Bluegrass folk jam band Arkansauce returned to recordBar Sunday night with Kansas City natives Shakedown Strings, graced the stage with their vibrant interpretations of the Grateful Dead songbook.
Adam Galblum (violin), Clayton DeLong (guitar), and Rick Willoughby (bass) bring their unique flair and individual music backgrounds together to create a distinctive sound, paying homage to the Dead while still making it their own. Their dedication to authenticity while maintaining a semblance of self has garnered a dedicated following in the local music scene.
It is common for shows to start out with low attendance and fill in the closer it gets to the headliner’s set, but Sunday night’s crowd lined up before recordBar’s doors opened to get to the rail for Shakedown Strings. Even 20 minutes before show time, excited Deadheads stood shoulder to shoulder, packing the venue from front to back. The energetic atmosphere exploded when Shakedown Strings opened with everyone’s favorite Sunday song, “Samson and Deliliah”. The 45-minute set may have only had six songs, but the jams were entrancing as the band seamlessly flowed from one to the next.
Arkansauce lit up the stage with unbridled joy during what the group dubbed its “best Kansas City show to date.” recordBar was packed and ready to foot stomp along as the first note grew into “Next Time Around”. The harmonies were tight, the picking was fast, and it was clear from the jump that this wasn’t just another bluegrass set.
“Could Be Worse” kept the momentum rolling with playful lyrics and intricate mandolin runs, earning plenty of whoops from the floor. By the time the band launched into “Peephole”, Arkansauce was fully locked in with the energy of the crowd and trading solos with a seemingly effortless synchronicity that only comes from genuine connection and talent.
The whole place was stomping along to “Mulberry Mountain”, a song that felt like a love letter to the Ozarks. But the biggest moment was “We Bid You Goodnight”. It was haunting, heartfelt, and one last moment to soak in the warmth of the evening. Then they sent the crowd off with “My Home in Arkansas”, bidding the crown good night with a sanguine and upbeat feeling.
Arkansauce will return to the stage on Thursday for a show in Omaha, NE before heading to WinterWonderGrass in Steamboar Springs, CO on Friday. Find a full list of upcoming shows here and click below to view photos from recorBar.
Setlist: Arkansauce | recordBar | Kansas City, MO | 2/23/25
Set: Next Time Around, Could Be Worse, Peephole, Lucky Me, Shape BYOB, Mulberry Mountain, Paralyzed, Love is a Dangerous Game, Big City Chicken, Closer You Get, How Time Flies, If I Were You, All Aboard, We Bid You Goodnight, My Home in Arkansas
Setlist: Shakedown Strings | recordBar | Kansas City, MO | 2/23/25
Set: Samson and Delilah, Pride of Cucamonga, Lost Sailor> Saint of Circumstance, Cumberland Blues, Feel Like A Stranger
