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  • 0

    I made my first visit to Knuckleheads to see the Bodeans, a hometown band. I had heard a little about this place, but didn't know a ton about it.
    The first pleasant surprise was an ad in the newspaper that talked about a free shuttle. It turns out you call and they will pick you up before the show and bring you back afterward. No worries about driving after drinking, no cab costs and no parking hassles. Brilliant.
    Got to the show and entered through a gift shop, selling Knuckleheads paraphernalia and band merchandise.
    The venue itself is a big open space, formerly a garage space, with a bar, kitchen area and lots of long narrow tables. It's not fancy, but it works.
    Outside, there is another stage area for summer shows, patio heaters and a collection of picnic tables and a few bleachers. This could be a great place in the summer, minus the constant trains passing through.
    The drinks were affordable. Access to the bar was decent, since they post a no hanging out at the bar notice. Fried food snacks were yummy.

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  • 0

    Amazing spot for a show and a good time.

    I'll keep this simple enough.  Parking is a bit goofy.  Once inside,  walk around and explore inside, outside and up. The outside upstairs is great for both band watching and people watching. It's amazing the crowd that gets pulled into this place for different types of shows.     Shows DO sell out here.

    If you're coming here in a rush, make sure you come from the North if you're late. The train tracks can block if you if you're coming from the south.   Have a blast in the cab!

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  • 0

    Love Knuckleheads but....New Years is really a disappointment.  Rainmakers are NOT a blues band.  Stick with what made you fun and 'why we go back'...true down home Chicago style blues music.

    What we'd like to see more of:  Bryan Lee, DC Bellamy, Bart Walker, Kenny Jr, Biscut...you get the idea - I hope.

    Two years in a row - we'll be going somewhere else for New Years - too bad.

    (Merle, thanks for keeping the ladies safe - we appreciate you!!)

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  • 0

    When you walk into Knuckleheads your initial thought is a cross between a biker bar and Patrick Swayze's Road House. After hanging around a bit, you fall in love with the place for many reasons.
    One of the best things about Knuckleheads is the Sunday Open Jam. As one of the excellent players in today's session and a new buddy said, like you have been told since you were little, the best things in life are free. After spending the afternoon listening to some of the most kick ass local musicians wail out some killer blues, I can not argue with my new friend at all! With no cover charge and 5 hours of playing, you can not find a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
    The drinks are well mixed, at least my preferred 7&7 tasted mighty fine and they have some great beer specials that you can not refuse. The bar looked pretty well stocked and it appeared that there was about anything you would want behind it. I didn't test that, but I am guessing they can appease most drink desires.
    They have a great menu of bar food staples. The prices are very reasonable on the menu. I have tried the Italian Sausage and fries. They have some of the best fries I have ever enjoyed. Steak fries of course, I don't go for the skinny ones. The perfect crisp on the outside and meaty insides. Salted straight fro the fryer with the perfect amount of salt. These fries are cooked perfectly, seasoned perfectly, just the best darn fry you can eat!  I am a big Italian Sausage snob. Coming from Iowa, I am use to bars that serve Graziano's sausage sandwiches. The best Italian Sausage sandwiches ever. Since moving down here, I have been looking for a comparable sandwich with no luck. Although, I still have not matched the great sandwiches of Iowa, Knuckleheads has the best one I have tried down here. A sausage link that has great seasoning and flavor served on the perfect bun, not too hard or too soft and with some peppers and onions (I scraped mine off and would like to see some marinara and cheese as an option also.)
    Overall, great music, great bar food, great drink specials, Knuckleheads rates top notch as a music venue and bar. Don't miss out on this place, it doesn't really get any better!

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  • 0

    This is easily my favorite place to enjoy live music! Anywhere, not just KC. It is a biker bar, but don't let that intimidate you! Everyone is there because they love music. The first time I showed up at knuck's was on a Saturday for the open jam hosted by Billy Ebling & Duane Goldstein.  So i walked in (looking like a preppy poster child) with my female friend and thought, "what the he'll have I gotten myself into!?!"  That feeling did not last long because everyone (patrons & staff) were so friendly.

