Long Live Mock ’n’ Roll

Tribute bands can be a rather divisive subject in the rock world. Copycat acts like Beatallica and Atomic Punks pack in crowds across the country by aping bands like the Beatles and Van Halen, but they also get grumblings about siphoning off the glory of has-beens. Frankly, we dig ’em, if for no other reason than economics. Why drop hundreds of greenbacks to see such arena heroes as Poison or the Police when we can spend a meager $10 to watch their nearest equivalents provide a perfectly acceptable facsimile? To wit: the musical mimics of Töo Fast för Löve, VooDoo, KISSmania, and the Alice in Chains Tribute Band, who’ll provide their respective imitations of Mötley Crüe, Godsmack, KISS, and, uh . . . Alice in Chains during Rockin’ at the Red. A number of non-tribute bands are also on the bill, including Vanity Tweak, Contrast, Headrust, Bomber, and Paperboy Jack.
Sat., May 3, 7 p.m., 2008