Review: The Real Deal Tattoo Convention

By MATT SPENCER

In the midst of a drab, rainy weekend in Kansas City, the Uptown Theater was a colorful oasis. Bright flora of warm yellows and deep greens grew from arms, legs and backs, giving shelter to wild fauna of screaming skulls and winking pinup girls. Indelible characters in Chinese, Hieroglyphics and bloated graffiti told stories about each person there and the camaraderie they shared, all set to the hornet buzz of tattoo machines. The Real Deal Tattoo Convention was enjoying its second successful year.