    Part of the fun is getting there!  Frank, the owner, is a great guy and you won't find a bigger friend/fan of live music.

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  • 0

    Great music, good food, good prices.NO SECURITY outside beware of smash and grab very popular in this neighborhood 2 this night. Train horn makes for easy break in.

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  • 0

    T'will be a short review, based on a fairly short one time visit. :)  Most of the other reviews cover the 'facts' you need to know.

    I liked Knuckleheads. Went with some friends to see Blackberry Smoke, and I wasn't one bit disappointed.  Drink prices were not nearly as high as I thought they'd be, and we even had beverage service on the upper deck outside, on a very regular basis.  The bleachers would not be my first choice of seating, but I'll just have to get there sooner next time.  I wouldn't want it to be any more crowded upstairs either.  We even sat inside for awhile to cool off, and we still had a clear view of the band and the stage.  There are TVs scattered around to see the act as well, but I'm not there to watch TV.  The outside bartender and our waitress were friendly. We'll leave the service comments at that...

    Thankfully my friends were navigating the trip! There are a few turns I was glad they warned me about ahead of time. When people say the trains are right there, they mean RIGHT THERE!  They do go pretty slow, but lots of whistle blowing at times. I thought the cover charge was fair; it's slightly cheaper to buy ahead of time, even with a few dollars fees, but they did have a higher cover at the door.

    The opening band was very good, and I enjoyed them quite a bit.  I need to get back in the swing of seeing more live local bands.

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  • 0

    Just experienced this place over the weekend.

    In short?  Awesome.  

    In long?  Seriously?  We live in Liberty, not exactly known for it's great melting pot of people.  And I love to leave Liberty, which is why I really REALLY liked this place.  

    Bottom Line?  Great place, great bands, high cover, cash only but the drinks were cheap.  Trains passing by during the show.  At least one of every class level and lifestyle available.  So there.  Go.  Now.  And I'll stop with the questions.

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  • 0

    First impression was:  Really? This is biker central, not that there's anything wrong with that, I ride and I grew up with bikers.  My friend's clubhouse was in this neighborhood.  Just hard to imagine a place with legit, major acts being around here.  But it is and it's pretty cool!

    It's 97 degrees, it's a Monday night, we weren't the first people here but pretty close.  In total, by the time The Romantics started, there were maybe 100 people here.  I felt a little bad for them that so few people showed up.  The bartender felt their ticket prices for the show were a little high, $25.00.  That's probably twice as high as it would have been to see them in their heyday back in the 80's.  Still, not bad by today's standards.  Where else can you sit so close and actually interact with the band?  Parking was a breeze.  But I have to wonder what it's like if they really pack them in.

    As far as the show, it rocked!  They rocked!  Sure the singer's voice is a little flat from all those years but here is a group of guys with 30+ years experience on their respective instruments.  Too bad it wasn't the original drummer who sang "What I Like About You" but his current replacement, Brad Elvis, was the most entertaining person on the set.

    All in all, $50.00 well spent for an entertaining night out at a unique venue.

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  • 0

    Knuckleheads = KING of the Honky Tonks! Roadhouse Extraordinaire! A Good Time!

    I can't help but rave about this place. First time I went to a show here was about two years ago. The band was playing outside in the huge patio stage and singing a particularly sad honky tonk tune... and then I heard the clanking of the train and the howling of the whistle and goosebumps crept up my arms. So freaking cool.

    Knuckleheads books mostly blues, gospel, rockabilly, honky tonk, and country acts (and the many in-between genres and blends that come around). You can always count on high quality entertainment here and the environment is like no other venue I've been to. Recently they opened an upper-level area in the patio so you can sit and drink and watch the bands from high up. I imagine this will be a VIP area for some shows, but the times I've been in it's been open to the public.

    Cover charge is cash-only and usually more than what you'd pay at a dive, so be prepared. They have beer, liquor, and greasy-spoon fried-to-order snacks - fries, chicken nuggets, onion rings and the like.

    It's always a good time!

