Courtesy of Apple Music
During a camera change, the group also performed an impromptu acoustic version of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” reminiscent of a 1987 video moment in Las Vegas
U2 will begin its two-night run at the Sphere in Las Vegas with at least one new song: “Atomic City,” a Vegas-themed song that is expected to be released at or before the band’s opening show on Sept. 29. While filming a music video on Saturday, the four played the song on repeat while standing on a flatbed truck that had come to a stop on Fremont Street in the city’s neon-filled downtown area.
And by four-piece we mean the full original lineup with Larry Mullen Jr. on drums. Although the founding drummer is unable to take part in the Sphere residency due to his health recovery – Bram van den Berg will take his place at the shows – Mullen was in tow with the other three on the caravan that rolled through the city, after he also apparently attended the recording session that previously took place for “Atomic City.”
The website U2songs.com collected on-the-ground coverage from fans who took videos of the shooting in downtown Las Vegas and published the full lyrics as well as video clips of the performances and Bono’s comments. John Katsilometes, entertainment columnist for the Las Vegas Review Journal, was also on hand and provided extensive video coverage of the shooting as well as a printed report.
“The four of us recorded the song. “Unfortunately, Larry Mullen Jr. will not be with us at the Sphere,” Bono told the audience, according to Katsilometes’ report in the Review Journal. “He doesn’t listen to the doctor’s orders… Many of us don’t either. But he’s here tonight… Give it up for Larry Mullen Jr.!”
The arrival of the truck that pulled the trailer downtown was not a spontaneous event. Katsilometes reported that 250 extras were recruited via email and each paid $150 for the shoot, which saw the band walk through “Atomic City” four times. Apparently there was no ban on cell phones for the extras, as almost every observer during filming apparently had one in their hand to record videos. Fans of the website who contacted U2songs.com said that the backing tracks appeared to have been pre-recorded during filming, but Bono sang live.
Bono described the new song as “a rock ‘n’ roll 45 in the tradition of ’70s post-punk, Blondie, The Clash, some ’70s punk… We’re taking it from everywhere.”
The title of the new song references a nickname given to Las Vegas in the 1940s.
“I’m free / I came here for the fight / I’m in the front row in Las Vegas / and there’s a big fight tonight,” is the climax of the song, which is about Sin City.
During a camera change, the group also delighted the extras by playing – not to a backing track – a new arrangement of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” the original video of which was also filmed in the same area of downtown Las Vegas in the late 1980s, before today’s open-air roof was installed over the famous boulevard. Bono told the audience that they were rearranging the 1987 rock classic and said, “Let’s try it as a country song.” It’s kind of a Saturday night-Sunday morning deal anyway; It’s a confession about not going to confession.”
According to U2songs.com, Mullen had been recording with the rest of the band in the south of France as well as in two studios in Los Angeles with producer Steve Lillywhite, which ended early last week. However, the website noted that Bono appeared to improvise or interject at points, suggesting that the lyrics could still potentially change.
The fansite noted that this was the band’s first public performance since completing “Joshua Tree” in late 2019.
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This looked like a cool job, and it was. One of the coolest. But it was also a lot of work, a lot of waiting, persuading, negotiating positions and towing people downtown. That’s what matters @fleetwood_mads Photography so impressive. Our staff is so talented it makes me dizzy… pic.twitter.com/th3OCEulQx
— John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) September 17, 2023