Playing this week.... Dave Insley, Wanda Jackson, Michael Burks, and Fast Johnny Ricker

Things are starting to heat up at Knuckleheads! There's been some remodeling going on, just in time to welcome this week's lineup:

Dave Insley
Raised on a Kansas wheat farm listening to the likes of Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins, Roger Miller, Bob Wills and Jerry Reed, Dave's musical tastes and style developed early. He began playing the guitar and writing songs at the young age of twelve. At 14, after moving from the wheatfields, Dave cut his teeth playing in the honky-tonks of rural Arizona. In reviewing Dave's album, "Call Me Lonesome" , Ray M at AmericanRoots.com says ".....track 3 "Laid to Waste" started to tug me in. This song showed me Dave Insley's style, which is a nice mix of classic honky tonk, and a little bit of rock and roll thanks to The Careless Smokers (backup band)." You can learn more about Dave, and order Dave's music here. Be sure to catch this show Wednesday night. The Rumblejetts will open at 7PM.

Wanda Jackson
The "Queen of Rockabilly", Wanda Jackson, will be playing at Knuckleheads Thursday night, with The Rumblejetts opening at 8PM. If you love rockabilly, you're going to love this show! Wanda was there at the beginning, when Elvis and crew were just lighting up the rock and roll explosion. She's one of the last remaining pioneers of the rockabilly sound. In reviewing her album "Live and Still Kickin' " (my current favorite of her CD's), Andrew Gilstrap of PopMatters.com says, "....Jackson's between song patter is unexpectedly charming. Taking a VH1 Storytellers-type approach to introducing each song, she often tells interesting tales of where songs come from and what they mean to her. Her recollections of touring Japan on the heels of "Fujiyama Mama" and of meeting Elvis are especially interesting, and her testimony of faith before "I Saw the Light" is sincere and straightforward." You can order Wanda's music here.

Michael Burks
Michael Burks doesn't fool around. He's not carrying that Flying-V Gibson for looks, he can PLAY it. Raised in a musical family, his grandaddy played Delta blues on an acoustic guitar and his daddy played bass in a blues band and taught Michael to play the guitar, Michael started playing in the families Arkansas blues-bar in his early teens. "I Smell Smoke", Michael's latest CD, will make you want to hear it over and over again. BluesRockers.ws has this to say:

There seems little doubt to me that the future of electric blues lies squarely on the shoulders of Michael Burks. I have not heard any artist in this genre who combines so much of "what was" with "what is to come". He is, to me, the heir apparent to the title "King of the Blues".
Burks combines new and old in a spectacular manner, as he folds the fiery intensity of Albert with the soulful vocals of BB, adds just a dash of Albert Collins' swagger and a spoonful of Luther Allison's unmatched musical genius into a most delicious electric blues stew.

Throw in a little Clapton to that stew, in my opinion!

Shannon and the Rhythm Kings will open for Michael Burks at 9PM this Friday night. You can learn more about Michael and his music here.

Fast Johnny Ricker
A longtime Kansas City favorite returns to Knuckleheads this Saturday night. Fast Johnny Ricker has been pleasing fans for ages.

2nightinkansascity.com says,

Fast Johnny Ricker is a blazing blues/rock guitarist and slide master, leading a melt-down trio. His style and original music have been described as experimental, combining elements of psychedelic rock with Texas blues and Delta blues traditions.
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"Johnny Ricker currently holds pride of place as the BEST ELECTRIC GUITAR IN THE MIDWEST and seems poised to try for the national title - soon come. Catch Fast Johnny before you have to see him in a stadium somewhere. Wear flame retardant in your hair 'cos this band is hot. Take my word for it."

Steven Davis, former music editor, Rolling Stone Magazine

Don't miss your chance to see this local legend! The show starts at 9PM. Order Fast Johnny's CD here!