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  • 0

    Well, Knucks is an airy indoor/outdoor live venue with seating everywhere. I love that. Little pieces of Americana everywhere. Too bad it was Blues for my visit... which is also used to torture enemy combatants, by the way. A couple of songs regardless of talent, and I am ready to hit the road. I did hit the cash only bar and food stand. Fried pickles were consumed... and good... but not ethereal. There are others I like better (Blue Moose). The burger was very good. Seasoned and slightly charred outside. Still a little tender. I skipped the pedestrian bun and just "cavemanned" all 8 ounces.  : )

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  • 0

    I happened to see Mike Doughty solo here.  It was awesome.  Great atmosphere, honky-tonk/biker feel.  really awesome "shop" area where you could buy t shirts and such.  Shout out for having sizes up to 5x for hoodies, work shirts and some t shirts.  Being a larger gal, it gets seriously annoying when i cant find swag for my favorite bars/venues/bands in my size.  

    It IS cash only, but there is an atm on site.  They have a GREAT kitchen, with basic bar food.  Try the fried pickles they are awesome.

    They have a great 2 level patio decked out to be a second stage area.  The staff was amazingly nice, but dont let that fool you...i got to see them toss a heckler out, and they handled the job well.  

    Loved it.  will for sure be back.

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  • 0

    This is one place I will deeply miss when I move to Texas : (   we always see good friends and have a blast here.  Many memories at this place and it will always be my favorite

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  • 0

    Knuckleheads is awesome.

    Saw Scott Holt there, hung out with the Levee Town band members  (who I got to see at trouser mouse in Blue Springs)  and got to see some other awesome bands there. Had a really good time. This place has a long history of getting great musicians to come play. Great layout, a fun dive bar.  

    WARNING....DO NOT COME IN FROM THE NORTH. Come in from the south, otherwise be prepared to fight hobo's and industrial park mutant rats as you meander through the craziness that is the "bottoms" area. I am not from the area, and my cousin and I started to wonder if the zombies from I am legend were about to get us.

    Alas, we made it and were able to nod our heads to Linda Shell, Scott Holt, and some other really good musicians.

    IF your in town, GO there.
    Will T

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  • 0

    If I was in the business of writing short reviews, I would simply write "Knuckleheads? Fuck yeah!" and be done with it. Alas, I'm not in the business of short reviews.

    In my opinion, Knuckleheads is the best bar in Kansas City. It may not be the one i visit the most...heck, it's not even in my heavy rotation, but every time I go here it is an AMAZING time.

    It starts with the trip to the bar itself. Winding through the East Bottoms, every condemned building and abandoned roadside mattress makes you question if you are properly following your directions. Trust me, you are. Soon enough you're going to turn what you think is another desolate corner and you'll be thrust into a bustling environment of motorcycles, neon lights and the muffled sound of the blues. This place looks like a Hollywood set designer was tasked with creating the ultimate roadhouse, complete with railroad tracks and slowly passing trains. All it is missing is Patrick Swayze (and really, aren't we ALL missing Patrick Swazye?) It's glorious and it oozes authenticity.

    Now coming here, you're generally going to have to pay a significantly hefty cover (cash...no debit cards at Knuckleheads). That's because believe it our not you're about to check out a fantastic band. Just because you don't know about country or blues musicians doesn't mean that act setting up inside isn't a big f'in deal. Trust me, they probably are. Pay the cover and be happy you have a chance to be witness to something great.

    The interior is shabby to be sure, but damn if it isn't interesting. Every corner of the place is covered in photographs of past acts, or just random bar stuff from years past. It's like a time machine, if time machines only took you to the best places ever. There's a shrine to Billy Bob Thorton, which is pretty hilarious.

    There are three different music areas, all that lend themselves to a different vibe. The smallest is (I believe) an actual chapel that holds gospel church services. I bet that's the only church with a full bar! It's also used for very small, intimate performances that seem to be more low-key and are more about appreciating fantastic musicians than they are about really getting down. That's for the other two areas.

    Inside the main bar you'll find a medium sized stage, rows of picnic tables and the most eclectic crowd of all time. 21 to 85, I swear. Dancing. Drinking. Just a dang good time.

