Under 21 with Guardian

A benefit for Saint Luke's Hospital Foundation's MerleJam Transplant Fund  featuring bands 4 Fried Chickens & A Coke, Stranded in the City playing a Tribute to The Texas Tornadoes & Brody Buster Band, featuring a Tribute to WAR.

The MerleJam Transplant Fund at Saint Luke's Hospital Foundation was established in 2007 after long-time Knuckleheads' employee Merle Zuel's heart transplant. The Merle Jams have raised over $100k for the fund but the event also has a duel purpose. It is also an event designed to showcase the success of transplantation and the need for registered organ donors. You may go to www.register me.org to make your wishes known. The social workers at Saint Luke’s use the fund to assist other transplant recipients and candidates with uncovered expenses. "I have been very blessed and it is my way of paying it forward. Life is a gift." -Merle Zuel.

Four Fried Chickens &  A Coke
If you have seen the first "Blues Brothers" movie, you may recall a scene from which we have derived our name.
Our name is "Four Fried Chickens and a Coke".

We are a 12-piece band complete with three vocalists and seven horns. We play cuts from the Blues Brothers and the Commitments soundtracks, James Brown, Otis Redding, Ike and Tina Turner, Royal Crown Review, Chicago, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Ray Vaughn, our own original songs, and many more...
We formed in April of 1997, and have been performing regularly at events and clubs in the Kansas City area.     

https://fourfriedchickens.wixsite.com/chickens


Stranded in the City
Stranded in the City is made up of brothers André Reyes, Jr. and Antonio Reyes, Timmy Keith, Matt Elton, and Densil (D.J) Malabre. Together they form one of Kansas City's powerhouse bands. André and Antonio arose from a musical family tracing across four generations. They met Timmy, a natural rock guitarist, and bassist, Matt, who would later become the core of Stranded in the City. Densil adds his West African style to the mix to solidify the sound. 

As a diverse group, Stranded in the City provides a retro flavor in a fresh sound, playing every song with soul and every beat of their hearts. Through the thickness of the groove, they deliver rich vocal harmonies and smoking improvisational skills. Expect a melting pot of genres; R&B, Funk, Country, Tex-Mex, Rock and Pop all in their music. Never the less backed by the right energy.

They perform locally and pack venues in Kansas City and the surrounding areas. In the spring of 2025, they will be premiering their sophomore album. Visit the calendar for more details on live performance dates, album releases, events and more. Sign up for the mailing list for updates, and follow on social media for live streams and more content.

https://strandedinthecityband.com/


Brody Buster
Brody Buster is a Blues based Rock & Roll band out of Lawrence Kansas. Led by Brody Buster, a former child prodigy, who was featured on countless television shows growing up including the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Dateline, Crook & Chase, and the Jon Stewart Show. Even Baywatch Nights & Full House – Yes, Full House – showcased Brody’s talents. He’s shared the stage with Quincy Jones, Keb Mo, Chaka Kahn, Lee Oskar and was a regular performer at B.B. King’s Blues Club. Brody’s performed with B.B. several times and King was once quoted as saying, “Despite his age Brody Buster is one of the greatest harmonica players of our time.”

 

Brody Buster has grown up. Formed a band and doing exactly what he knows how to do, play music. In 2011 he released “Will Die Young” to critical acclaim:

So whether it’s a bar, a field, a festival or a church. A wedding, a schoolhouse or a courtyard, the Brody Buster Band knows can tailor their playlist to fit your needs & provide you with a full night’s worth of entertainment.

https://www.facebook.com/BrodyBustersOneManBand/


Womanish Girl
Self-proclaimed rock & rollers and lovers of the blues, Womanish Girl is a Kansas City-based duo composed of guitarist and vocalist Katy Guillen and drummer Stephanie Williams. After collaborating for nearly 7 years in the 2014 IBC Finalist and internationally touring band Katy Guillen & The Girls, Guillen and Williams carry on their undeniable collaborative chemistry and appreciation for roots & blues music in this stripped down formation. They pour their years of touring and creating together into an interpretation of the blues that is raw and energetic as Womanish Girl.

https://www.womanishgirlkc.com/