U2 Online Fanzine - U2 Blog

U2 is one of the few bands that has remained both popular and relevant for a three-decade span. In that time, the band has undoubtedly touched millions around the world with its music.

Mike Jackson, Tony Trevino, Gary Bertoncin and Pat Ross were four of those millions.

“I’ve always liked the ambience that they have,” says Jackson, who has been a U2 fanatic since “The Joshua Tree” was released. “I appreciate the spiritual element to their music.”

One night in 2005, Jackson and Trevino played the U2 hit “I Will Follow” at a bar. After the performance, they both realized how close they sounded to the real thing, so they elected to get a four-piece band together to play a St. Patrick’s Day party. They called themselves Rattle and Hum, after the moniker of U2’s well-received 1988 album.

“We put it together rather loosely,” Jackson, the band’s Bono (lead singer), admits. “I figured we’d play one or two shows. Here we are, still playing three years later.”

Three years later, the band is billed as the premier U2 tribute group. They have played venues as notable as the Record Bar and the Voodoo Lounge. Rattle and Hum may be so highly regarded because of its devotion to U2’s music rather than the supergroup’s image.

“We really wanted to be sonically true to U2,” Jackson says. “We feel we’re the best in the country at recreating U2’s sound. Some tributes only go for the look, but we don’t try to be a parody of U2. None of us wear wigs or try to look like them.”

Mike Bransfield, manager of the First Ward House, couldn’t agree more. Rattle and Hum will play at the venue at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29.

“If you shut your eyes,” Bransfield says, “(you would have) thought it was the real deal.”