One of the coolest things the music community in Sacramento does each year is the “Dead Rockstars Tribute,” held at Old Ironsides every Halloween. Every year, the biggest bands in town get together to dress up and perform covers by their favorite bands with dead members – I know it sounds morbid, but it?s Halloween!

The event is always exciting – or so I?ve heard, because this was my first year. But if this year was any indication, the tribute is a really kick-ass place to be on Halloween.

The night consisted of a dozen bands ranging from country to punk rock, all out to have some fun and just be silly. Since there were 12 bands, I?m simply going to touch on the highlights of the evening in order of their appearance.

The Riff Randals, an all-female punk band, was “replaced” suddenly by the Beach Boys. The girls were dressed in red and white-stripped beach shirts and covered some of the Beach Boys? greatest hits. However, they did it really badly – I think on purpose – so it made the set even more classic.

Victory Gin was another band that played at the show, though for only one or two songs. But the last (or only) song they played was a hauntingly amazing version of Jeff Buckley?s “Grace.” These guys played this song with so much passion that it gave me chills. I honestly thought the lead singer was going to fall over when the song ended, but he gathered enough energy and air to simply say “thanks.” One word describes it: “whoa.” That performance was definitely among the top three of the evening.

The last two bands played so well I thought I was actually watching two of the biggest bands in history play right before my eyes.

Popgun went on as The Beatles, and The Knockoffs went as punk rock kings The Ramones. It was scary how much the two bands looked, sounded and acted like those they were emulating. I was impressed, and so was the rest of the crowd.

Popgun donned their mop-top wigs and covered Beatles hits, among them a sing-along of “Hard Days Night,” and closing out the night was a lengthy set by The Knockoffs. They played greats by The Ramones, including “Hey, Ho,” “Rock n Roll High School” and “Sedated.”

The Halloween show is something that happens only once a year – and that?s unfortunate, because a show that good that brings so many bands together to simply have some fun should be held every day. But alas, we all must work at some point.