It’s hard to believe now that U2’s biggest hit, ‘With or Without You,’ came out thirty-seven years ago. On March 16, 1987, the song hit the airwaves, and U2 has been on a stratospheric rise ever since.
It’s worth noting, too, that this hit came from their fifth studio album. There were four albums before that, and there have been ten since! Yet their popularity has remained sky-high, exemplified by their recent 2023/2024 US tour.
U2’s US Tour Explained
When we say ‘tour,’ we don’t mean it in the traditional sense. The band members weren’t driving a bus up and down the interstate. This time, they took on one of the most prestigious music gigs in the world – a residency in Las Vegas.
From September 29th to December 16th, U2 played 25 shows at the Las Vegas Sphere, providing gig-goers with an interactive performance alongside the Sphere’s cutting-edge, immersive technology.
The Sphere in Las Vegas
The Sphere in Las Vegas is one of the world’s most interesting modern music venues. It is renowned for its 360-degree immersive setting and enhanced visuals and sound. This is perfect for a band like U2, which thrives on creating dynamic performances for its fans.
One of the best things about the venue, for instance, is its capability for interactive audience engagement. Whether through interactive displays or augmented reality features, this venue makes each concert a participatory experience for attendees, which will set it apart from every other gig they’ve attended.
Something Different
But while this kind of technology is all good, the fans turned up for the music, and U2 didn’t disappoint. One of the most notable things about the tour was that they didn’t rely on the hits. You would think songs like ‘With or Without You’ or ‘Blah Blah’ would take center stage, but it was their studio album “Achtung Baby” that the band was there to celebrate. This was the seventh studio album by U2, released back in 1991, and it’s fair to say it got a lot of love during this particular tour.
The setlist started with ‘Zoo Station,’ then ‘The Fly,’ before carrying on in the same vein with ‘Even Better Than the Real Thing,’ ‘Mysterious Ways,’ ‘One,’ ‘Until the End of the World,’ ‘Who’s Gonna Ride Your Horses,’ and ‘Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World’. Phew! That’s not to say there were no other tracks performed. Once the celebration of Achtung Baby was done, Bono gifted his fans some beautiful renditions of songs from War, Boy, and October, including ‘All I Want is You,’ ‘Elevation,’ ‘Atomic City,’ ‘Beautiful Day’ and, of course, ‘With or Without You.’
But the point is, U2 didn’t play this tour safe. Advertising this residency as a ‘Greatest Hits’ tour would have been easy enough. Many other bands would. But U2 has once again proved they’re unlike ‘many other bands.’ They are unique, memorable, and confident enough in their discography to perform one of their deep cuts to its fullest.
The Fan Reaction
And fans loved it. According to one happy attendee, there was a general expectation of ‘cool visuals’, but what they got was undeniably ‘incredible’. The Sphere tapped into the visual power of U2 and illustrated the songs’ messages in a way that hadn’t been experienced before. One fan noted that the set seemed ‘uneven at times’ due to the band attempting to synchronise their music with the Sphere’s tech, but overall, it was ‘fantastic’. Looking back on the tour, it’s clear that it was a success, and we’re pretty sure it won’t be their last in the great city of Las Vegas. Perhaps they’ll give it another go in thirty years when they’re still as excellent and relevant as they are today!