    Outside is the crown jewel of the entire establishment. There's a huge stage that is flanked by old train cars. You can rent these out for concerts, which I think is quite possibly the coolest thing ever. The still functional trains roll by slowly, and their whistles offer an unintended accompaniment to the bands. On a warm summer night, sitting out on the patio and drinking a yard beer while watching an amazing band play is pretty much perfection.

    So that's Knuckleheads. If this review doesn't convince you that it's a definite must see, then you probably wouldn't appreciate it anyhow. The rest of you? I'll see you here!

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  • 0

    Knuckleheads you are one of a kind.  Placed well away from any other...well anything, going here is an event.  Anywhere that requires you to wait for a lumbering train to pass before you can get to the parking lot yet keeps a full house, must be fantastic.  I have been here twice now for shows, and both times have been excellent.

    I always think of Porky's when first pull up.  Not because there is some obese Floridian running a whore house out of here, but because it has this roadhouse, "this is the way we do things here and we like it," feel.  I have been greeted by revving motorcycles, leather and blue jean wearing mullet supporters, and cheerful door guys; but that is what makes this place great.  The crowds are always about as eclectic as you can possibly imagine.  Picture a dace floor where urban socialites dance with hipsters, natural knees knock with ones stamped with serial numbers, and just as many natural hormones mingle with synthetic ones!  Thirtieth birthdays are celebrated next to a tables of blue hairs donning oxygen masks and wheeled seating apparati.  Here people just really don't give a shit about who you are or what you do.

    The entertainment is of superior quality.  Something about this place drives shows to just keep going.  Artist and patron alike have no need for watches as everyone seems to just want to enjoy themselves without care.  The Goodfoot (love them) for instance recently played a 4-set show.  You can sign me up for four hours of the Goodfoot ANYTIME!!!  

    Finally, if you are going to check this place out, be sure to take a walk outside.  The outdoor stage area is phenomenal.  Being next to the tracks you can literally rent out an old caboose for parties during shows!  The beer selection is what you would expect at a saloon and the food barely meets the greasy spoon level, but everyone seems to like it.  If you are a KC native or someone just passing through, this is a must do.

    True character, and just a down right great time!

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  • 0

    Just came back from a Devil Doll concert.  It was pretty awesome.  She does not disappoint when she performs.  Knuckleheads is a great venue.  This time we had dinner here and the food was good bar food.  We had great seats and had no problems with the view of the Devil Doll herself and the sound was great.  This is a great place to drink some beer and listen to music.

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  • 0

    Bitchin' place to drink and see live music.  Delivered as advertised.

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  • 0

    Knuckleheads, forever and ever, amen.
    If I ever moved away from this city, this venue is the only place that would keep me coming back.

    KC history is re-purposed into a junkyard renaissance spot for blues, country, and rockabilly artists. I've also seen some incredible folk acts here. Every artist seems absolutely floored by the quality of the venue, and newcomers will be, too. The authenticity of this spot is undeniable.

    Remember those long, thin bar tables from the '70s? Knuckleheads has them stretching back to the wall of the inside stage, and the back porch has an honest-to-god caboose that you can climb on top of to watch the show (and survey the beautiful industrial ruin of the East Bottoms).

    Don't worry if you've forgotten cash -- there are multiple ATMs, the bathrooms are clean (if a bit architecturally shaky), and the seats are comfortable. Beers are cold (and cheap), and ashtrays are abundant. And the people are nice as hell.

    Beware: you WILL be driving through some rougher neighborhoods to get here. Don't be scared. A friend of mine actually had a flat tire in this neighborhood and was stranded for several hours, and he was perfectly fine. (In fact, I think someone came out and offered him a beer and his phone.)

    Prepared to feel goosebumps as the trains roll by in the middle of an artist's mournful yowl onstage. It's truly a magical thing -- and utterly unique to Knuckleheads.

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  • 0

    WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!  Just saw the zydeco madness of Chubby Carrier here.  What an awesome fun way to spend a hot night.  Sweaty, loud, and lots of shakin'. The band beat out me & the bf...we left after midnight, and the band was still going.

