courtesy photo
video and words by Jacob Frese
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Davey's Uptown is one of many venues in midtown that speaks to weird, dark souls of seasoned Kansas City music fans. Sandwiched between the sweaty chaos of Westport and the more upscale Crossroads, midtown is the place where the locals go to get their dive bar fix. Midtown serves as the beating heart of one of the best (and frequently overlooked) scenes in the Midwest. It's a vibrant, raucous place that plays host to a staggering variety of music on any given night.
Davey's first opened to the public in 1950. Appropriately, the decor on the walls feels straight out of Grandpa's living room. The music, however, is a bit more contemporary, with a sizable emphasis on rockabilly and country. Somehow. Davey's always feels comfortable, no matter how many regulars crowd the stage. And the sound at Davey's is fairly hi-fi for a so-called dive bar. The sound guy will even record and master your bands' show for a reasonable fee.
The video below features performances from Don't Stop Please, Interstate Astronauts and Good Time Charley.
Jacob Frese is a Hear Nebraska contributor. Reach him through HN's managing editor at chancesp@hearnebraska.org.