In an area that has given birth to such rock bands as Third Eye Blind and Green Day, and such music movements as hyphy, the San Francisco Bay Area has become known as an area that is dominated by rock and hip hop music. In San Francisco and San Jose, almost nothing but rock and hip-hop music is playing in bars and clubs. Sure, every now and again a classic rock song, or an oldie will blare from the jukebox in a dive bar, but the one type of music that seems to be noticeably lacking in the Bay Area is country music.

Despite the lack of enthusiasm for the country western culture, one of the more popular nightclubs, among the twenty-somethings in the Bay Area has a country western theme. The Saddle Rack, which is located in Fremont and has been open since April of 2003, is a nightclub that offers something other than the abundant number of clubs promoting only rock or hip hop nightlife.

“This place is definitely different than any of the other places I have been to in this area. I mean they have a dance floor that’s only used for line dancing and a mechanical bull,” Keri Soto, 23, a Fremont native, states. “I have had some good times here, I mean, it’s a bar and people come from all over because of what it offers; not to mention the hot cowboy wannabes that show up.”

It is evident just from the outside that the Saddle Rack has a cowboy theme to it because when driving up, people who are waiting outside, are sporting cowboy hats and lots of denim. Girls with short denim skirts and tan cowboy boots, as well as guys with cowboy hats and denim jeans stand in large numbers waiting to get inside and dance to their favorite country songs.

“Not everyone who goes to the Saddle Rack is a ‘cowboy wannabe,’” Amanda George, 25, says, adding that the nightclub does offer country line dance lessons on certain weeknights.

“[I mean] people shouldn’t go to The Saddle Rack and expect to see everyone decked out head to toe in cowboy gear, that just isn’t realistic,” George adds. “A lot of people wear cowboy boots or a cowboy hat, but mainly people dress as if they were going to any other bar that night.”

And just like any other nightclub in the Bay Area, The Saddle Rack has a cover charge at the door. On Wednesday and Thursday nights the cover is $5, while Fridays and Saturdays before 10 p.m. it is $10, and after it is $20.

One of the more amusing reasons people go to The Saddle Rack is due to the fact that it sports a mechanical bull as one of its biggest attractions. It costs $3 to ride and has a weight limit of 200 pounds.

“I love watching the drunk chicks try and ride the bull,” Chris Eggers, 24, states as he lets out a giant chuckle. “It is so funny just watching them try and get on, and then once they are on they are so clumsy and hammered that they just fall right off. It’s hilarious!”

Most of the time there are a number of people crowded around the bull, watching the riders try their best to stay on and cheering them on as they ride.

“There is something to be said when your best friend, like on their 21st birthday, rides the bull,” Eggers says. “I mean they are usually really drunk because it’s their birthday and then if you know the person, and they just eat it, it is even better because you can make fun of them after.”

In addition to the mechanical bull there is a section in the nightclub where there is, what The Saddle Rack calls, a “margarita chair.” For $6, a patron sits in the chair, while a bartender leans the chair back and begins to pour all the alcohol included in a margarita into their mouth. After that she rings a bell and the patron stands up feeling dazed, even drunker than before.

It is truly a unique bar because of its country-western-themed environment, and because it is nestled in the Bay Area. So if you are looking to try something new, check out The Saddle Rack in Fremont, but only if you can handle large amounts of country western in generous dosages.

How to Properly Ride the Mechanical Bull:

- Hop on, and make sure you have a tight grip on the metal handle.
- When the ride begins, lean back when the front of the bull is facing down.
- They stop and start the bull periodically, making the ride more difficult to stay on.
- When the bull begins to spin, use those strong thigh muscles to hold on tight.
- When you fall off, try and fall on your butt making for a softer landing.
- Girls, if you attempt to ride the bull, DO NOT wear a skirt because when you fall, it is likely your skirt will fly up, revealing your under garments.
- Finally, being slightly inebriated makes you think you can conquer anything, even riding a mechanical bull.