Local musicians to pay tribute to the music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

The last time The Rude Dog Pub hosted a tribute night, organizer and guitarist Adam Hellman didn't know how it would fare; he just knew he had to learn a whole stack of classic songs from roots-rock icons The Band.

"We thought we would enjoy it and it would maybe be a nice community builder," Hellman said. "But that might possibly be the most fun I ever had playing music. So the next day, we said, 'We have to do another one.'"

And though there are plenty of people who love The Band -- or at least love "The Weight" -- the resounding success of that first tribute show prompted Hellman and his bandmates from Evan Webb and the Rural Route Ramblers to try for a more accessible musician to honor in the hope of drawing an even bigger crowd.

This time, it's Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

"Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are one of the more important American rock bands of the last 30 years or so," Hellman said. "They cover a lot of musical territory, so we kind of thought they would be a natural candidate for our next choice."

Evan Webb plays guitar during the first Evan Webb Tribute Series in March.Laura Simon

Since the Rural Route Ramblers will perform several songs on their own, as well as serving as a backing band of sorts for a host of other guest musicians from around the area, Hellman said the last several weeks have been just as busy as the runup to the first show with a stack of classic rock numbers to learn.

While tribute shows such as these involve a lot of work, Hellman said it's given him a deeper appreciation for the place Petty's work occupies in the rock landscape.

"First of all, I guess importance is a relative term, but Tom Petty is something personally which has kind of formed our musical tastes, informed our playing and our songwriting," he said of himself and his bandmates. "And during the late '70s into the '80s, there aren't a lot of American rock bands who weren't 'hard rock' bands that achieved a lot of commercial success. ... He's kind of alone in that; a kind of quasi-roots rock thing."

The strength of Petty's songwriting, Hellman said, is in its simplicity.

"I've listened to more Tom Petty in the last month probably than I have in my entire life and I'm still not tired of it," he said. "I think that's really a testament to how good the songs are. There's enough depth and nuance to make you want to come back to them."

Evan Webb and Adam Hellman play during the first show of the Evan Webb Tribute Series in March at Rude Dog Pub in downtown Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

And it's not just "Free Fallin'." Hellman said there are enough recognizable hits to fill two nights of playing and still not exhaust Petty's catalog.

Bringing their own touches to songs will be area musicians, including Matt Gates and Jason Heeter of Shugyo; Brett and Justus Richardet of Tungsten Groove; Sam Godwin and Jesse McAllister of the Intention; Caleb Davis, aka Small Stares; Jimmy Lee of the Outlaw Saints; Mike Renick of the Mike Renick Band; vocalist Jennifer Leigh; and Stuart Matthews.

"Cape has an appetite for live music, and these type of events are a lot of fun," Hellman said. "With events like these, we think that in Cape, there are the venues and the people who enjoy it and they're worth it. We just want to encourage more of it."

The show will start at 9 p.m. Saturday at The Rude Dog Pub, 123 Main St. in downtown Cape Girardeau.

"And this is not going to be our last one," Hellman said.

Justin Boswell sings during the first Evan Webb Tribute Series in March at Rude Dog Pub in downtown Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

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Pertinent address:

123 Main St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.