I’d like to start a series of U2 tribute band reviews here on U2 Radio; the thing is, I’ve only seen one U2 tribute band: the amazing Hollywood U2. Let’s get the obvious pun out of the way: No, they’re not even better than the real thing (and after meeting frontman Joe Hier – yes, stage name “Hollywood Bono” – I am certain they would not want anyone to call them better than U2. Joe is a legit U2er like the rest of us, and he emanates serious passion for the band when he talks about them). PS, he’s also friends with a family member of Bono – a legit member of the Hewson clan! – who has shown Bono their videos, and the word is that the man himself approves (more about that next week!).
In my opinion, Hollywood U2 is the best possible way to get your U2 fix in between tours. I’ve seen them perform live three times now, and I can honestly say they look and sound better every time. They play an incredible setlist, because it rotates some of the most beloved songs in the U2 catalog with the radio staples. They’re not some cheesy bar band who calls themselves “The Unforgettable Joshua Tree,” and then only plays songs from those two albums while their singer hides the fact that he looks nothing like Bono behind some cheap Ray-Bans. Instead, they put on a legit U2 tribute show with all the nods to the albums and tours you could hope for. Here’s my review of their show last Tuesday at the world famous Whisky-a-Go-Go in Hollywood, which was filmed for their second appearance on AXS TV’s “The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands.”
This show started with Vertigo, which Joe opens with (naturally) “Hello, Hello” and the countdown we all know and love. Even though U2 opened with City of Blinding Lights on much of the Vertigo tour, this is a great way to get the show off to an energetic start. I’ll post the Whisky setlist here, but just FYI, I have seen them do completely different sets at other shows so if this is too predictable for you, remember this was for TV. When I saw Hollywood U2 at an outdoor show in downtown LA on St. Patrick’s Day a few years back, they played everything from One Tree Hill to Kite to Magnificent. Regardless, here’s the set from the Whisky and for the sake of time, I’m going to include one thing to love about the way they perform each song:
- Vertigo (the aforementioned beginning)
- Beautiful Day (When Joe yells “The goal is soul,” you can’t help but get chills. I mean, come on!)
- Elevation (He adds in Bono’s “Elevation, soul nation, jubilation” coda. You guys know I’m a sucker for codas.)
- New Year’s Day (Here, you’ll notice that the small monitor they have on stage has what looks like a War album cover – but it says HU2, and the photo is of Hollywood U2’s own “boy” rather than Peter Rowen. The same boy poses for their Boy cover that appears later in the show.)
- I Will Follow (Just the fact that they’re performing this is enough.)
- Pride (No matter how many times you hear it, you never get tired of chanting “oh-oh-oh-oh,” and Hollywood U2 makes this a very special part of the show.)
- Sunday Bloody Sunday (Joe mimics Bono’s arms-in-the-air SBS dance perfectly.)
- The Fly (Yes, there’s a costume change and it’s so Zoo TV it will make you cry. The monitor on the stage flashes the text from the tour, including the iconic “Everything you know is wrong” and “Watch more TV.” When Joe yells out, “Achtung, baby!” before the guitar solo, it gives you chills; I should mention that Hollywood Edge, Stevie Adams, is incredible and yes, he wears a beanie.)
- Even Better Than the Real Thing (Joe starts with an authentic monologue that U2 Radio listeners can probably recite along with: “Welcome to Zoo TV. We’ve got the latest in hardware, software and menswear…but you haven’t come here to watch TV, have you?!” Squeal!)
- Mysterious Ways (There IS a belly dancer and she’s perfect. I don’t believe she has gone on to marry Hollywood Edge, but I understand authenticity only goes so far.)
- One (Bono’s “hear me calling, Lord” coda has not been forgotten. Yes!)
- Bullet the Blue Sky (100! 200! Need I say more? I will, though; there’s another costume change, and it’s so on point you’ll burst into tears again.)
- Running to Stand Still (The harmonica and the “Hallelujah” coda. It doesn’t get any better.)
- Desire (At this point, we’re into the final costume change of the night and this is where Joe looks more like Bono than ever, wearing the familiar buttoned-down shirt and rosary necklace from the Vertigo tour.)
- With Or Without You (It’s everything you would want a cover of WOWY to be, and it includes the coda to end all codas: “We’ll shine like stars in the summer night…”)
- Where the Streets Have No Name (If you love the notes Bono hit at Slane Castle, you’ll be happy.)
- Bad (It’s Bad! That’s all you need to know.)
See why I love them? In my opinion, this is the best U2 tribute there is. I don’t need to see any others, although I’m sure one day I will and I’ll be sorely disappointed because they don’t measure up to Hollywood U2. Next week, I’ll tell you about my interview with Joe Hier; he tells us what it’s like to be Hollywood Bono, and how he got started at it in the first place.
Brook
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