Kansas - Civic Center, Thousand Oaks, 13/9/2017
by L. Paul Mann
published: 31 / 10 / 2017

intro
L Paul Mann watches an anniversary tour show from one of America's most successful progressive rock bands that manages to be both overpowering and intimate.
Kansas, one of the most successful American rock bands to come out of the 1970s, brought their progressive rock jam sounds to the opulent Thousand Oaks Civic Center on Wednesday September 13. The marathon performance featured no less than 24 songs in a nonstop show that stretched nearly three hours into the late summer evening. The Fred Kavli theater housed in the Center is a modern-day performance arts venue with luxurious seating, state of the art lighting and for this show an explosive sound system hoisted high above the crowd. The 1,800-seat theatre seemed like an intimate setting for what still somehow felt like an arena-style rock concert. Kansas are on tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band's fourth album Leftoverture, originally released in 1976. The album included the group's first big hit single 'Carry On Wayward Son'. The band are celebrating their 44th year of music-making, with two of the original members in the line-up: drummer Phil Ehart and guitarist Rich Williams, with bassist Billy Greer having been in the band since their reformation in 1985. Violinist David Ragsdale joined the group in 1991 while singer and keyboard man Ronnie Platt took over lead singing duties in 2014 when the band's original lead singer Steve Walsh retired. The band also added a second keyboardist, David Manion, that same year. The current band is rounded out with a second guitarist, Zak Rizvi, who produced the band's last studio album, The Prelude Implicit, in 2016. The group began quietly with a five-song acoustic set sans drummer Ehart. The near-perfect acoustics of the impressive venue were prominently on display during the acoustic set with crisp, clear vocals and guitar sounds filling the theatre. The acoustic set included songs mostly from the band's 80s offerings such as 'Hold On" and 'Chasing Shadows'. Then Ehart joined the other six members of the band to create a wall of rocking jam band sounds for the rest of the night. The first electric set included a mix of some of the band's oldest songs including 'Dust In The Wind', mixed in with much of their latest album. Without leaving the stage, the band then launched into their final set of the night featuring the Leftoverture album in its entirety. The crowd then began to stand and sing along with the most well-known songs - 'Carry On Wayward Son' being a favourite. Kansas ended the marathon concert with an encore from the band's 1977 'Point of Know Return' album. Having begun their career as an experimental progressive rock band, creating monumental jams during their live concerts, the current Kansas lineup continues the band's legacy with brilliant musicianship and a testament that the music has stood the test of time.
Band Links:-
https://www.kansasband.com/https://en-gb.facebook.com/KansasBand/
https://twitter.com/KansasBand
Picture Gallery:-





live reviews |
Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara, 7/4/2019 |
![]() |
L. Paul Mann watches and photographs pioneering progressive rockers Kansas play an extensive set at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara. |
most viewed articles
current edition
Spear Of Destiny - InterviewRobert Forster - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pistol Daisys - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Nils Petter Molvaer - El Molino, Barcelona, 24/4/2025
Credits - ARC, Liverpool, 17/5.2025
Gary Numan - Berserker
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPDwina Gibb - Interview
Boomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Serge Gainsbourg - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Brad Elvis - Interview
Susie Hug - Interview
Chuck Prophet - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleGarbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Little Simz - Lotus
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Vinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
HAIM - I Quit
Eddie Chacon - Lay Low
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart