Local cover bands rise above the din

John Ringer, 41, figured he hadn't been out to a club to see a live band in at least a year. So when he finally chose to hit Jersey's Bar in Inver Grove Heights with his girlfriend last month, he said, "I didn't want to go out and hear music I've never heard before. What fun is that?"

Fun and familiarity are the driving forces behind cover bands such as the one Ringer came to see, Brat Pack Radio. Like Boogie Wonderland before it, the '80s jukebox group sets itself apart from the crowd of cover bands by dressing up in wigs and costumes and using fake names, such as Holly Ringwald and Gilbert Downey Jr. (faux siblings to the so-called Brat Pack of actors).

"There's nothing worse than a cover band that takes itself too seriously," said Ryan Lance, who leads Brat Pack Radio along with his wife, Heidi Jo Langseth. "Our philosophy is to be as silly as possible."

No strangers to the "serious" music business -- Ryan is a member of the holiday-flurry a cappella group the Blenders, and Heidi is an older sister of blues-rock star Jonny Lang -- the husband-and-wife team dreamed up the idea for Brat Pack Radio after a few nights out singing karaoke. Realizing the novelty appeal of the synth-laden '80s pop songs they grew up with, Ryan recalled, "We thought, 'Why don't we try to do this for real and get paid?' "

They're getting paid, all right. Thanks to the demand in suburban bars, county fairs and small-town festivals, cover bands often can make more money per gig and play more gigs per month than an original band playing hipper venues.

"We're happy playing the suburban bars because they usually pay best," admitted Lance, who said the payoff is "we get to support our family this way."

Mike Findling, whose old metal band Slave Raider was one of the most popular local groups of the '80s, is getting paid almost as much after only four years with his costumed cover band Hairball.

"In Slave Raider, we had a record deal that gave us a $10,000 advance, but we somehow wound up owing $15,000," Findling said. "You don't have to deal with anything like that in a cover band."

But both Findling and another cover-band frontman, Adam Levy of the '70s soul-rock group Hookers & Blow, say there's a lot more to it than the money:

"It's not like I thought it'd become any big cash cow," said Levy, who also leads the well-known original pop-rock band the Honeydogs. Levy likened his all-star ensemble to a "bowling night musical experience" for its musicians and said, "If it weren't fun, we wouldn't be doing it."

Said Findling, "Entertaining people is always rewarding, however you do it."

The best-known and probably best-paid cover band in town, disco-machinists Boogie Wonderland can make close to $10,000 on a weekend night, local club promoters said. Most original bands are lucky to make $1,000.

The tradeoff is that cover bands earn a high degree of disrespect from critics and musicians. Some of Boogie Wonderland's members have played in respected original bands, but they hide behind pseudonyms as well as wigs and sunglasses in this alter-ego act. The band members declined to be interviewed for this story because, their manager said, "They haven't liked some of the things written about them in the press."

Maybe it doesn't work with a book, but you certainly can judge a band by its covers -- even if the members are covered in hokey stage attire that looks stolen from a Party Warehouse. Here's a side-by-side comparison of four of the hottest (and in some cases hairiest) cover bands in town.

Boogie Wonderland

Their songs: "Get Down Tonight,"Get Down on It,"I Will Survive,"That's the Way (I Like It),"Hot Stuff."

Their costumes: While frontwoman Christy Love wears anything that flaunts her "flawless features" (their website's terminology), the guys in the band don enough polyester shirts, chest-revealing jumpsuits, gold chains and 'fro-sized wigs to put Studio 54 back in business.

Their story: The grand poohbahs of the cover-band scene, they have dominated the business for much of their eight years.

Their review: There really is nothing worse than a cover band that takes itself too seriously, especially when it's playing music from one of the silliest eras of rock 'n' roll. What it lacks in humor, though, the quintet does make up for in musical know-how. But really, do you need a great singer to perform "Get Down Tonight"?

