Kansas in Stroudsburg, PA last night...

[DTJeff]

Wow, that's all I can say. Granted, I'm young and this was only my first time ever seeing these guys, but man, for a bunch of old dudes, they still fucking ROCK live. I've loved Kansas for a long time even though I'm not much into Prog Rock, really love them for the influence they had on many prog metal bands years later, and the enduring power of a lot of their classic material still shines through. Sure, Steve can't sing all that well anymore, but he still does his best and the rest of the guys just bring it. They also really dusted off some cool stuff that I was not expecting to hear.

Set list:
01.Magnum Opus: Overture/Howling at the Moon
02.Musicatto
03.Belexes
04.Point of Know Return
05.Miracles Out of Nowhere
06.On the Other Side
07.Stand Beside Me
08.Hold On
09.Dust in the Wind
10.Song For America
11.Mysteries and Mayhem
12.Child of Innocence
13.Icarus: Borne on Wings of Steel
14.Portrait (He Knew)
Encore:
15.Fight Fire With Fire
16.Carry On Wayward Son

 

[Imajica]

This is one band I have never seen live and regret not seeing. I should check out their site and see where else they are playing. Their classic songs will forever remain with me as I grew up with them blairing on cars speakers.

 

[SeaStorm]

I was never into Kansas growing up. I ended up seeing them last summer at a classic rock festival (Journey, Kansas, Foghat, and Shooting Star) and I was seriously impressed by them. Enough that I went out and picked up Point of Know Return for my collection. Wow, good stuff.

 

[nomisofsiman]

I was never into Kansas growing up. I ended up seeing them last summer at a classic rock festival (Journey, Kansas, Foghat, and Shooting Star) and I was seriously impressed by them. Enough that I went out and picked up Point of Know Return for my collection. Wow, good stuff.

Classic album.

 

[modernwizardry]

14.Portrait (He Knew)

My favorite Kansas tune off of my favorite Kansas album.

 

[J-Dubya 777]

I saw them play in between races at Chicagoland Speedway last year or the year before.
They played out in the vending area, outside the track. Had'nt seen them in a few years, but yeah, they brought it. Was a cool surprise on race day.....

 

[FuturesEnd]

Fantastic set list!
I have seen them over 60 times and never heard them do Belexes before! LUCKY BASTARD!

Christian David Wentz
Futures End

 

[Rick Pierpont]

Fantastic set list!
I have seen them over 60 times and never heard them do Belexes before! LUCKY BASTARD!

Christian David Wentz
Futures End

Wow! Over 60 times?!?!? Kinda sad and crazy that I've never seen the band that influenced me to want to learn guitar all those years ago! 32+ years later I can't put down the instrument! Thank you, Kansas!

I had no idea they were even still touring. Sad that they played 2 hours away from me and I had no idea! Must check tour schedule..

 

[DTJeff]

Wow! Over 60 times?!?!? Kinda sad and crazy that I've never seen the band that influenced me to want to learn guitar all those years ago! 32+ years later I can't put down the instrument! Thank you, Kansas!

I had no idea they were even still touring. Sad that they played 2 hours away from me and I had no idea! Must check tour schedule..

I have the most incredibly random story to tell you.

Since I'm from PA, I punched in Stewartstown to see where you're at, since I hadn't heard the name before, or at least couldn't place it. So I looked on Google Maps and realized you live right off of Exit 4 from I-83 South.

When me, my sister, and my friend drove from Allentown down to Baltimore to see Stratovarius/Pagan's Mind, it was nearly a 3-hour drive each way, and both times we found ourselves in need of bathrooms and food - and by chance we happened to pick Exit 4 on the way down. As anyone who travels knows, seeking things off of Highway exits can be risky, and we took a chance. We were absolutely thrilled when we got right off the highway and saw a variety of fast food and a Giant Food (where I happen to work here in Allentown). We were absolutely thrilled, and when we stopped back on the way home it paid off again. Over the past 6 months now there's just been this constant running joke about how amazing Exit 4 was, and how no other Highway Exit could ever measure up to it. It's a really stupid running joke that probably no one but us would ever think is funny... but when I saw that you actually live right off of Exit 4 - I had to say something, haha.

 

[Imajica]

Rick, sorry to say but you and I both missed the boat. I live even closer and didn't know they were playing. Although in fairness I think I had see their tour dates posted long ago and honestly forgot about them. Hopefully they will come back to the area and the both of us can see them.

 

[LarryD]

Be sure to grab their latest show on Blu-Ray / Standard DVD called "Theres Know Place Like Home" ....

