Since the nation began tightening its collective economic belt, most live music venues and performers have suffered. Tribute bands, however, have managed to weather the economic storm and are even thriving within this dismal financial environment with sold-out shows and increased demand.

In the strange world of tribute bands, musicians seek fame by impersonating Keith or Mick, Paul or Ringo. Most musicians understand that they will never actually achieve the success of the Rolling Stones but they can be like the Stones, or The Beatles or Eddie Van Halen by playing the part in a tribute band.

A tribute band dedicates itself wholly and sometimes obsessively to one particular group, the idea being to emulate as close as possible that band in look and sound.

Many credit the birth of the modern tribute band to a Broadway production in the late 1970s called "Beatlemania" in which Steve Lieber, a big time rock and roll manger for bands such as Aerosmith, The Scorpions and Ted Nugent, went to great lengths to capture the look, sound and feel of the fab four. The production itself was a critical flop, but savvy musicians took note of the rabid support the show received from dedicated Beatles fans and soon realized that money could be made from the loyal fan base of already popular groups. The tribute band was born.

In an age when famous rock groups charge $100 or more for a ticket, today's concert-going public faces a difficult conundrum: resigning to paying increasingly exorbitant concert ticket prices or forgoing that desire in lieu of financial responsibility. In today's harsh economic environment, the tribute band is playing a vital role in bridging that gap, offering a surprising realistic alternative for hardcore fans, often in a much more intimate setting.

"It could easily cost a family over $600 to see AC/DC and you're still going to be in the nosebleed section, when they can come out and see Whole Lotta Rosie for 20 bucks and get even more of that rock 'n' roll experience close up," said Shannon Bizzy, fillin bassist for the extremely popular all-girl AC/DC tribute band Whole Lotta Rosie.

Bizzy currently fronts her own Black Sabbath tribute, Mistress of Reality. "Mistress is selling out every show we do and the fans just can't get enough. It's kind of amazing to see," she said.

"When times are hard, people still want to get out and party. It's a form of escapism," said Clark Souter, member of Moneyshot, a '70s-'80s rock tribute band. "We bring the fans back to a time and place that they remember. It's a very nostalgic experience."

Souter and the members of Moneyshot have a unique perspective, having actually played with many of the bands whose music they replicate on stage, such as Gary Wright and Poison.

"We have toured and recorded with a lot of these guys, so we tend to be just as big of a fan of these bands as the fans who come see Moneyshot perform their songs. The only difference is $90 bucks, give or take," said Souter.

The Canyon club in Agoura Hills will present these tribute bands in upcoming concerts: Wild Child, a tribute to the music of The Doors, Jan. 24; Lights, a tribute to Journey, and Queen Nation, a tribute to Queen, Jan. 30; Fantastic Diamond, a tribute to the music of Neil Diamond, Feb. 14. For more information, call (818) 879-5016 or visit www.thecanyonclub.net.