    Drawbacks, sure.  It's hard to find--follow the directions on their website and you'll get there.  Drinks come in a plastic cup, but the pours are generous and they have a fairly good selection.  Leave the pearls at home.  This is the place your mama warned you about, and you should find every excuse to come often.

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  • 0

    Caught the Jon Dee Graham show last night and was pleasantly surprised to find such a slick outdoor venue in the middle of BFE.

    This is definitely a destination venue. We used Google maps to locate the place and it took us wayward and we got stuck by several trains before turning around and trying a different way. We could see the neon signs from in the distance taunting us, but we finally found this off-the-beaten path bar after a little trial and error.

    The huge outdoor patio is filled with long benches, a smattering of tables and what looked like school chairs, and a few bleachers in the back. I didn't go up there but I noticed two black spiral staircases decked out in Christmas lights leading up to the upper level. The trains horns provided an unexpected bonus percussion element that the band liked to play up.

    Black Francis is playing in a few weeks, so I'll definitely try and make the trek back!

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  • 0

    A little tricky to find but a great place to go for music.  Love this place.  Nothing fancy just really cool and laid back.  Bring cash they don't take cards at the bar but they do have an ATM where for a fee you can get cash.  The burgers here are so good.  You will have to wait for your food but it's worth it.  One of the few places where you can walk right up to the front of the stage.  Awesome to  hear the trains go by, adds to the ambiance!  Will be taking my friends/family here from California.  They will love it.

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  • 0

    This place is definitely and experience worth trying out! You will be in shock all the artist that go through that place! There is so much history and culture all in one place, this place is nestled away in the east bottoms but totally worth checking out! Knuckle heads is an old train station!

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  • 0

    In 1887 a wood framed building was built and served as a railroad depot, now stands Knuckleheads Saloon. Talk about  recycling!!!   This place has it's own vibe and it is a good one. Sometimes the brightest STARS shine in the smallest, darkest neighborhoods. Great shows! Keep track of the show calendar and you might see one of your favorite blues or CW performers. This summer I look forward to seeing Paul Thorn in a small, intimate "Living Room" session which will consist of less than 50 members of the audience in a cozy room...acoustic treat.
    I love sitting on top of one of the old train cars, drinking beer, eating fried pickles and listening to good music....away from downtown.
    Back to nature...kinda.

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  • 0

    This is the quintessential "Road House" style live music venue.  The walls tell the history and famous musicians that have graced the stage.  I've seen Junior Brown, JJ Grey, and King Harvest here and have had a great time, each time!

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  • 0

    This is a great atmosphere for concerts.  I have seen Unknown Hinson, Big Smith, and a couple of other decent shows here. Although hillbilly music is not normally my favorite to listen to, I have enjoyed the atmosphere and the cheap prices on food and beer made up for it.

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  • 0

    Saw Mofro On Friday and I have to say that its a great venue. I highly recommend seeing a show here or to grab a few beers. Why is this place great to see a show you may ask? Answer is because they dont oversell tickets, 21 and over, and  beer is cheap!

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  • 0

    I love Knuckleheads. Easily my favorite music venue. Great in the summer outside(trains go right by), and pretty cozy despite the large room inside.
    Very good greasy spoon food. Burgers, dogs, chili, and the like. Cold drinks, including talls, and a cool Harley gift shop for the bikers. Love the location as well. Always a great night. Cant wait for the next Dale show!

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  • 0

    I have always been a fan of Knucklehead's. That's that.

    The Knucklehead's stage was the first stage i ever performed on. I have to love it, right? they have a wonderful set up, great sound, lots of support for LIVE music. Excellent and friendly staff. Fantastic environment. Tons of room to house larger shows. Good food. Decent prices.

