SEP 24 2024
Kansas at Fred Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
Artist: Kansas, Tour: Another Fork in the Road – 50th Anniversary Tour , Venue: Fred Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
Alex Kluft
Legendary rock band Kansas played at the Fred Kavli Theater (Bank of America Performing Arts Center) in Thousand Oaks, CA Tuesday night (9/24) as part of their 50th anniversary tour which began last year. There have been a few lineup changes in the band since 2023. Bassist Billy Greer of nearly 40 years retired just three weeks ago and The Tea Club bassist Dan McGowen who had been his fill-in bassist assumed the role full time. Violinist/guitarist David Ragsdale since 2006 (also 91-97) had left the group last year and his replacement was Joe Deninzon of Stratospheerius. Eric Holmquist, Phil Ehart’s drum tech since 2003 had begun filling in 2016 and again in 18 took over drum duties in 2022 when Ehart sprained his arm and last year he would play drums majority of the show with Ehart playing several songs. With Ehart suffering a heart attack in February, Holmquist has taken over on drum duties full time. Guitarist Zak Rivi who started playing guitar with the group in 2016 left in 2021 then returned earlier this year to fill in for Rich Williams the band’s guitarist since 1973 then rejoined the group. At this time with Ehart out recovering, Williams is the only member still touring from the original and classic era lineup. Tom Brislin has been the keyboardist since 2018 and lead vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt has been a member for 10 years now after original vocalist/keyboardist Steve Walsh retired from the group.
The show began at 7:30 P.M. no opener and Kansas played a little over two hours. The show kicked off with “Belexes” with the band behind a curtain for the beginning. The set included all the hits spanning 50 years including “Point of Know Return,” “Dust in The Wind” “Song for America,” Icarus (Borne on Wings of Steel), “Hold On,” and the encore was “Carry On Wayward Son.” “People of the South Wind,” “Dust in the Wind,” “Reason to Be,” and “Lonely Wind” were all performed acoustically. There were no special effects, stage props, or even visible amps, just normal lighting, several backdrops, one which was for their 50th anniversary combined with the art from their debut album and the cover of Leftoverture, another combining several iconic album covers,and a night of great rock music.
2024 marks 50 years since the release of Kansas’s self-titled debut album. Between 1974 and 1988 the band released 11 albums and did not release another until 1995 followed by another two through 2000 then another in 2016 and the most recent being The Absence of Presence. Their 1976 album Leftoverture and 1977 album Point of Know Return both went 4x-time Platinum. Kansas also had 15 charting singles.
CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS 
Leave a comment