World's 'Second Best' U2 Band Headlines Sunday's Morgan Park Concert

If you couldn't beg, borrow or steal a seat at the last U2 world tour, or come up with the astronomical price of a ticket, you will be happy to hear that 2U, which bills itself as "the world's second best U2 show" will be on stage this Sunday at Morgan Park as the latest performers in that venue's Summer Music Festival.

The band's second best boast is not simply subjective hype; they have the accolades to back it up.

"Actually, we adopted that quote from a Mexican TV show, while touring Monterrey, Mexico City and Leon," said Joseph Cumia, who founded the band in 2002. "It's become synonymous with our band and is technically our full name."

Reviews in the U.S. have been similarly effusive.

"We've never seen any band come as close to the real thing as the U2 tribute band called 2U," crowed a reviewer in the Raleigh Telegram, after one of the band's concerts in that North Carolina city. "We rarely get excited about cover bands or tribute bands, but seeing 2U live and in person was truly amazing and you literally could not tell the difference between the real thing and this New York-based band just by listening."

Cumia, a self-proclaimed "huge fan" of U2 was motivated to start 2U by his love of the great Irish band's music and by his frustration with trying to get signed and selling original recordings. The band was handpicked when it was realized that U2 is arguably one of the biggest bands in rock history, and that, if performed to a T, legions of U2 fans would attend shows. That has definitely been proven to be the case, said Cumia.

Cumia assumes the personality of U2's The Edge on lead guitar and vocals.  On lead vocals as Bono is Anthony "Gene" Marchello, whose father, Peppi, played with "The Good Rats" at the Downtown Sounds show on July 9th.  Handling bass and vocals as Adam Clayton is Denis Perry, formerly of progressive rock cover band "Harpy." Taking on Larry Mullen Jr.'s drum duties is Timothy Bellew.

Among the band's U2 repertoire, "faithfully performed with exquisite attention," are: "Pride," "Vertigo," "With or Without You," "New Years Day," "One," "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "Elevation" and "Get On Your Boots."

Concerts at the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival are free to the public and begin at 7:30 p.m. in the park at Germaine Street between Landing Road and McLoughlin Street. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at St. Patrick's Parish Hall, Pearsall Avenue, Glen Cove.