Kansas singer Ronnie Platt said the group brings “incredible musicianship.” “I’ve always described the Kansas fan as the intense listener because our music is very involved and layered,” he said.
Lauren Hight photo courtesy of Kansas Management
LIMA — Singer Ronnie Platt said the band Kansas still represents musicianship at its finest.
That musicianship will be on full display when the rock royalty visit Lima at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 at the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, 7 Town Square, Lima.
“Joe Deninzon, our violin player who has been with the band a little over a year now, will just absolutely mesmerize you,” Platt said. “The guy is pure charisma and just a phenomenal player.”
Platt recognized longtime members guitarist Rich Williams, bassist Billy Greer and drummer Phil Ehart, as well as guitarist Zak Rizvi and keyboardist Tom Brislin, calling them a pleasure to listen to.
“That’s what the show brings,” he said. “You’re watching our show and seeing this incredible musicianship, and it’s exciting. I’ve always described the Kansas fan as the intense listener because our music is very involved and layered.”
The band, known for its mix of progressive and hard rock sound producing hits such as “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind,” will perform a full sampling from the beginning of its history to the present day.
“One is a high energy electric guitar-based, in-your-face song, but there are also very bluesy songs with almost a Southern rock feel like ‘Down the Road,’” Platt said. “It really is all over the place. There are songs that are very (artists and repertoire) friendly and radio-friendly, and there are songs that are straight-ahead rock and roll. It’s really impossible to put Kansas in one genre.”
Even audience members who are not familiar with the band’s catalog should enjoy the show.
“What I always say is even if you’re not a Kansas fan and you’re not familiar with the music, you cannot help but come to a show and appreciate the music,” Platt said. “Why are the symphonies still playing Beethoven, Mozart and Bach? They’re long gone, but their music is so intense, inspiring and involved, and you don’t need to be a hardcore Kansas fan that knows every album and song because it really is an experience of music, regardless of what genre you’re into.”
Whatever the experience is like, Platt is just excited to give Lima a great show.
“I hear this from time to time and I think it’s the biggest compliment when people say they might not be the most devout Kansas fan, but they say they weren’t really expecting it to be that good,” he said. “To me, that’s just an insane compliment. And for it to be unsolicited, really makes it an accomplishment and goes to show how well the band is doing now.”
For tickets and more information, visit bit.ly/3Aby4UP. For more information on Kansas, visit bit.ly/3WuEjdI.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