Absolutely stunning show with an orchestra -- and easily one of the best sounding DVD concerts out there, especially in Blu-Ray.

I've seen Kansas many times over the years, and this DVD show is certainly a tribute to their staying power. Don't miss out on this show.

 

[actordude]

I'm in the same boat - another GREAT band that I've never been able to catch in person. I think I'll check out a tour schedule for the next time they come through SoCal......

 

[spag]

They really are great live. When I lived in the Northern VA area, Kansas played somewhere within an easy drive pretty often, and I would go if at all possible. No idea how many times I saw them play over the years. Never a bad show. Even outdoors in the heat, sweat __pouring_ off Walsh, and they never missed a beat.

 

[zinescene]

14.Portrait (He Knew)

My favorite Kansas tune off of my favorite Kansas album.

One of my favorite tunes off Two for the Show. Can't go wrong with Leftoverture, Point of no Return and even Monolith either. People of the South Wind and How My Soul Crys Out For You just rock!

 

[Hal9000]

I've seen them many times, hopefully I'll see them many more. Songs I would love to hear them perform but never have :

Lamplight Symphony
Relentless
Curtain Of Iron
The Pinnacle
Lonely Street
A Glimpse of Home
Closet Chronicles
Death of Mother Nature Suite

 

[TwstDrSteph]

Set list:
01.Magnum Opus: Overture/Howling at the Moon
02.Musicatto
03.Belexes
04.Point of Know Return
05.Miracles Out of Nowhere
06.On the Other Side
07.Stand Beside Me
08.Hold On
09.Dust in the Wind
10.Song For America
11.Mysteries and Mayhem
12.Child of Innocence
13.Icarus: Borne on Wings of Steel
14.Portrait (He Knew)
Encore:
15.Fight Fire With Fire
16.Carry On Wayward Son

Man, that setlist is AWESOME! I've seen them many times, but have never seen them do Musicatto, On the Other Side, Stand Beside Me, Mysteries and Mayhem, or Child of Innocence before. Just, like, wow.

I had the honor of interviewing Steve Walsh back in 2000. The interview was to promote his solo album Glossalalia, but the new Kansas disc (Somewhere to Elsewhere) was coming out and he took time to talk about that too. Really nice, humble guy.

Related question -- has anyone heard any updates about Kerry Livgren and how his recovery has been going?

Steph

 

[5150]

This is basically the same setlist off of the latest DVD, There's Know Place Like Home. And yes Musicatto was one of the highlights, especially since Steve Morse joins the band on stage for this song. I was really surprised to see Steve Walsh perform Fight Fire With Fire since he didn't sing on the studio version. Most original vocalist refuse to perform songs performed by their replacement singer in a band.

But overall I was disappointed with Kansas' performance on the DVD. Steve just can't hit those high notes anymore. So he sings at a lower octave and/or talks/whispers through the highest parts. And the band doesn't perform anywhere near as tight as they once did in their prime. The songs were accurately played but there's little fire or gusto in the performance. It's kind of sad to see them this way. Not the way I want to remember Kansas.

The first time I saw them was in 1992. And while Steve Walsh was wired, probably on cocaine, he was in good voice and all over the stage ... including his famous head-stands on the keyboards.

 

[DTJeff]

But overall I was disappointed with Kansas' performance on the DVD. Steve just can't hit those high notes anymore. So he sings at a lower octave and/or talks/whispers through the highest parts. And the band doesn't perform anywhere near as tight as they once did in their prime. The songs were accurately played but there's little fire or gusto in the performance. It's kind of sad to see them this way. Not the way I want to remember Kansas.

The first time I saw them was in 1992. And while Steve Walsh was wired, probably on cocaine, he was in good voice and all over the stage ... including his famous head-stands on the keyboards.

I got the DVD back around December, and I can see some of your criticism, but I actually was pleasantly surprised with the performance I saw. I liked the DVD, but nevertheless the live show had more energy to it. Steve actually got out from behind the keyboards a number of times and jumped about a bit more - I'm guessing the reason why he didn't on the show was because it was a special shoot with an orchestra - definitely a different vibe.

And yeah, Steve's voice is shot, but I don't hold that against the show itself because I knew that going in. I don't like people whose biggest criticism of a show is a setlist or that "the singer can't sing like he used to", because it's things that don't have anything to do with that actual performance and the quality of what you DID see.

I gotta say too, I don't see how they could've been any tighter than they were, it was fucking intense.