Oct

12

Kansas Live

Filed Under Updates 

Kansas-Point of Know ReturnKansas is out on their 35th anniversary tour. Kansas has also never broken up. They had some substantial personnel changes in the 80s, sure, but the current line-up boasts three original members and the “new guys” have been with them for 20+ years. And, yes, Steve Walsh, the original singer, is still belting it out. This is not a reunion tour. This is the real deal.

As you’d expect, 35 years makes for some serious experience, and these guys still crank out the album-oriented rock like it’s fresh. The guitarist and bassist still do the “rock ‘n roll shoulder rub” during solos and Walsh’s vocals haven’t deteriorated. Maybe they don’t run around the stage like they used to, but this is still a performance and they mean it. Never once during their 90-minute set feel that it was contrived or being slogged through for a paycheck.

Kansas made their name in rock by playing radio-friendly prog, and they shine best when riffing and letting off extended guitar solos. You know it’s a Kansas song when it goes from wailing riffage to a polite, semi-soaring keyboard line in 5/4 time. It still works, though it can get a bit tedious on record if you’re looking to jam out. As for seeing it live, it’s a feat to just see musicians pull it off, and the moment they delve back into a riff or solo is magic. These guys are one of the top bands of the 70s for a reason, and it’s a position they still hold with dignity and reason. As I stood in the audience, it hit me that these guys are one of the early progenitors of metal. No joke. Take another listen to some of their earlier stuff. Take out the classical keyboard parts and add some anger, and these guys are two steps from Metallica.

Admittedly, I’m not the most knowledgeable Kansas fan, but I spoke with a few after the show and they were more than pleased. In fact, only six songs featured on the band’s Best of Kansas compilation were featured, and two were the encore: “Point of Know Return”, “Song for America”, “Dust in the Wind”, “Hold On”, with “Fight Fire with Fire” and “Carry On My Wayward Son” as the encore. Bands from this era are commonly expected to have broken line-ups and have a show rife with nostaglia. For Kansas, this clearly isn’t the case. They’re still out, doing what they’ve done for the last three and a half decades. They’re “carrying on”, if you will. OK, that was low. Clearly, though, the band has not yet hit their point of no return. No, really. Hold on. Given the quality of their current live show, it’s gonna be a while before Kansas is dust in the wind. Thank you and good night.

Will Thompson enjoys putting somewhat carefully chosen words in relatively meaningful order.

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