The night was unforgettable.
Loyal U2 fans rocked out to tribute band Unforgettable Fire as Aviator Sports and Events Center turned Marine Park turned into a discothèque on July 15 for its summer concert series. And one fan said he had found what he was looking for — the four-piece band looked and sounded so much like the real deal it made ohim feel as if he were in the presence of Bono, The Edge, and those other two guys.
“It was wonderful. They looked like the group, sounded the group,” said Canarsian Anthony Anderson. “The sound quality alone was excellent, if you closed your eyes, you would have thought you were at a U2 concert. And each member actually looks like a real U2 member — Bono, The Edge.”
Anderson, a soldier in the United States Army, was persuaded by a friend and long-time U2 fan to come see the band as soon as he got back from his tour in Afghanistan a little less than a year ago — and it was an easy sell because he and his buddies jam out to the Irish rockers whenever they have free time, said Anderson.
“When we are in Afghanistan we play their music. We play Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ we sing songs, we sing U2,” he said. “I relate to their music.”
And another loyal fan who took the song title “I Will Follow” literally traveled from distant New Jersey to see the band for nearly his 30th time, he said.
“I love that band. We’ve been following them for like five or six years. They are the best thing,” said Ryan Murdoch. “I just love them, want to see them again.”
It was the group’s first time at Aviator, but faithful fans made it feel like a sort of homecoming, said lead singer Tony Russo, who plays Bono.
“Our die-hard fans showed up, we have a good contingency of fans,” he said. “It was a fun time, it was our first time there and they just started doing bands outside. It turned out to be a great night.”
They’ll play an encore show on Sept. 9.
“Aviator Summer Music Series” at Aviator Sports and Events Center [3159 Flatbush Ave. in Floyd Bennett Field in Marine Park, (718) 758–7500, www.aviat
