Photos: Hilary Crannage-Gallina

Die hard fans lined up out the door at Albany, NY’s Palace Theatre to witness the 50 year tour of 70s rock legends Kansas. Blue light bathed the stage as fans filed in in anticipation for the band to take the stage. Soon drummer Eric Holmquist took his place behind his drum set while keyboardist Tom Brislin kicked off the show with the hit Belexes off the band’s very first album, Kansas. Guitarist and founding member Richard Williams was next to enter the stage with fellow guitarist Zak Rizvi, bassist Dan McGowan and violinist Joe Deninzon. Last to appear was vocalist Ronny Platt, who made his entrance from the back of the stage to cheering applause.

The band made their way through an impressive 20 song setlist in their 2 hour show. Their song covered 11 of their albums from their very first to their album Somewhere to Elsewhere released in 2000. Throughout the show, Platt would retreat to his keyboard stationed towards the back to allow his fellow members to shine, and shine they did. Deninzon put on an impressive display of his amazing skills as a violinist, proving that the violin can, in fact, be a rock instrument. Brislin showcased his piano skills with an impressive solo during the song People of the South. The crowd cheered as Platt introduced their major hit, Dust in the Wind, by explaining that it was created by founding member and guitarist Kerry Allen Livgren as he was practicing his finger work. The band did the song justice as Brislin and Deninzon played bounced off each other during the track’s iconic violin riff.

Probably the most impressive part was watching Williams play. His fingers danced across the neck of his guitar and never missed a beat throughout the entire set. The audience cheered as they listened to his guitar solos and a smile played across his face, he was clearly in his element. The stage lights would dim following the conclusion of each song to a standing ovation from the crowd who couldn’t get enough. Midway through the show, fans were treated to another Kansas hit, A Glimpse of Home, which hadn’t been played live by the band in 40 years. The show “ended” with Miracles Out of Nowhere from the album Leftoverture. But the band wasn’t done and, after a minute or two of the crowd cheering, entered the stage and launched into what is arguably their most well known song, Carry on Wayward Son. After another standing ovation the band retired off stage and the audience headed out into the night and as the song Icarus II goes, to hear the engines roar and crave the emptiness of their bed where they’re safe.

Setlist:

Belexes, Point of Know Return, Play the Game Tonight, Fight Fire with Fire, Icarus – Borne on Wings of Steel, Icarus II, Throwing Mountains, A Glimpse of Home, The Pinnacle, People of the South Wind, Dust in the Wind, Reason to Be, Lonely Wind, Song For America, Can I Tell You, Hold On, Down The Road, The Wall, Miracles Out of Nowhere

Encore: Carry On Wayward Son

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