All-star hard-rock tribute act the Butlers play classic hits at Retro Junkie
Brought together by a love for hard-rock hits, all-star local covers outfit the Butlers delivers an array of radio staples and album cuts at Retro Junkie in Walnut Creek Saturday night with an opening set from Sammy Hagar tribute band Rock the Nation.
Founded by guitarists Billy Rowe (a veteran of '80s SF metal band Jetboy) and Craig Behrhorst (who played with Ruffians, another Bay Area metal act from the same era), the Butlers specialize in playing the blues-based rock songs from the '70s that inspired their respective bands. The band is filled out by musicians who have put in time with such local institutions as thrash-metal icons Exodus and Death Angel, sleazy punk merchants American Heartbreak and hard rockers Immigrant.
The players' collective connections in the music world also has led the band to welcoming a number of heavyweights onstage to perform, including former Ted Nugent singer Derek St. Holmes and longtime Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens. Frequently included on bills alongside other tribute bands, the Butlers reputation for putting on raucous, good time shows has led to spots opening for groups like Ratt, the late guitarist Ronnie Montrose's band Gamma and L.A. Guns.
While the group found its activity grind to a halt for much of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Butlers got creative with the downtime forced by the stay-at-home order. The band did a number of livestreamed shows at closed music venues, including an unplugged performance that found the Butlers delving into some different territory with covers of songs by Van Morrison, the Waterboys, Little Feat and Bob Dylan.
The band headlines this indoor show at Walnut Creek nightspot Retro Junkie Saturday night following an opening set from Rock the Nation Going Down, a San Jose Sammy Hagar tribute band that plays a career-spanning range of hits from the Red Rocker's early years with Montrose, his classic '70s and '80s solo hits as well as his later work with Van Halen and Chickenfoot. The group is made up of several Bay Area music veterans including lead guitarist Jeff Rye and notable drummer Jimmy DeGrasso (Megadeth,Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Suicidal Tendencies, Lita Ford, Ratt, and Y&T among others).
The Butlers and Rock the Nation
Saturday, March 16, 6 p.m. $10-$15
Retro Junkie