" album. The group said they filmed the track's music video on the Las Vegas streets after their first show there over 36 years ago.

The band also promoted their U2 UV: Achtung Baby residency at the Sphere.

"We’ll be playing at a little venue up the road, called The Sphere," singer Bono, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Bono reportedly responded an audience member who shouted their admiration for the venue's stunning graphics. The giant ball has already displayed a multitude of images including from an eyeball and a basketball to even Earth itself.

“Yeah, it’s next-level on the inside, too," the Grammy-winner said.

Inside the Sphere: Director Darren Aronofsky teases MSG Sphere's first immersive experience

The Edge, from left, Bono and Adam Clayton of U2 perform during a concert at the Apollo Theater on June 11, 2018, in New York. U2 performed a pop-up concert on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas on Sept. 17, 2023 in advance of the band's residency at the MSG Sphere starting Sept. 29.
The Edge, from left, Bono and Adam Clayton of U2 perform during a concert at the Apollo Theater on June 11, 2018, in New York. U2 performed a pop-up concert on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas on Sept. 17, 2023 in advance of the band's residency at the MSG Sphere starting Sept. 29.

The band also premiered their latest music video behind a semi truck that traveled around the area.

Both the song and video was accompanied by the entire original makeup of the group including including drummer Larry Mullen Jr. who, will not perform at that residency due to an assortment of physical maladies, according to the Review Journal. Krezip drummer Bram van den Berg will accompany U2 as a the drummer for the Sphere shows.

U2's residency at the Sphere

The MSG Sphere officially debuts to the public on Sept. 29 with a series of 25 concerts featuring U2. “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere” will run through mid-December and celebrate the Irish band’s 1991 album “Achtung Baby".

“Most music venues are sports venues. They’re built for sports – they’re not built for music. They’re not built for art,” says U2’s Bono in the Apple Music interview. “This building was built for immersive experiences in cinema and performance.”

“There’s nothing like it. It’s light years ahead of everything that’s out there,” U2’s The Edge said in the video.

How big is the MSG Sphere?

One block east from the Vegas strip, the record-breaking Sphere sits at 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide. In addition to being the largest sphere, the bowl reportedly also has the largest LED lights with 1.2 million lights the size of hockey pucks.

The venue can seat nearly 18,000 people. A pedestrian walkway to the Venetian resort complex will connect the globe to the strip.

See also: MSG Sphere announces plan to power 70% of Las Vegas arena with renewable energy, pending approval

Other events at the Sphere

On Oct. 6, The MSG Sphere will also premiere a 360-degree experience titled "Postcard From Earth" written and directed by Darren Aronofsky. The show is set to premiere as the first Sphere Experience.

Aronofsky posted the exclusive first look video from inside Sphere on his Instagram page last week. His video shows a breathtaking preview of the 160,000 square foot display plane that will be used for immersive experiences.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: U2 Fremont Street concert in Las Vegas shocks fans before Sphere shows