All in fun: 15-year bar-scene vets Tone Def All-Stars don't take things too seriously

At That One Bar on a Saturday night, Poison's "Talk Dirty To Me" is one of the first songs on the Tone Def All-Stars' set list.

Which is fitting.

"That's the way we like it," singer Darren Burgfeld concludes.

After all, Tone Def's enduring popularity on the Cape Girardeau bar circuit is as much due to the band's sense of humor as it is its music.

Bassist Patrick Koetting said the band's unpretentious, often self-effacing style came about naturally, when the band formed more than 15 years ago as the open-mic-night go-to gang at the old Jeremiah's.

"There was this chalkboard where you'd write the band names, and at first we were a whole list of not-newspaper-friendly names," he explained. "Tone Def was born from songs that were parodies and rude, adult stuff."

But after a while, they coalesced into a more formal band, ditching the dirty names, but keeping the dirty jokes.

"[The band's formation] came from sitting in a bar and playing music that people wanted to hear," Koetting said. "Anything that would keep them dancing and engaged. We don't play a lot of self-serving songs. A major factor is if the crowd's going to dig it."

And during that 15-year history, the Tone Def All-Stars have worked out the right way to be a cover band. It's not just about playing people's favorite songs. That's easy. Tone Def makes people's favorite songs fun with a wink and a nod and a grin.

"I've heard it described as comedy-rock," guitarist Matt Pyeatte said. "It's a question that always comes up, but really to know what stuff we play, [someone] would just have to come and see the band. We'll cram all the genres into one set, much less one show."

Despite their comfort embracing the pop-ska lovable-slacker shtick, they're much more talented musically than the name implies. It's Radiohead with a skanking beat, a Black Sabbath/Erykah Badu mash-up and Warren G mixed with obscure YouTube phenomena. Tone Def romps between styles and usually has the chops to do it.

Musical ability aside, they've got the charisma to pull off (and pull the crowd into singing the refrain of) NOFX's "Kill All the White Man." Not easily done.

But their most endearing attribute is how expertly they avoid taking themselves too seriously. When the wheels fall off halfway through the Beatles' "I Want You," it's not so much a problem as it is a part of the show.

"Welp," keyboardist Craig Marshall told the crowd matter-of-factly. "That, uh -- just so you guys know, I voted against that one."

"Our set list is a democracy, folks," singer Burgfeld agreed.

"Yeah, most of it never even makes it out of committee," drummer Ron Ruppel added.

Cue rimshot.

Ruppel says the band's shows are like Missouri weather. If you don't like it, wait. It'll change soon.

They're playing next at That One Bar on Feb. 28, and Koetting says everyone is invited if they're not a stick in the mud.

"It's a good time if you don't take yourself too seriously," he said.

And he's right; Tone Def is fun. And if you're not having fun, it's probably your own fault for being wound so tight.

tgraef@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinenent address:

36 N. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, MO