Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Even if Kansas officially hails that very state, the group’s latest visit to Chicagoland on the campus of North Central College in Naperville served as a homecoming of sorts. These days, the progressive/classic rockers are fronted by DuPage County’s very own Ronnie Platt, who may not be Steve Walsh or John Elefante, but sure knows his way around the repertoire after singing it for years with local favorites ARRA (plus logged plenty of road miles with the like-minded Shooting Star).

Though the band is gearing up for the brand new album “The Prelude Implicit” this fall on Inside Out Music (its first in 16 years), the set list was filled with nothing but the hits, crossed with a few older deep cuts, foreshadowing the 40th anniversary of “Leftoverture” (to be performed in full when the band returns to Chicago on Friday, November 4 at the Copernicus Center).

Along with originals Rich Williams (guitar) and Phil Ehart (drums), plus latter era members Billy Greer (bass), David Ragsdale (violin) and David Manion (keyboards), Kansas easily sold out the theatre setting of Pfeiffer Hall, adding to the impressive list of national acts in the institution’s ongoing performing arts series. Though the band is gearing up for the brand new album “The Prelude Implicit” this fall on Inside Out Music (its first in 16 years), the set list was filled with nothing but the hits, crossed with a few older deep cuts, foreshadowing the 40th anniversary of “Leftoverture” (to be performed in full when the band returns to Chicago on Friday, November 4 at the Copernicus Center).

In spite of the line-up changes (including the departure of primary songwriter Kerry Livgren in 2000), the current incarnation clearly gelled well as the opener “Point Of No Return” drew an instant standing ovation. From there, the guys cracked open the time capsule, recalling the infrequently performed MTV favorite “Play That Game Tonight,” the contemplative ballad “Dust In The Wind,” plus early prog rockers “Miracles Out of Nowhere” and “Icarus (Borne On Wings Of Steel).”

As the initial portion of the show wrapped with fellow flashbacks “Portrait (He Knew)” and “Sparks Of The Tempest,” members really let their prodigious playing shine, but also proved just as pliable to the radio dominating encores “Fight Fire With Fire” and “Carry On Wayward Son.” Though mainstream tastes have changed by miles since those first debuted, Kansas doesn’t have anything to worry about given the ongoing support of its faithful fan base, plus the chance for an entirely new generation to discover a history that’s just as rich in musicality as songwriting substance.

Click here for more Kansas photos from North Central College’s Pfeiffer Hall. For additional information on Kansas, visit KansasBand.com.

Upcoming concert and musical highlights at North Central College’s Pfeiffer Hall include Moscow Festival Ballet’s “The Sleeping Beauty” (Apr. 29); Rodney Atkins (May 14); “Seussical” (June 24-26, July 1-3) and “Oklahoma” (July 29-31, August 5-7). For additional details, visit FineArts.NorthCentralCollege.edu/Venues/Pfeiffer-Hall.

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