U2 Cover Band Surpises NCU

U2

TRASK ENERGY CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — Tuesday morning, while students were slipping into their respective seats for chapel, Professor Jeff Grenell and his U2 cover band were slipping into character. “It’s not an easy thing, Bono and The Edge are icons.” Grenell explained before the set. “You can’t just turn it on and off, I have to prepare at least four hours before every gig.”

The NCU students in attendance at the Trask Word and Worship Center had no idea that Tuesday was a surprise chapel. Most expected another 15-20 minutes of Hillsong originals followed by 30 minutes of cell phone bowling while a random professor drabbed on about “your generation”. The opening guitar line from “Where The Streets Have No Name” would quickly change that.

The surprise chapel appearance of Professor Grenell’s extra curricular pastime also boosted the overall chapel attendance Tuesday. The final tally was a 15% ratings boost over last year’s same date, but the ratings push still fell 50% short of this semester’s first day of Chapel.

The cover band ran through most all of U2’s greatest hits, including “Pride (In the Name of Love)”, “Beautiful Day”, and finished with a heart stopping rendition of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”. For the encore, Grenell came back on stage and sang an a capella version of “Sunday Bloody Sunday”. Sources say that there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

The concert ended on a downer though when Grenell stepped too far into character and got a little bit preachy. All in all it was a successful day for both Grenell and NCU, expect to see this amazing cover band a few more times before the year is through.

-BERNSTEIN