Old Sacramento's tinier, tamer Mardi Gras

“Text your Mardi Gras thoughts to the TV.”

This message, displayed on multiple televisions inside the River City Saloon on Saturday night, implored Mardi Gras revelers to share their feelings, like a clingy girlfriend who just has to know what you're thinking.

“Cell # … 6850” obliged with, “Boobs for beads … front of the bar.” This was quickly followed by the classy caveat, “Sexy ladies only!!!”

Sadly for “Cell # … 6850” there didn't seem to be any takers on this generous offer. Most of the bars at Old Sacramento's Mardi Gras party were already handing out free beads with no nudity stipulations. The only nipples on public display were on the paintings inside Fanny Ann's Saloon.

Old Sacramento's Mardi Gras is a tinier, tamer, almost hesitant homage to the New Orleans celebration. It started promptly at 5 p.m. and officially ended around 10 p.m. A few people wore costumes, but the majority looked like any other Old Sacramento tourist. Outside the bars on the pub-crawl map, you wouldn't know it was Mardi Gras. The most telling outdoor sign of festivity was a line out the door of Joe's Crab Shack, which advertised free appetizers for anyone with a Mardi Gras wristband.

Inside the bars, signs of the holiday were also sparse. Except for River City's masquerade theme (props for the giant masks hanging from the ceiling), none of the bars really decorated or pushed New Orleans-inspired cocktails.

It was entirely up to the bar bands to hold down the party, which they did. Around 6:30 p.m. at O'Mally's Irish Pub, the Duchess Wilder Band had a dozen wild women dancing to its female-fronted, full-throated rendition of Joe Cocker's “Feelin' Alright.” Bonus: one young couple doing shots and grinding enough to make everyone feel awkward.

At Laughs Unlimited, the scene was nearly the same. The FOG's played a heartily entertaining version of “Gloria” by Them while a different drunk couple made everyone feel awkward. (His signature move involved crawling on his knees toward her crotch.)

In the basement of Vega's Underground an hour later, Cluster Phunk let loose with a “Super Freak”-“U Can't Touch This” medley that culminated with energetic frontman Dennis McBride break-dancing in the crowd.

At Fanny Ann's Saloon, YesterDays News covered Motown, country and classic rock in a mellow, jazz-tinged style. Older music fans relaxed on three rows of chairs while young women in miniskirts peered at the scene, then made quick exits for someplace more lively.

That someplace was River City Saloon, the night's most popular spot. It's a shame the bar has no dance floor, because Soul Rock City stole the cover-band crown with a surprising song list including Elton John's “Rocket Man,” Cameo's “Word Up,” and Prince's “Purple Rain.” The band was squished into a corridor near the bathrooms where boozed-up college girls in corsets danced inches away from middle-aged married couples as bar staff squeezed past with drink orders.

Still, the crush of bodies and the overpowering mixture of booze and drumbeats made it feel like New Orleans, if only for the length of a song.