The river’s edge: If you’ve never made the brief sojourn down the Garden Highway to visit Swabbie’s Restaurant & Bar (5871 Garden Highway) for an outdoor concert, you still have time this summer. This wonderful little restaurant and bar—one of the area’s worst-kept secrets— is located right along the Sacramento River and hosts some of the best local and regional tribute acts.
Last Saturday’s soiree was no exception as Riff Raff (an AC/DC tribute band), Whoville (a Who tribute band) and the particularly fun sidestage act Two20 (a band that pays tribute to modern rock from the ’80s and ’90s) certainly delivered the goods.
Whoville singer Jeffry-Wynne Prince donned a British flag shirt and got the crowd front and center for most of the set. And although the band was distracted by a couple of technical difficulties, most in attendance didn’t notice any inconsistencies. In true rock ’n’ roll fashion, Whoville brushed it off.
The night’s headliner Riff Raff has been a staple on the Swabbie’s calendar for quite some time and for very good reason. Not only does singer Mike Barnes book the talent at the riverside venue, but he does a great job delivering Bon Scott and Brian Johnson classics.
From the opening notes of “Bad Boy Boogie” through to Johnson-era classics like “Have A Drink On Me” and “Hell’s Bells,” the band exhibited no shortage of enthusiasm. As the able rhythm section held it together, lead guitarist David Chapman worked the large outdoor crowd into a frenzy, aping every cool Angus Young move and then some.
Chapman, who also played with AC/DZ, is known by nearly every working tribute act on the scene for not only being a cool, easygoing dude, but a helluva showman. And while he spent most of the night standing on tables and sitting on fans while playing guitar, his antics left nearly everyone in the crowd smiling.
(SN&R)