    And as always, the only thing i can find to complain about is the bathroom. usually I knock a star off for dirty bathrooms, but my heart belongs to Knucklehead's... i can just hold it. :) haha

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  • 0

    Knuckleheads has become one of our favorite places to go for great music.  Tucked away in the railroads near Northeast Mo who can ask for a better hideaway if you start hearing banjo's and think your lost you are almost there!
    The food is not just greasy bar food either, I save my fried food cheat day for when we go to knuckleheads and splurge for the Tenderloin and steak fries or the sweet potato fries are good too..raw horseradish yummmo!  Love going on Saturday afternoon's for open mic it amazes me to hear all of the local talent we have here in KC!
    I have thoroughly enjoyed our visits to Knuckleheads the crowd is always very diverse and accepting its always a fun time, I do have to say summer time is really cool the fact that I can go stay inside and listen to a band or choose to go outside to another band is really cool.  I can say sometimes when there is a BIG headliner the cover charge is a little high, we normally just look at the calendar and make the smarter choice of FREE..lol

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  • 0

    This is my favorite place to watch a concert in KC.  It is a blues/rockabilly dive bar.  This is the place for live music with both an outdoor stage and indoor stage.  Within spitting distance to train tracks, the trains roll by during shows.  This only adds to the music and excellent artists will use it in their songs. If you are looking for a honky tonk, then this is the place for you.

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  • 0

    It's an adventure to find but well worth it.  It's truly one of my favorite places to go in Kansas City.

    The variety of bands that play here is amazing.  If it's a popular band get here early as tables fill up fast.   Another goodie, they have open jams on Saturday and Sunday afternoon which are free.  There are a lot of talented people who get up on the stage and play/sing.

    I agree with another review about the food.  It is similar to fair food as a lot is fried.  But it's also so damn good.  The fried baloney sandwich hits the spot and helps to soak up the beer.  Oh yeah...it's cash only.  They do have an ATM on site.

    You may want to find another way to leave though.  We have been blocked in by trains and had to turn around.  Speaking of the trains, I do have to remind HB that's it's just a train going by not an earthquake.  It's really cool to watch them go by during the summer while sitting outside listening to a band.

    Knuckleheads is unique and welcoming.  It's a great place to see a show, get some not so good for you but damn fine eats, relax and have a beer.

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  • 0

    Honest roadhouse ambiance, fair drink prices, reasonable cover charges, and an owner 100% committed to quality live music.

    I know a fair share of musicians and it's great to see bar owners support the band and not screw them over on their cut of the monetary arrangements. The bands who play here play here regularly (or at least as regularly as their tour schedules allow) because Knuckleheads treats them with respect.

    Finally, be sure to wear your cowboy boots (or other comfortable dancing shoes) because Knuckleheads provides decent sized dance floors for both the indoor and outdoor stages.

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  • 0

    I don't have too much to add here that hasn't already been said. Went to my first show here last night, and this place and the show rocked!

    Train tracks, garage doors, in and outdoor bathrooms, what is not to like?

    For any fans of what Sandy's in CEN-TEX used to be, this is along those lines, but with better sound!

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  • 0

    This'll make sense to the right people:

    Knuckleheads is as if "Bob's Country Bunker" from The Blues Brothers had a kid with "Torchie's", the bar in Streets of Fire where The Bombers motorcycle gang hung out.

    And yes, that's a major compliment.

    The Dame and I first went here with The Gasmask Gypsy to see Little Rachel and Deke Dickerson perform.  Little did I know that the drive through the brick-era industrial bottoms would lead us to The Winchester Mystery Roadhouse.  

    The place has everything you'd ever imagine a good roadhouse would have; from it's kitchen-sink cobbling of buildings, decor, and offerings from the bar and kitchen.  A massive outdoor stage with an amazing, cared-for sound system so crisp you can hear every note of every chicken-picked guitar and tub-thumped bass-beat...even when a diesel freight train is passing mere feet from the stage.  

    We had food that was less like bar food and more like the chow I'd get at the Drive In Theater as a kid.  This means awesome.  The interior walls have rows and rows of photos of the talented folks who've performed there, and the history and celebration of Americana is just oozing from every corner of the place.  

    Every time we've been, it just has such a great vibe and genuinely upbeat feel without feeling like any bit of it is contrived.  Like a really great Rat Rod, Knuckleheads is a cantankerous and lively combination of parts that come together to create some kind of magic contraption that could never be mass-produced.  And that's another major compliment.

