In what must have been the surprise of a lifetime for those who happened to be walking up and down the famed Strip in Las Vegas on Saturday night (September 16), U2 played an impromptu concert of sorts that showcased an as-yet-unreleased song.
The Irish rockers took to the streets of Las Vegas to perform their new song, “Atomic City.” The band’s members gathered for a “low budget” (according to Bono) music video shoot in the heart of downtown Sin City, unveiling the track for the first time without warning.
For those who missed their performance—the band played “Atomic City” twice, as is common practice when it comes to filming music videos—the musical legends also reportedly played some of the video on a flatbed truck for all to see.
For the special musical moment, U2 reassembled its original lineup, which includes their drummer, Larry Mullen Jr. The beloved musician lent his talents to filming of the the new song’s video, even though he is planning on sitting out the group’s upcoming concerts due to undisclosed health issues.
The now much-anticipated release of “Atomic City” is expected to be timed to coincide with the commencement of U2’s residency. The band is set to begin a run of concerts at the new MSG Sphere at the Venetian venue on September 29.
Starting from September 29, U2 is set to play to sold out crowds with 20-plus complete concerts as part of their residency, titled U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere. These shows will be hosted at the MSG Sphere at the Venetian, which has been noted for its incredible visual appeal due to the fact that its outside is entirely made of screens. The residency is currently set to run through December 16.
For now, there is no word yet on when “Atomic City” will be made available for fans to buy and stream. The tune marks U2’s first new piece of music since they released their album Songs of Surrender in March 2023, which featured reworking of many of their biggest hits.
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