Take the Beatles, mix in some Elton John and ZZ Top and then add a big shot of Skynyrd and you have the kind of music that you’ll hear when Sinful takes the stage at the Felix Street Experience Oktoberfest.

“Every song we pop off, everybody knows,” says bass player Doc Decker.

Doc and his bandmates, Ted Paxson and Kenny “Poppy” Dewitt, will be the live entertainment at the Oktoberfest, which will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 18 at Felix Street Square.

The event is co-sponsored by the St. Joseph Downtown Partnership and Buffalo Bar, Felix Street Pub, Foster’s, Rendezvous, Shaft Nightclub, Snakebite Club and Hammerjacks. The Oktoberfest is one way to bring people downtown, says Becky Boerkircher of the St. Joseph Downtown Partnership.

“Once they come down here,” she says, “they’ll realize it’s a cool place to be.”

In addition to the live music, there will be a DJ, a brat-eating contest and a celebrity brat-eating contest featuring DJ Dan Michaels and KQ2 newsman Nathan Byrne. There also will be specialty beers (pumpkin is one of them) available from Boulevard Beer and St. Joe Beverage, says Nathan Carr of Foster’s. The St. Joseph Downtown Partnership also will be selling food (catered by Hy-Vee).

The brat-eating contest will be limited to 12 contestants, and you must be 21 to enter, says Crystal Mangos of Hammerjacks. Entry forms are available at the Felix Street bars, and contestants should be there by 6 p.m. The contest will begin at 6:30 p.m.

“You can bring the family,” Mangos says.

When Sinful takes the stage, those attending Oktoberfest will be treated to a band that is the Tuesday mainstay entertainment at Hammerjacks. Decker says that the band has been together for years. And if you haven’t heard from them, it’s because the guys aren’t a we-have-to-play-all-the-time band.

“It gets to be a job if you do it too often,” Decker quips.

Paxson is the heart of the band, Doc says. He is the lead singer and plays the guitar and keyboard (“He plays them at the same time,” Decker says). Paxson has been a member of several bands, including USA and Van Zant.

While the music may be classic rock, Sinful has gathered a following of those who like to listen to Southern rock with a dash of the Beatles and Elton John.

“It is what it is,” he says.

– Cathy Woolridge | Stjoelive staff