U2 debut new song at pop-up Las Vegas show

nme.com:

U2 played a surprise show in front of the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas last night (September 16) while filming a music video, where they played a new song live.The song, ‘Atomic City’, is believed to be about the very city the Irish quartet were playing in, and contained the lyrics “I’m free, so unexpectedly/I’m free from what’s in front of me!” and “I’ve got the key to the cages, waiting for my dice/I came here for the fight/I’m front row in Las Vegas.

And there’s a big one on tonight”.It is believed the band were performing to around 250 extras, and frontman Bono’s vocals were live but the music was recorded.The song is reportedly going to be released before the band’s forthcoming residency at the new MSG Sphere in the city.

The run of shows, which are the first to be played at the new venue, will kick off on September 29 and will see them play their 1991 album ‘Achtung Baby’ in full.“Atomic City,” is the song, all about #VegasVille … A first look @U2 #Vegas #RJNow @reviewjournal pic.twitter.com/OVkPyHNn65— John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) September 17, 2023U2 will be playing the first few shows of their ‘Achtung Baby’ residency without drummer Larry Mullen Jr while he recovers from surgery.

Despite this, he was present at the music video shoot.“He doesn’t follow doctor’s orders,” Bono remarked during the video shoot, to which the audience cheered.In an interview with the Daily Star newspaper’s Wired column (via Irish Mirror), bassist Adam Clayton said: “The whole band and I’m sure the audience are going to be very sad and miss Larry.