BB's Lawnside Bar-B-Q, Kansas City MO

From the outside BBs Lawnside Bar-B-Q looks as inconspicuous roadhouses get. Once inside though the south Kansas City restaurant continues the unpretentious attitude right down to the red and white plaid tablecloths amid the smell of real barbecue aromas wafting from the back. Eight-foot long bingo hall style tables greet you with appropriately mismatched chairs--some folding and others hard plastic like you might find in the driveway at a graduation party--serve as invitation to pull up and take a load off. Cold bottled beer is still served without a glass while nearby diners munch on a combo plates of smoked turkey, ribs, and homemade sausage. The accompanying battered fries, lightly dusted length-wise cut, fresh deep fried potatoes, were right on the money. All this down-home eating fun happens underneath a large wall mural of notable blues music greats including Professor Longhair, B.B. King, and Muddy Waters. The wooden floor looks well-seasoned, comfortably so, as the brisket out back in the smoker.

Performing on this night was the five-piece KC-area band Lee McBee and the Confessors. It didn't take long for McBee and company to find a nice groove with their harp-based roots music show. Early in the second set things got rolling with a couple of Little Walter numbers, including the audience favorite "My Babe" and "Oh Baby," the latter featuring bassist Patrick Recob (Gary Primich band) on vocals. With Recob still at the microphone, they did a Smiley Lewis gem from Patrick's days with Primich, "Down the Road." Another highlight was Lee's own version of Bo Diddley's smash hit "I Can Tell." The best was saved for last as McBee performed "Come On In My Kitchen" as a solo chromatic harp piece for an encore. Afterward the ever amiable Lee McBee took the time to sign posters for all wanted one.