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Best Places To See Cover Bands In Sacramento

Cover bands from a variety of musical genres hit the stages at these Sacramento clubs and pubs.
Shady Lady Saloon
1409 R St.
Sacramento CA 95811
(916) 231-9121
shadyladybar.com

Shady Lady has live music five days a week, typically blues, jazz and country, from local bands and artists on tour. Past performers include Switch Blade Trio, bringing a sassy jazz groove to original works as well as covers from the great Booker T., Jimmy Smith, Richard Groove Holmes and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Sacramento-based Hot City plays a signature blend of hot jazz, rhumba and swing, and has covered classics like Fats Waller's "Squeeze Me" and "I've Found a New Baby" by Ethel Waters. The saloon's décor is speakeasy-sultry, with crimson Victorian sofas, gilt mirrors and red velvet- flocked wallpaper hung with portraits of bawdyhouse ladies. The atmosphere tends to be rather loud and rowdy which seems perfectly appropriate for a saloon by this name.

Swabbies On The River
5871 Garden Highway
Sacramento, CA 95837
(916) 920-8088
www.swabbies.com

Swabbies, a unique combination of hard-hitting rock club and chill Cabo beach party, has live music every weekend. Skid Roses hits the stage with tight pants, big hair and shades, covering '80s party hits from Poison, Guns N' Roses and Def Leppard. The fire pit and main stages often feature tribute bands, including Life in the Fastlane with Eagles music, Foreigner Unauthorized and Lynette Skynyrd, the all-girl version of the classic 1970s Southern rock icons. Check out ZZ Top hits with Tres Hombres and Daze on the Green, doing a wide range of covers by James Brown, Foo Fighters, Elvis, Wild Cherry, Pink Floyd, Rick James. The Cars, Bill Hailey and Eddie Money. Garratt Wilkin & the Parrot Heads bring Buffet tunes to Swabbies, perfect for the laid back beach vibe.

Related: Best Bars With A Patio In Sacramento

Opera House Saloon
411 Lincoln St.
Roseville, CA 95678
(916) 782-7513
www.operahousesaloon.com

The saloon books bands in a variety of genres, including the Purple Party with Prince tribute bands Midnight Players & Solsa. Rebel Yell is a 5-piece supergroup of seasoned veterans high-energy show featuring flawless of all the greatest 80s hits from Bon Jovi, Duran Duran, Madonna, Billy Idol and Pat Benatar. Get your swerve on with BlackWater, featuring covers by country and Southern rock stars Brantley Gilbert and Jason Aldean. Opera House is a two-story venue built in 1908, with a huge stage and dance floor upstairs, and a low key pub with pool tables below.

Harlow's Restaurant And Nightclub
2708 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 441-4693
www.harlows.com

Harlow's is a long-time player in the Sacramento music scene, with state of the art sound and light equipment for a true concert feel. Los Angeles dance-rock-punk group Moving Units does a full tribute show of 1970s' Joy Division tracks; selections include "Love Will Tear Us Apart", "She's Lost Control" and "Disorder". Traveling through the decades, next up is the stylized 80s group Tainted Love, with hits from Queen, Blondie, The Ramones, David Bowie, Wham, Tears For Fears, Depeche Mode and the Eurythmics. Saved By The 90s brings back covers from that decade from groups including Third Eye Blind, Spice Girls and Boys both Backstreet and Beastie. The nightclub also features tribute bands Steelin' Dan and Fleetwood Mask.

Powerhouse Pub
614 Sutter St.
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 355-8586
shows.powerhousepub.com

The Folsom pub presents musicians that play covers along with original songs, including country rockers Art Mulcahy and Roadside Flare with Tyler Farr numbers. Duran Duran Duran is a tribute band and 80s and 90s hits come from Lost in Suburbia. Disco Revolution brings people to the dance floor with covers of Michael Jackson, Morris day, Rose Royce, Kool & The Gang and the Bee Gees. Country hits are on tap with The Cripple Creek Band, and dance cover band Wonderbread5 plays 70s – 90s numbers.

Related: Best Bars With Jukeboxes In Sacramento

Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers business, employment, animal rescue, volunteerism and nonprofits.
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