UV: The U2 Tribute

Why see a tribute band when you can see the real thing? Well, when the real thing is U2, and nosebleed tickets go for about $85 each, a good tribute band goes a long way, which might explain the growing popularity of acts such as UV. An obsessive fan's dream come true, the boys of UV tour the world, pretending to be the arena-rock heroes. And though it may not possess Bono's gift of healing the world's pain and suffering, UV can play the tunes that made U2 the giant of the modern-rock era. Covering everything from U2's debut album, Boy, to 2004's somewhat disappointing How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, UV makes good on its promise to please cash-conscious fans. "For the people who can't afford a U2 ticket, we try to be as close to the real deal as possible; so when you close your eyes, you'll hear U2, and when you open your eyes, you'll see U2," says UV guitarist Eddie Steklasa, a.k.a. the Edge. Make sure to grab a few pints of Guinness with the extra cash. And who knows? You might not be able to tell the difference.