For a band that coasted on autopilot for much too long after its prime, Kansas sure is swinging towards the productive side of the pendulum as of late, recording “The Prelude Implicit” in 2016 (its first batch of new material since 2000), followed by “Leftoverture Live & Beyond” last year and now following a similar 40th anniversary angle touring the entire “Point Of No Return” project.

By the conclusion of the challenging but entirely rewarding work, it became clear why this was tied with “Leftoverture” as Kansas’ best-seller, though the encore “Carry On Wayward Son” off that very chartbuster only added to the band’s stature as one of the most meaningful in the album-oriented era.

Some of that may have to do with its revitalized line-up, which consists of originals Rich Williams (guitar) and Phil Ehart (drums), long timers Billy Greer (bass) and David Ragsdale (violin), plus latter day additions Ronnie Platt (the local on vocals), David Manion (keyboards) and Zak Rizvi (guitar), who are arguably sounding as strong the original Kansas did on that specific classic/symphonic rock landmark. They also scored a significant bump up to debut at the historic Chicago Theatre, which was fairly full with fans ready to relive the legacy and learn about the band’s recent whereabouts.

And everyone perhaps earned even more than they bargained for when Kansas turned in a thoroughly generous two-and-a-half-hour super set that fulfilled all its promises, plus several surprises. Taking cues from the prior “Leftoverture” format, the guys unplugged for the introspective opening, tastefully stripping down “People Of The South Wind,” “Hope Once Again,” “Hold On,” “Refugee” and “Lonely Wind.”

Kansas soon swapped the acoustic for electric instruments featuring an hour or so of vault material through now with “The Wall, “Song For America,” “Summer” and “Miracles Out Of Nowhere” in particular demonstrating its top-notch musicianship and thought-provoking lyrics. The group even dug out “Cold Grey Morning” off 1995’s usually forgotten “Freaks Of Nature,” plucked “Wheels” out of its box set, along with the instrumental “Musicatto” and “Taking In The View” from 1986’s equally overlooked “Power” to productive results.

While that would’ve all added up to what many acts call a complete concert, the main event came next, filled with the always fantastic familiarity of “Point Of No Return” and “Dust In The Wind” through the extended epics “Portrait (He Knew),” “Closet Chronicles, “Sparks Of The Tempest,” “Hopelessly Human” and a few that had never been previously performed. By the conclusion of the challenging but entirely rewarding work, it became clear why this was tied with “Leftoverture” as Kansas’ best-seller, though the encore “Carry On Wayward Son” off that very chartbuster only added to the band’s stature as one of the most meaningful in the album-oriented era.

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Click here for more photos of Kansas at Chicago Theatre.

For additional information on Kansas, visit KansasBand.com.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation shows, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Chicago Theatre include Celtic Thunder (Oct. 14); Simple Minds (Oct. 15); Christina Aguilera (Oct. 16-17); Neil deGrasse Tyson (Oct. 18); Troye Sivan (Oct. 19); Richard Dawkins & Bret Weinstein (Oct. 23); “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” (Oct. 25); Goo Goo Dolls (Oct. 26); Chris Botti (Oct. 27); Disney Junior Dance Party (Oct. 28); “So You Think You Can Dance” Live! (Oct. 29); Ina Garten: The Barefoot Contessa (Oct. 30) and Bob Weir & Wolf Bros (Oct. 31-Nov. 1). For additional details, visit TheChicagoTheatre.com.