Kansas performs at the Benedum Center on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh.
In a night of history and looking back, Kansas wrapped up their Another Fork in the Road 50th Anniversary tour Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.
Founded in the early 1970s, the progressive rock band originally broke big in Pittsburgh, with their first show here in 1975, fittingly at the same venue, although it was known as the Stanley Theatre back then. The love affair with the city has continued over the years, with the 50th anniversary tour kicking off last year in Pittsburgh before closing here more than 18 months later.
Promoter Rich Engler, a longtime proponent of the band who promoted Wednesday's show, introduced the night, followed by Greg Gold, who retold the story of how his father, Wally Gold, discovered Kansas. Kate and Kyle Livgren, the children of original Kansas guitarist Kerry Livgren, were also on hand to accept certificates from BMI marking 9 million radio airplays of "Carry on Wayward Son" and 7 million for "Dust in the Wind."
Those two aforementioned songs might be the most popular of the band's career, but Kansas' setlist spanned 11 of their 16 studio albums, ranging from hits like "Point of Know Return" to deeper cuts like "A Glimpse of Home" and "The Pinnacle." While most of the set pulled from the band's earlier days, two songs from the 2000s made the cut: 2020's "Throwing Mountains" and 2000's "Icarus II," which featured a surprisingly heavy section and a squealing violin that sounded like bombs dropping.
The current incarnation of Kansas features original guitarist Rich Williams and drummer Phil Ehart, who has been sidelined for most of this year after suffering a heart attack. The rest of the band includes singer Ronnie Platt, keyboardist Tom Brislin, violinist Joe Deninzon, guitarist Zak Rizvi, bassist Dan McGowan and Ehart's drum tech, Eric Holmquist, who has been filling in on percussion.
Ehart, who is also the band's manager, played on three songs Wednesday -- joining "Lonely Wind" mid-song, as well as full versions of "Hold On" and the encore of "Carry on Wayward Son." Original bassist Dave Hope was in town for the show and played on those last two songs, too, while Kerry Livgren also had been scheduled to join the tour finale before having to cancel his appearance.
Although Kerry Livgren wasn't able to make the show, his daughter Kate joined on viola for "Dust in the Wind." (On this song, Deninzon played a white violin that belonged to original Kansas violinist Robby Steinhardt, who died in 2021.)
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Over the course of the night, Kansas showed off its versatility and musicianship, as Williams, Rizvi, Brislin and Deninzon took turns in the spotlight, often on the same songs, while Platt sounded solid all night long.
Besides the classic rock stalwarts "Dust in the Wind" and "Carry on Wayward Son," they showed off their prog rock chops on songs like "The Wall" and "Song For America," as well as early 1980s radio hits "Play the Game Tonight" and "Fight Fire with Fire." A mini set of semi-acoustic songs -- "People of the South Wind," "Dust in the Wind," "Reason to Be" and "Lonely Wind" -- offered even more variety.
Other highlights included "Can I Tell You" -- which Platt described as "the song that got Kansas their record deal" -- and a Steinhardt-dedicated "Down the Road," which had the crowd clapping along.
There weren't many early departures to beat traffic as the Pittsburgh crowd, which stayed seated for most of the night, stood up for the encore of a rocking "Carry on Wayward Son."
Kansas closes its 50th anniversary tour in Pittsburgh, wrapping up with "Carry On Wayward Son" featuring special guest original bassist Dave Hope as well as drummer Phil Ehart.
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-- Mike Palm (@mikepalm.bsky.social) December 11, 2024 at 11:21 PM
Although Kansas chose Pittsburgh as the final destination on their 50th anniversary tour, Williams doesn't see Kansas ending anytime soon.
"That conversation really never is had," Williams told TribLive in a recent interview. "It's not like, 'What do you think: one more year out? How about six months?' No, we don't have that conversation."
It won't be long until the band is back on the road, as they launch their Kansas Classics shows on Jan. 23 in Coconut Creek, Florida.