Chattanooga may not play host to big-name acts as often as we might like, but in Scenic City, we have ways of getting around that: tribute bands.

With tribute bands (sometimes loftily referred to as experiences), you get a passable imitation of the real thing for a fraction of the price. If done well, this can feel a bit like watching the real band through your peripheral vision.

When I first came to Chattanooga, I was astounded by the number of these groups flooding the weekly concert calendar. Even more amazing was how phenomenally popular many of them are.

Whether you’re a fan of Guns N’ Roses (Appetite for Destruction), Michael Jackson (Who’s Bad), Led Zeppelin (ZOSO) or random hits of the ’80s and ’90s (80Z Enuff/The Breakfast Club) there’s probably a group to suit you.

Considering the disappointing turnout we have for touring acts like Raul Malo, who couldn’t garner enough support to warrant a show last November, it might be hard to understand why tributes have such a huge draw.

Maybe its because the stage show of these bands has to make up for the lack of original material.

From the triptastic audio/visual display of Pink Floydian Slip’s performances to the elaborate costuming of an Abbey Road Live! anniversary special, it’s not impossible for a tribute show to feel pretty close to the real deal.

Think I’m imagining things? You’re obviously not one of the ecstatic fans packing out Rhythm & Brews every time Abbey Road Live! or the Velcro Pygmies perform.

Last Saturday, I arrived at the Pygmies latest Chattanooga appearance about half hour before the show kicked off. Then, the floor was crowded enough to look like a good turnout on any other night, but by the time the lights shut off and the cheesy pre-recorded introduction played, the place was a sweltering, teeming mass of humanity.

As much as I love local bands that play their own music, a Pygmies show is undeniably exciting.

Their lighting rack would be sufficient for a much larger stage and provides so much heat when it’s turned on that I began to empathize with toaster pastries. To top it off, Cameron Fiener (lead vocals), Chris Eddins (drums), Jason “Dep” Reed (bass) and Angel (guitar) move around the club, showboating like they’re at Atlanta’s Philips Arena.

After several hours, I’d breathed in enough smoke to give cause for alarm and was developing a headache, but I was still smiling and belting out choruses through a decidedly sore throat.

On their Web site, the group call what they do Barena Rock, and after seeing them bring down the house, it’s hard to argue. Tributes might not play their own music, but they work harder to convince you it doesn’t matter.

Don’t believe me? See for yourself, Slippery When Wet: A Tribute to Bon Jovi is playing tonight at Rhythm & Brews. The show starts at 10 p.m. Cover is $8.