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  • 0

    If you have any interest in blues, country or rockabilly music and somehow haven't been to Knucklehead's, you are missing out. Located in Kansas City's scenic (in a post-industrial, neo-depression kinda way) East Bottoms, Knucklehead's is the ultimate venue for these musical genres.

    The atmosphere is amazing, it's authentically honky-tonky and road housey, yet only a couple minutes from downtown. If you're lucky a train will go by, as someone is actually singing about trains (this has happened several times, and I find it far too amusing). It's the type of place where you drink a PBR tallboy while sitting next to a 300 lb. biker wearing a hat made from an entire racoon pelt. If you find this anything less than totally awesome, there is something wrong with you. Don't be intimidated by that image though, in my experience the crowds have been exceptionally civil and friendly.

    As an added bonus, they have food. The menu is kinda like what you would find at a state fair, heavy on the fried items. I knew I was in for a treat when I saw boxes and boxes of raw russet potatoes in the kitchen, and TWO different fry-cutting contraptions (the regular lever kind and the "rotato" style). I am a huge fan of hand-cut fries, and theirs did not disappoint. They make a damn fine burger as well. The food line can be pretty long at busy shows, but it is well worth the wait.

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  • 0

    If the boy I love hadn't already convinced me to move here, I think a trip to Knuckleheads would have sealed the deal. Tucked away in little neighborhood full of abandoned warehouses, cute beaten up houses with trucks and machinery on their front lawns, and most importantly TRAIN TRACKS, Knuckleheads appears like a beacon of honkeytonk juke joints with its glowing sign and old shanty structure underneath the highway.

    This club is in the league of the most venerable institutions. Think, CBGB (its original intent), but in a true "seat of the blues" city like KCMO. I can't believe this place hasn't been here forever. It's just got that worn in, authentic vibe which is the BEST vibe a music venue can possibly have. It was the kind of place I had searched for (in vain) when visiting Memphis and Nashville this past spring.

    I saw a show here last night for the first time and was blown away (props to Little Rachel, second coming of LaVerne Baker, and Deke, pure rockabilly fun).  I have to wonder if a bad show can even go on at Knuckleheads? Now, that seems impossible (I used to book at various clubs in the city and a GOOD show was the exception and not the norm), but I doubt I'd even care because the surroundings surely make up for whatever sub par musical offerings might be going on.

    It was a steamy night, and the show was outside, but I didn't mind the humidity or the mosquitoes.  The trains going by on the tracks literally just a few feet away from the stage added to, rather than detracted from the atmosphere (I think the sound of trains going by is one of the most mournfully romantic sounds in the world). I cannot wait to see a show inside, with its rows of weathered wooden tables and chairs. The layout is very cozy and I doubt there is a bad seat in the house. Outside,  you can sit up in a converted old caboose balcony for a birds eye view of the stage, I shit you not.

    If you're thinking, "could this place get any better," I will up the ante, darlings: they have fried pickles. And fried other things. And burgers. And giant piles of nachos.

    Has Knuckleheads properly wooed you yet?

    I say if you're not lucky enough to have that special man or lady in your life at the moment, Knuckleheads is true love, from the right side of the tracks.

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    This is one of the best blues bars in the area. it might be a little hard to find but one you do you'll be going back for more. they have live music every night with some of the best blues bands across the nation, support local charities, motorbike runs and great staff.

    This is a one of a kind venue as you sit on real bar stool made of rough lumber, or vintage chairs, hear trains pass by cos just out back are rail tracks. Before you leave don't forget to walk around to the lounge inside, visit the shop, eat some bar food, and stand in line for the restrooms that are brightly decorated!

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  • 0

    When I listen to blues I want my environment to be as down and dirty as the music.  This place delivers!  

    Housed in a large warehouse/roadhouse.  Long tables seat patrons and the band plays in another space that has a dance floor, of sorts.  This place is in the middle of nowhere, so if you think your lost-think again.  

    Voted best blues bar in KC in 2005.

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