The Joshua Tree

The Joshua Tree. Rye, New Hampshire. July 24, 2025

Jason Landry, contributor

If I can’t have U2 play a concert at the beach a few minutes from my house, the next best thing would be seeing The Joshua Tree, the premiere U2 cover band.

On this warm July night, The Joshua Tree performed a sold-out show in Rye, NH as part of the Music By The Sea concert series at the Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point State Park.

After finding a shady spot and swatting away one pesky black fly that wouldn’t leave us alone, the band finally kicked off the night with the U2 classic, New Years Day.

From there they ripped through many familiar tracks including Bullet the Blue Sky, Desire, One Tree Hill, Mysterious Ways, In Gods Country, Where The Streets Have No Name, and The Sweetest Thing. I lost track after that.

The front of the stage was packed the entire night. A nice, cool breeze rolled in off the Atlantic Ocean as everyone danced and sang along to the tunes like they were at a high school reunion reliving their youth. All the while their children were running around in circles at the back of the large white banquet tent like a little kids mosh pit. That’s the true sign that fun was had by both old and young.

The band sounded amazing. I’ve seen U2 twice in large arenas and they are some of the best shows I’ve ever seen. These musicians playing tonight are well versed in the U2 catalogue and have the chops to show for it. I’m looking forward to them returning next summer and bringing all my friends.