Knuckleheads
Saloon
2715 Rochester, Kansas City, MO 64120
www.knuckleheadskc.com
816-483-1456-club
816-483-6407-office
By Sugar Mae Owens
It’s like a diamond in the rough; it’s Jimmy Reed’s
“Bright Lights Big City.” No, it’s Knuckleheads—an
original, a friendly open atmosphere nightspot with train brakes squealing
in the background,
Once a small motorcycle shop named after a Harley Davidson’s
WWII engine that resembled knuckles, Knucklehead Saloon was reborn into
Kansas City’s hottest nightspot for blues, swing, rockabilly and
everything in between. After the legendary Grand Emporium closed in 2004,
Knuckleheads became the new oasis for the blues. You’ll find it
in the industrial east bottoms surrounded by long slow moving railroad
car traffic jams. After a couple of turns through a dark vintage neighborhood,
Knuckleheads appears with its welcoming flashing neon signs and a large
bright orange ongoing message board announcing upcoming shows. There’s
plenty of parking. It’s a perfect setup for a fun rollicking live
music venue.
Ronnie Baker Brooks playing to (and in) the crowd
at Knuckleheads, November, 2007. Photo/Robert Jr.Whitall
Knucklehead owners Frank and Mary Hicks turned a motorcycle
shop with an actual beer vending machine into an expandable club that,
when the weather permits, opens up to a large patio and stage area that
seems more like a beach scene than the Missouri River bottoms
“I bought this in 1985, and so when the Grand Emporium closed we
did some remodeling for 3 or 4 months and then began bringing in national
acts—Kenny Neal, Lil Ed, and Anthony Gomes—and have kept doing
it ever since, trying to pump more money back in—like upgrading
from a 16 channel sound board to 40 channels. We needed more room so we
added the hurricane doors to give an outside atmosphere and we saved our
pennies for the garage doors so they can open up. Two years ago this March,
a tornado hit and knocked the caboose (on the back patio) on its ass,”
recalled Frank “and it was a godsend.” The outdoor stage is
now where it is supposed to be— facing the club instead of out towards
the neighborhood. The caboose is now used as a VIP room and on top of
it there is a great view overlooking the tracks. The patio can accommodate
615 people.
“We recorded Chubby Carrier’s CD/DVD last
summer on the patio stage and it will be released here on Nov. 30 (2007),”
says Frank, who remembers how a few years ago, he asked musicians what
would make their stay at Knuckleheads more comfortable. Besides a nice
hotel with a hot shower, they asked for a homey green room and Watermelon
Slim suggested a washer and dryer. Frank’s formula has worked out
very well and everyone is happy. Sometimes there are crunch times—like
clearing the room after a 7 hour jam session on Saturday to set up for
the national act that night— but Frank quickly admits that he owes
his success to his hard working staff, including his wife Mary behind
the bar and Grandma working the merchandise register. Visit www.knuckleheadskc.com
for more information.
Congratulations to Knuckleheads, chosen “2008
Blues Club of the Year” by the Blues Foundation. They will be honored
at the Foundation’s Keeping the Blues Alive brunch on Saturday,
February 2, 2008, Memphis, TN.
Back
to Top
|
Big City Blues Clubs
Ann Arbor, MI
The Ark - 734-761-1800
(*see ad)
Angola, IN
Skip’s Place - 260-665-3922
Atlanta, GA
Blind Willie’s - 404-873-2583
Austin, TX
Antone’s-512-320-8424
Baton Rouge, LA
Phil Brady’s - 225-927-3786
Chicago, IL
B.L.U.E.S. – 773-528-1013 (*see ad)
Buddy Guy’s Legends –
312-427-1190 (*see ad)
Harlem Ave. Lounge –
708-484-3610
Kingston Mines –
773-477-4646 (*see ad)
Lee’s Unleaded Blues –
773-493-3477
Rosa’s Lounge –
773-342-0452
Clarksdale, MS
Ground Zero – 662-621-9009
Red’s Lounge
Sarah’s Kitchen –
662-627-3239
Cleveland, OH
Fat Fish Blue-216-875-6000
Coco Beach, CA
Beach Shack –
321-783-2250
Des Moines, IA
Blues On Grand –
515-244-3092
Detroit, MI
Berts Market Place –
313-567-2030 (*see ad)
Butcher's Inn-Eastern Market
313-566-0966 (*see ad)
Lager House-Corktown
313-961-4668 (*see ad)
Your Place Lounge –
313-881-4850
Hermosa Beach, CA
Cafe Boogaloo –
602-265-4842
Indianapolis, IN
Slippery Noodle –
317-631-6974 (*see ad)
Kansas City, MO
BB’s Lawnside BBQ –
816-8BB-RIBS
Knuckleheads –
816-483-1456
Lafayette, LA
El Sid O’s – 318-239-1959
Lake Worth, FL
The Bamboo Room –
561-585-2583
Lincoln, NE
Zoo Bar – 402-435-8754
Los Angeles, CA
Babe’s & Ricky’s –
323-295-9112
Memphis, TN
B.B. King’s – 901-527-5464
Rum Boogie – 901-528-0150
Mishawaka, IN
Midway Tavern –
574-255-0458
Nashville, TN
B.B. King’s –615-256-2727
The Place –
615-244-1122
New Orleans, LA
Handa Wanda –
504-813-3496
Mother-In-Law Lounge –
504-947-1078
Maple Leaf – 504-866-9359
The Point Bar –
504-364-0950
Tipitina’s – 504-891-8477
New York, NY
B.B. King’s – 212-997-4511
Dinosaur BBQ –
212-694-1777
Joe’s Pub – 212-539-8770
Phoenix, AZ
The Rhythm Room –
602-265-4842
Prairie Point, MS
Betty’s Place
Rochester, NY
Dinosaur BBQ –
585-325-9127
Sacramento, CA
Torch Club – 916-443-2797
San Diego, CA
Humphrey’s – 619-224-3577
San Francisco, CA
Biscuits & Blues –
415-292-BLUES
The Saloon -415-989-7666
San Jose, CA
JJ’s Blues Club –
408-243-6441
Santa Monica, CA
Harvelle’s – 310-395-1676
Sherman Oaks, CA
Cozy’s – 818-986-6000
St. Louis, MO
BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups – 314-436-5222
Syracuse, NY
Dinosaur BBQ –
315-476-4937
Tampa, FL
Skippers Smokehouse –
813-971-0666
Teaneck, NJ
Mexicali Blues –
201-833-0011
Windsor, ON
Alibi’s – 519-969-3135
|