Forget what Paul Wilson said about silence being golden, you’ve got a party to go to…
Look, there’s a time and a place for everything and while Mr. Wilson’s advice may have been heartwarming, if you haven’t ever saddled up on a Thanksgiving morning and headed to the National Guard Armory in KCK for a BYOB blues blowout with some of the Cowtown’s hippest and finest dressed African Americans – and a smattering of clued in white folk – you haven’t lived yet.
Seriously.
Because if the heathen in you is acting up, headliner Mel Waiters has just the cure. And you don’t even need an excuse to bail on the boring relatives and/or in-laws. Because the show starts at 10 a.m. Thanksgiving morning and is over at 2 p.m., leaving more than enough time for the fam, Black Friday and a movie –12 Years a Slave? – go for it!
Think of it as a 30-plus year tradition that not only won’t quit but that blows the Plaza Lighting Ceremony clean out of the water.
Past converts include schmooze artist Will Gregory and zany Hobbs owner Mark Swanson.
It all goes down – doors at 8:30 a.m. – just north of I 70 at 18th & Ridge.
“It’s the largest running music tradition in Kansas City to my knowledge,” says KC Blues Society founder and Blues Cruise kingpin Roger Naber. “I’ve been going to breakfast dances for 33 years now.”
What to expect – besides turkey and all the trimmings, set up and ices for sale and a blues scene like none other (trust me)?
“Well, everybody that’s there is always dressed-to-impress,” Naber says. “It’s very colorful. It’s just a big celebration of Kansas City blues history.”
Just be there, alright?
I’ll pass if that kid in the matching scarf and fedora is going to be there.
Seriously, cool event, but I haven’t been in years and Mel Waiters isn’t exactly Little Milton or Johnnie Taylor.
Hey, if its good enough for David Ford (unless thats a stock photo), its good enough for ME!
This is one of those things everyone should do at least once. It is fun and very enjoyable way to spend a part of Thanksgiving Day if football isn’t your thing.
Sorry kiddos, I’ll be out of town for Thankgivingkuh.
Drink a few berskies for me.
Is that an order, boss?
Only to the sheeples that need leading by the ear and snoot.