Their shows: Highland Fest in St. Paul (7 p.m. today); Lord Fletcher's in Spring Park (4 p.m. Sun.); Champp's in Eden Prairie (9 p.m. Thu.).

Brat Pack Radio

Their songs: "Don't You (Forget About Me),"Billie Jean,"Nasty Boys,"Whip It,"Sweet Dreams,"Rio,"Living on a Prayer."

Their costumes: Lots of pink, upturned collars, checkered material and other items you might have seen in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" or "The Breakfast Club."

Their story: Two years ago, husband-and-wife team Ryan Lance and Heidi Jo Langseth saw the light, or at least the gazillion reruns of VH1's "I Love the '80s," and started this musical parody.

Their review: Probably the corniest act you'll see outside of an amusement park. Their jokes are appropriately silly but sound as canned as the audio samples they play from John Hughes movies. The music is mostly by-the-book, but it's a surprisingly large book: seemingly every rock, R&B or pop hit that went top 40 during the Reagan administration.

Their shows: New Brighton Stockyard Days at Long Lake Park (7 p.m. today); Rockford River Days at Riverside Park (8 p.m. Saturday); the Blue Fox in Arden Hills (Aug. 19).

Hairball

Their songs: "Welcome to the Jungle,"You Shook Me All Night Long,"Girls Girls Girls,"We're Not Gonna Take It,"You Got Another Thing Coming,"I Can't Drive 55."

Their costumes: To imitate the metal gods, the band's two singers alternate between a variety of wigs, headbands, ripped Ts and fake lips (for Steven Tyler).

Their story: Led by former Slave Raider singer Mike Findling, a k a Chainsaw, the four-year-old quintet is a group of actual hair-band veterans who gave up on original material to play the metal hits of the '70s and '80s.

Their review: Actually more fun than Judas Priest's or Mötley Crüe's concerts this year. As with disco, there's a knowingly cheesy element to hair-band metal that makes for good novelty value. Unlike disco, the music does require some musical chops and (for the singers) the ability to wail like a banshee. These guys do it well, especially guitarist Mike Schneider.

Their shows: City Celebration in Gaylord, Minn. (8 p.m. Sat.); Buster's in Mankato (Aug. 19); Bogart's in Apple Valley (Aug. 27).

Hookers & Blow

Their songs: "Can't You Hear Me Knocking,"Mama Told Me (Not to Come),"Living for the City,"Shining Star,"Why Can't We Be Friends?"

Their costumes: Urban-outfitted hipster wear for 30- and 40-somethings.

Their story: Ranging from eight to 10 members, depending on who can make it, the all-for-fun side-band was formed in 2002 by the Honeydogs' Adam Levy with other seasoned players such as guitarist George McKelvey (Rhythm Jones), drummer Tom Scott (Greazy Meal) and fellow Honeydogs Trent Norton and Pete Sands. Their specialty is horn-driven '70s rock and R&B.

Their review: While other cover bands try to imitate the look and sound of their subjects, these guys (and powerhouse female singer Andra Suchy) seem interested only in maintaining the spirit and energy. Sometimes they stoop to worn-out fare, such as "Dancing Queen." But often they find deeper album cuts and old nuggets you thought you'd never hear again -- at least not as live as this.

Their shows: Mayslack's in Minneapolis (10 p.m. today); Gluek's in Minneapolis (10 p.m. every Thu.).

Other cover bands with schtick

•Retrophonic: Boogie Wonderland offshoot that combines '70s grooves with '80s-'90s hits.

• Fixx of Seagulls: Another big-haired '80s jukebox group.

•Gel: Alt-rock from the '90s to present, such as Pearl Jam, Nickelback and Audioslave.

• The Dweebs: Family band that dresses like nerds and plays oldies as well as recent rock hits.

• Rockin' Hollywoods and Whitesidewalls: Grandfathers of the costumed cover-band gimmick, both of these '50s-'60s dance bands are still active.