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Kansas City Rock History Project

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Music Box/Downliner

Between two worlds

Posted October 26, 2015 by Kris Garnier - 7 Comments

Debs promo pic

It is 1979 Troost Street, downtown KC, Upstairs is the Tavern.... A down on the luck dive. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s blaring from the jukebox, accompanied by the crunch of peanut shells cracking under the pointy, scuffed boots of Coors Light-drinking, red-necked cowboys in plaid collared shirts alongside disheveled, skid-row drunks, their shoulders hanging over their cocktails, all lining the bar like hopeless vultures, Pool balls clacking under a blinking and buzzing fluorescent light … [Read more...] about Between two worlds

Filed Under: 1970s, Bands, Music Box/Downliner

A punk progenitor

Posted February 9, 2012 by Rick - 10 Comments

The birthplace of punk rock in Kansas City is coming down. Well, maybe not the birthplace, but the site of one of the earliest clubs to feature punk and new wave music, mainly by local bands, in a big way has an imminent date with the wrecking ball. According to a story at kshb.com, the orange brick building on the southeast corner of 47th and Troost is coming down to make way for a new Ollie Gates shopping center. Lately, it housed a payday loan operation. But in 1981 it was the Music Box, … [Read more...] about A punk progenitor

Filed Under: Bands, Music Box/Downliner, Places

The Music Box

Posted April 7, 2011 by Rick - 20 Comments

This little club at the southeast corner of 47th and Troost was the home of the punk movement in KC. Here are a series of photographs of Wichita's great The Embarrassment playing there. Click on pix to embiggen. If you have memories of the Music Box, or its neighbor to the south a few doors, the Downliner, please share them by commenting below. … [Read more...] about The Music Box

Filed Under: 1970s, Music Box/Downliner, Places

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