Kansas keeps carrying on

By Jim Dail

Few bands had the musical chops to be a major part of the ‘70s progressive rock movement, have a number of pop hits and establish themselves as classic rock icons.

With classics such as “Carry on Wayward Son,” “Point of No Return,” and “Dust in the Wind,” Kansas is one such band, and they will hit the stage at Casino Pauma on September 11.

For lead singer Ronnie Platt, who replaced original singer Steve Walsh about a year ago, it is quite an experience.

“If I bruised each time I pinched myself, I’d be a walking grape,” he said. “The last year has gone by in the blink of an eye. I can’t believe I’m about to do my 100th show with Kansas.”

The band has been selling out shows for decades as their song catalog has continued to resonate with a range of generations.

“It’s just that music from that time frame is timeless,” he said. “I think it was written from the heart from people who had a love for playing and a love for music. It wasn’t manufactured so much back then. Now, everything is computerized, and as far as the studio is concerned, it makes things easier in the studio. Back in the old days, you did that live and you did it over again and again until you had it the way you wanted it.”

In the early ‘70s, the band recorded three albums on Don Kirshner’s record label before hitting it big with “Leftoverture,” which featured the classic “Carry on Wayward Son.” From there it was “Point of No Return,” “Dust in the Wind.” “Hold On,” “Play the Game Tonight” and “Fight Fire With Fire.”

“Back in the day the labels were really hard on musicians to write hits, and they stuck it out with Kansas until they hit big,” he said. “Kansas just kept on doing what they wanted to do and laid the foundation that has stood the test of time.”

And the catalog is so vast that even putting together a set list can be an adventure.

“Let me tell you that if they ever put the responsibility of making the set list in my hands, my list would be eight hours long,” he said. “I’d be listing a bunch of songs on every album. I have been a devout fan for a long time.”

And there was of course a learning curve as there is each time a new singer is named to a long-standing band, but Platt was ready.

“I already knew most of them vocally,” he said. “I also knew quite a few of the catalog on the keyboard. It was so funny because David Manion came aboard the same time I did and he is a monster keyboard player. I was insanely jealous and when we came to rehearsals he just started to throw one keyboard piece at me after another. So I was thinking you want me to sing and play at the same time. It is amazing what you can do when painted into a corner.”

And the two-keyboard structure is very much to Platt’s liking.

“It’s great to have all those parts there to play,” he said. “Kerry Livgren [one of the original songwriters] didn’t know where to stop writing parts for songs and that really allows us to stretch ourselves as musicians. Having the dual keyboard gives us such an amazing sound.”

And that sound is resonating with fans of all ages as well as all cultures.

“Talk about appealing to a diverse audience,” he said. “Last year we played in Brazil and this first venue we played the crowd came in and oh my god it looked like the average age was 30. I figured that this is such a young crowd are they going to know the songs or are they just here because something is going on. It freaked me out.”

But then he was amazed.

“Now, they speak Portuguese, and these kids were singing every word of ‘Play the Game’ with me,” he said. “I looked at the other guys and we thought,‘My god it’s great.’ It was crazy, but again it is music. That has always hit me hard. Music is just anchored in people so when you hear it those feelings and excitement just come out.”

And the band is headed back into the studio as well.

“We all have the mindset of we are just going to come up with whatever we feel and work it and just go with what sounds good with us and what instinctually feels good,” he said. “It will sound like Kansas. For me, even the stuff that I wrote even before sounded like Kansas. I was heavily influenced by the band.”

And no matter what, the band will keep playing live.

“We have such a diverse audience and that tells us how many different people the band really looks good