Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson bring Bakersfield to Kansas City tonight

Merle Haggard has been playing shows in Kansas City for nearly 50 years. Last summer, Knuckleheads owner Frank Hicks told me a story, in which he mentioned the grizzled country star’s early appearances in our town.

“You know where the Shady Lady’s at? That used to be a pretty good club here in Kansas City. It was called Genova’s Chestnut Inn,” Hicks said, whose childhood home wasn’t far from there — he walked to the club with his sister. “She was 18,” Hicks said. “And they let her in ’cause she’s cute. But they said, ‘Hey, kid, you gotta stay outside.'” Haggard’s dusty boots might have stomped across the club’s stage while Hicks was sitting outside on the pavement.