CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS

Legendary Rock band Kansas played the historic Orpheum Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, CA September 16th as part of their 50th anniversary tour. Over those 50 years, Kansas has had three 4x platinum albums (one was Best of), one platinum album, and nine gold albums as well as a million-selling single (“Dust in the Wind”). The band consists of original members Phil Ehart (Drums) and guitarist Rich Williams, bassist Billy Greer (Since 1985), lead vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt replaced original member Steve Walsh in 2014, keyboardist Tom Brislin (Since 2018), and violinist Joe Deninzon replaced David Ragsdale this year who was a member 1991-97 and 2006-23. 

The first half of the show was played by Ehart’s long-time drumtech Eric Holmquist starting with “Belexes” and played through “Throwing Mountains.” Following “Throwing Mountains,” the band played “People of the South Wind” and “Dust in the Wind,” and “Reason to Be” acoustically without drums.  Ehart joined in on “Lonely Wind” and played through the end of the show.” Following a 19-song set ending with “Miracles Out of Nowhere,” the band came back to play an encore of “Carry On Wayward Son.” “Down the Road” was sung by Greer. “Can I Tell You” was the song that Kansas sent out to labels to get signed and they released their first album in 1974 under Kirshner (Founded by Don Kirshner).