Editor’s note: Judy Mills is a Kansas City writer and photographer. She will be guest writing for I Heart Local Music in order to bring you the very best of the Kansas City scene. Her first post comes to us from a rockabilly show on Halloween weekend. Please welcome this local music lover.
At Knucklehead’s Saloon on Saturday night, the Kansas City Rockabilly Group celebrated their Annual Halloween Party with a three band line up. The Living Deads headlined, preceded by Lucky Tubb and the Modern Day Troubadours and opening for both were The Honey Bees.
The LIving DeadsThe Living Deads, fresh from a band shake up, showed up in Kansas City minus their guitar player and vocalist (Jonny Barber). With some help from local friends they found two guitar players and for the first time ever, original band members Symphony Tidwell and Randee McKnight, were the main vocalists. They played a robust set, in “the show must go on” kinda way. Tidwell made the stand up bass her bitch all night. While McKnight beat the hell out of his stand up drum kit with a fever. After a break up there’s always a productive adrenaline rush. And last night’s show was such an endeavor. (Sorry but the guest players were never clearly identified.)
Lucky Tubb and the Modern Day TroubadoursLucky Tubb and the Modern Day Troubadours was my favorite band of the night. Lucky looks like he walked off a the set of a Hank Williams bio movie. He has that old honky tonk air about him even if you saw him from across the room and no where near a stage He and his band were having fun and they sounded great, authentic really. I hadn’t done my research before the show (at least I‘m honest), but later discovered that Lucky is the great nephew of country legend Ernest C. Tubb and opened for Hank III in 2009, which makes him noteworthy, right there. There was a good chemistry between Tubb and upright bass player, Casey Gill. Next time Lucky Tubb and gang is around the area, go see them. You won’t regret it.
Lucky TubbWhat struck me most about this show was how hard the performers worked and how little the crowd gave back. And how little the crowd was period. Kansas City, go see something live. Get in the middle of the music. I’m not going to urge for “support” cause that sounds to much like “giving back” or philanthropy. I’m urging you to go hear something not recorded, watch something unplanned and dance a little. Don’t do it for others. Do it for your ears. Okay, maybe a little for local support, too.
Fally Afani is an award-winning journalist with a career spanning more than 20 years in media. She has worked extensively in radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and more.
Fally Afani
