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Kings of Leon has high praise for U2's Sphere residency.
In an interview with Hot Press, Kings of Leon's members, the Followill brothers, reflected on their upbringing. While they didn't attend concerts as kids, they've been on a roll. Kings of Leon previously opened for U2 as well as Pearl Jam and Bob Dylan earlier in their career.
“We didn’t really go to concerts or listen to secular music,” Matthew Followill said. “When we toured with U2, I didn’t know any of the songs other than the huge famous ones like ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’. Watching them every night I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is so crazy!’ I felt that huge fanboy feeling then.”
Nathan Followill added with a review of U2's Sphere show. He called it “mind-blowing.” Going to the show resulted in a handwritten note from Bono himself.
“I saw U2 in the Sphere, which was absolutely the most mind-blowing show of my life,” he said. “The best acid trip I’ve ever been on without taking acid. It was insane! Even in doing something like that, Bono made sure to give me a handwritten note thanking me for coming to the show. He doesn’t have to do stuff like that, he doesn’t have to do anything, but that’s just the kind soul he is.”
Matthew chimed in again, also receiving a note from Bono. “Everyone talks about how it looks – it’ll probably be the way everyone watches music in fifteen years from now – but you don’t realize how great it sounds,” he said. “There were speakers everywhere. I don’t even know what was going on, but it was the most amazing thing.
“I wasn’t going to say it, but I also got a note from Bono,” he added.
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U2 and the Sphere
Beginning on September 29, 2023, U2 began their first-ever concert residency. They are the first band to ever play the Sphere in Las Vegas. Through March 2, 2024, the band played 40 shows at the high-tech venue.
Since U2 has played the Sphere, Phish played four shows at the venue. Dead and Company subsequently followed and are currently amidst a 30-night residency there. Additionally, Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream) directed a documentary film, Postcard from Earth, exclusively for the venue.
The shows revolved around U2's 1991 album, Achtung Baby. They played the album in its entirety for the first time ever. This meant that they dusted off album tracks such “Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World” and “So Cruel” for the first time in decades.
Bono, The Edge, and Adam Clayton of U2 were present for the residency. Larry Mullen Jr. sat out of the residency due to medical issues. In his place, Bram van den Berg of the band Krezip filled in for him.
