Bono’s ‘Stories Of Surrender’ Book Tour Resumes In NYC

A table, a couple of chairs, and two horizontal electronic screens featuring drawings: they made up the generally minimalist stage setup at New York City’s Beacon Theatre Friday night for U2 singer Bono’s Stories of Surrender event. It was quite a stark departure for fans usually accustomed to seeing the performer with his band in big arenas and surrounded by large props. But this wasn’t the usual U2-related occasion—rather it was an intimate opportunity for audience-goers to find themselves immersed, through words and music, into the life and career of one of the most compelling singers in rock.

Last year, Bono published his memoir Stories of Surrender and, in promotion of it, did a worldwide 14-city book tour that began at the Beacon Theatre. Last week, the singer returned to the Big Apple for a residency of additional Stories of Surrender that runs through May 8.

For those attending one of the dates for the first time, this wasn’t Bono sitting down the entire time with an interviewer, reading passages from the book, and perhaps singing one or two songs in between. This was essentially a theatrical stage show with Bono doing a one-man performance lay in which he walked around, rearranged chairs, stood on a table at one point, and treated the passages from his book like monologues.

With music provided by percussionist/musical director Jacknife Lee, cellist Kate Ellis, and harpist/keyboardist Gemma Doherty, while drawings projected on the screen, it was kind of an interactive dive into aspects of Bono’s life where he talked about his upbringing in Ireland during the Troubles; the death of his mother Iris when he was only 14, which left a profound silence in his family’s household; the formation of U2 with the Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen and their journey to success; and his activism for worldwide social causes, including the (RED) campaign.

Sprinkled in during the presentation were mostly stripped-down interpretations of U2 songs that linked to an important moment in his life that he described. Among those songs during the Friday night show were “Out of Control” (on his discovery of punk during his youth, especially the music of the Ramones); “I Will Follow” (U2’s early breakthrough hit at a time when the band was still establishing their sound); “With or Without You” (which served as the title of the book’s chapter that mentions his girlfriend and now-wife Ali); and “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (after he referenced Live Aid, the global music event that U2 participated in).

A recurring theme throughout the evening was Bono’s relationship with his late father, Bob Hewson, whom his son recalled as having a tenor voice. Bono’s recollections about his father provided both poignant and humorous moments of the night, such as the time when Bono told his ‘da’ that he was invited by opera legend Luciano Pavarotti to perform with him for a benefit concert in Modena in 1995; it was at that event Bob, who came along with his son to the benefit, met Princess Diana, As Bono recalled both in the book and the show of his father’s reaction to meeting the famous royal: “’Lovely to meet you,’ he said, quivering. ‘I’m very well, thank you for asking.’ Eight hundred years of oppression disappearing in eight seconds.” Concluding the evening was Bono’s moving a capella performance of “Torna a Surriento,” sung in Italian, that served as a tribute to Bob.

Even though he wasn’t in an arena surrounded by the big fancy stage visuals with his U2 bandmates, Bono rose to the moment during the event with his charismatic persona and moves, sense of humor and wit, and of course his earnest yet passionate, ageless vocals (He also does a spot-on Bill Clinton impression). The Stories of Surrender presentation was just another example of the singer’s ability to connect with audiences, who returned his gesture with loud cheers before, during and after the event.

‘Stories of Surrender’ at the Beacon Theatre continues on April 26, 28 and 29, and on May 3, 4, 7 and 8.

Set List (April 21)

City of Blinding Lights (U2 song)

Vertigo (U2 song)

With or Without You (U2 song)

Into the Heart (U2 song)

Out of Control (U2 song)

Stories for Boys (U2 song)

I Will Follow (U2 song)

Iris (Hold Me Close) (U2 song)

Gloria (U2 song)

October (U2 song)

Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2 song)

Miss Sarajevo (Passengers song)

Pride (In the Name of Love) (U2 song)

Where the Streets Have No Name (U2 song)

Desire (U2 song)

Beautiful Day (U2 song)

Torna a Surriento (Ernesto De Curtis cover)