So this U2/MGM Sphere thing is “utterly astonishing.”

U2 began their much-hyped residency at the brand new MSG Sphere in Las Vegas last night. The show (officially entitled “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere) and the venue (built at a cost of more than US$2.3 billion) apparently live up to the hype.

The Guardian gave it a very, very rare five-star review:

“This cocktail of eye-popping visuals and slightly unruly performances absolutely works, allaying any concerns that a band from the post-punk era and the old showbiz connotations of a residency in Las Vegas constitute a slightly uncomfortable fit, regardless of how many millions of records the band has sold, or how mainstream an audience they’ve attracted in the interim. Indeed, it works so well that, like Abba’s Voyage show, you leave feeling confident this is an idea others are going to copy: clearly other rock bands are going to turn up to the Sphere in the future, bearing performances big on dazzling technology. Whether they’ll be as dazzling, or indeed as charming as this, time will show.”

Fans freaked out at the opening night gig. USA Today loved it. Billboard summarized the best moments. The Irish Times summarized some reviews.

Here’s the setlist of the 125-minute show. There are a few hits.

“Achtung Baby” part 1
1 – Zoo Station
2 – The Fly
3 – Even Better Than the Real Thing
4 – Mysterious Ways
5 – One/Purple Rain/Love Me Tender
6 – Until the End of the World
7 – Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
8 – Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World

“Rattle and Hum” interlude
9 – All I Want Is You
10 – Desire/Love Me Do
11 – Angel of Harlem/Into the Mystic/Dancing in the Moonlight
12 – Love Rescue Me

“Achtung Baby” part 2
13 – So Cruel
14 – Acrobat
15 – Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
16 – Love Is Blindness 

Encore
17 – Elevation/My Way
18 – Atomic City 
19 – Vertigo
20 – Where the Streets Have No Name
21 – With or Without You
22 – Beautiful Day/Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)/Blackbird