There's nothing like heading to the local honky-tonk on a Saturday night and kickin' up your heels to the beat.
Country music is a way of life for many people in Arizona and much of the country, but there are few places featuring live country music here in the Valley.
Handlebar-J and Buffalo Chip Saloon fill that void and their live entertainment has made them extremely successful.
Patrons decked out in their cowboy hats and boots hit the dance floor the moment the music starts. These establishments resemble the Old West: saloons with rustic decorations.
Handlebar-J, located just north of Shea Boulevard on Becker Lane, one block west of Scottsdale Road, has stood the test of time and is known for live music every night of the week.
The John Allen Band is featured on Mondays and Tuesdays and the Herdon Brothers entertain Wednesday through Sunday night to round off the weekend's festivities. These bands cover popular country songs but also jam to rock and roll sometimes.
Cowboy hats line the ceiling of this rustic bar, frequented by celebrities such as Toby Keith, Vince Gill, Kenny Chesney, and Tracy Byrd -- some of whom have been known to play a set with the house band, according to owner Gwen Herdon.
Rows of lights across the ceiling brighten up the dance floor, which is packed with two-steppers during every single song.
On a recent Wednesday night, the bar was packed with over 150 people singing along to the music and kicking back with an ice-cold beer. Handlbar-J provides free dance lessons on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday nights at 7 p.m.
It is not unusual to see men "dressed to the nines" in suit jackets, Wrangler jeans and of course, their cowboy hats. The ladies come decked out in jeans and blouses, but most leave their cowboy hats at the table to keep their hair looking fresh. Everyone comes looking their best for an evening of dining and dancing.
"This restaurant and bar is not a chain. It is totally different from everywhere else because it is a place for all ages," says Herdon.
Handlebar-J is not the only bar to offer an authentic Western environment.
Buffalo Chip Saloon, located on Cave Creek Road, is about 45 minutes from Tempe, but if you choose to make the trip, it will be worth your while. The Pat James Band and Geoff Conklin entertain patrons of Buffalo Chip Saloon every Thursday through Sunday night.
The restaurant and bar is unique because of its remote location, and it is not uncommon to see a horse "parked" outside, according to manager Sandra Mclemore.
"This is a real honky-tonk. We've got real cowboys that do the work, not just dress up. People sometimes ride up on their horses and come in for dinner and dancing," she says.
Authentic cowboy boots and Western artwork decorate the ceiling of Buffalo Chip Saloon. The kitchen entrance looks like a covered wagon from the 1800s.
Owner Larry West says, "[Buffalo Chip] has grown to encompass 5 acres making it one of the most authentic dance halls and saloons in the country."
Buffalo Chip Saloon provides entertainment for everyone. Every weekend there is live music, both indoors and outdoors on two stages. Traveling outside is like taking a trip back in time. Centered around a fire pit, there are multiple dance floors, several bars, horseshoe pits, a volleyball court, and Western gear scattered through the "Wagon Camp."
These bars are places where everyone feels comfortable. They have a traditional style and attitude to boot.
"A lot of ladies come here [Handlebar-J]. They say it's the only place they feel safe coming by themselves," says Herdon.
Larry Went, owner of Buffalo Chip Saloon, says, "live in the now, but play in the 1800s."
If you go:
Handlebar-J, 7116 E. Becker Lane. Free dance lessons Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 7p.m. and live music every night 9p.m.-2a.m. 480.948.0110.
Buffalo Chip Saloon. 6811 E. Cave Creek Road. 480.488.9118. Free line dancing lessons Thursday and live music Thursday through Sunday 9p.m.-2a.m.
Reach the reporter at callie.parkinson@asu.edu.
