Necessity is the mother of invention, but ambition gave birth to innovation. Located in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, sits a welcoming, artist-run venue that refuses to comply and ventures to the furthest reaches of live music to unearth the next chapter for itself and the medium as a whole. KC’s recordBar, co-founded by veteran musician Steve Tulipana, has created a band-friendly community hub for the local music scene and national touring acts alike.
Tulipana and his team of fellow musicians have been running recordBar for the past 20 years, bringing in legends like Black Flag and Nathaniel Rateliff, and serving as a vital vertebrae in the backbone of the local KC music scene. The recordBar team sees the venue as an open-concept, ever-evolving entity built around community and music, providing Kansas City, MO, with a haven for their lofty musical visions.
Glide had the pleasure of speaking with recordBar’s marketing manager, Nathan Reusch, and co-owner Steve Tulipana about the first twenty years of recordBar, how the venue has evolved, and the local Kansas City live music scene. You can check out our full conversation below.
recordBar celebrated twenty years in 2025. What were some of the biggest lessons you learned since you opened, and how have your initial visions for your venue evolved?
ST: #1 know a good plumber, #2 be kind, #3 culture is more fulfilling than money. I’ve always treated recordBar like a child. It grows, it learns, it changes. But ultimately, it’s going to be exactly what it wants to be. I’m just here to encourage and support it.
How does being next to the T-Mobile Center and the Power and Light District affect your draw? I imagine most people who go to that area often prefer more mainstream music vs. the bands and music you cater to in the indie spirit.
NR: We definitely have had people come by after the arena show. We’ve also had artists who play the arena pop in (mostly their crews, though). That said, the crossover is very minimal. – ST
While our venue is just a block from the arena, we are in a different neighborhood, with a highway between the arena and recordBar. The Crossroads District is an art district with mostly neighborhood art galleries and small businesses.
Your first location in Westport was very cozy and had a vibe, whether for shows or trivia night. What aspects of that venue did you try to carry over to your current location?
ST: As much as possible, we’ve tried to keep it inviting, safe, and clean. We miss those community-building nights like trivia and Bob Walkenhorst Wednesdays. Still, we’ve tried to keep it up by continuing to host fundraisers, community workshops, and even weddings and celebrations of life.
Your music trivia night was one of the most challenging music trivia nights around. Do you still offer something similar for music nerds to test their knowledge against one another?
ST: Not currently, but there have been some discussions with Sonic Spectrum’s Robert Moore to do a reunion event. We’re just trying to get the calendars to align.
Are there any local and up-and-coming artists who consider recordBar their “home” venue? Are there any regulars you want to shout out?
ST: Well, a lot of the staff are musicians, including me (Season to Risk / Dan Jones & the Squids) and my business partner Shawn Sherill (Roman Numerals). Our production manager is Steddy P from Indyground Records, and our marketing director, Nathan, is an electronic artist (Bobcat Attack) and runs The Record Machine label. Dom Chronicles and Paris Williams have both worked for us, and we love it when they come back and play shows for us. Almost all of our amazing sound engineers are also performers – Marty Bush, Mitch Hewlett ( Mace Mouth / Gemini Parks), and Taylor Samson (Paris Williams). We definitely have bands that say they prefer playing our stage, and we love them dearly for that.
Is it challenging to book bands to come through KC based on routing and tour schedules, or has it become easier in recent years with agents and artists?
ST: It’s incredibly difficult, but luckily, we have a great in-house team and strong partnerships with local promoters that help keep our calendar full, while also searching for up-and-coming talent and hosting underground legends.
A lot of KC people take pride in the Chiefs and their BBQ. It would be silly to run your business on those themes, as plenty of places already do. What do you think KC offers culturally and musically that many other Midwest cities don’t have?
ST: I’ve been saying this since the 90’s. We have a diverse and welcoming scene. Musicians support and collaborate with each other. It’s not hyper competitive like some other cities can be. KC PROUD! It doesn’t hurt that we are at the crossroads of I-70 and I-35. It’s a day’s drive to Austin, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, and Denver! Get in the van!
What other venues in KC do you enjoy going to see a show at, and what other venues in other cities do you enjoy going to?
ST: In KC, I try to hit them all. We’re super privileged here. Everyone pulls their weight and runs killer rooms. We also collaborate and communicate. One of my favorite shows last year was a collaboration we did with Sk8Bar. We’ve also presented several shows at The Ship and The Temple. I finally got to play Knuckleheads last year and loved it. When we opened recordBar 20 years ago, we were influenced by our favorite venues that we’d toured through with our bands – First Ave / 7th St. Entry (Minneapolis), Metro (Chicago), Gabe’s Oasis (Iowa City), Rocket Bar (St. Louis), Grog Shop ( Cleveland). Some are still around. We are a member of NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) and have met many indie venue owners at the annual conference. I toured recently and fell in love with TV Eye in NYC, Darling Zhora in Minneapolis, and Reverb in Omaha. I’m always taking cues and tips from cool venues. Never stop learning!
Is there a connective tissue that ties all of the acts you book together? Is there a particular sound/genre that you would say defines Kansas City and recordBar?
ST: I’m a music geek. I love all genres. I’m open to everything and anything that has a vibe, feeling, or some energy. Some other agents focus on certain genres, but more than anything, I support eclecticism and continue to search and listen. I don’t think you can define a recordBar “sound” at all.
You guys have hosted some very well-known acts who have gone on to play large-capacity venues. Are there any artists left on your bucket list that you hope to host at recordBar?
ST: Oh man. For sure. So many. Lydia Lunch has been on my wish list for years. Kim Gordon would be amazing. Chuck D! The Residents! I’m sure Shawn, Steddy, and the rest of the team have a mile-long list of up-and-coming bands I don’t know.
NR: I’m hopeful to bring Sam Prekop from Sea & Cake to recordBar someday. I have brought Com Truise a few times, but we are in desperate need of a return.
What does recordBar have planned for the future? Is there anything exciting over the horizon you’re looking forward to sharing with the community?
ST: Holding some ideas close to my heart right now. Not ready to share, but just know that recordBar is always evolving and adapting. That’s the theme for 2026.
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