Rating: 
Summary: The Best they've been in years
Review: I was born and raised in Kansas, I even went the University of Kansas. I guess it was inevitable that I became a fanatic for Kansas music. I bought every album they released up to and including Drastic Measures, after which I stopped actively following them. I've seen them in concert four times the last being 7 years ago. I bought "Live at the Whiskey" and was surprised at how far Steve Walsh's vocals had declined.So it is with great satisfaction and real excitement that I listened to this Album. BUY IT! BUY IT NOW! The vocals by Steve Walsh are incredible! I was also impressed with Robbie Steinhardt who sang as well as I've ever heard him. The music is tight as always. The professionalism of the band when it comes to playing live music has always been beyond compare. I especially liked Icarus II. I admit it took a couple of hearings before it hooked me, but hooked me it did. The vocals on "The Wall" were also amazing. If you're a Kansas fan buy this CD you won't regret it. If you're not a fan, give it a try I think you might like it.
Rating: 
Summary: great DVD
Review: the performance IS grainy, because the production people decided not to add alot of extra lighting, preferring to keep the look of a true concert for the band as well as the audience. the band is still as tight as ever. impressed with billy greer's voice---he does alot of high harmony parts that are truly solid. one of my favorite rock DVDs.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: The best Kansas Concert I've seen since the POKR tour. The lasers and special guests on Preacher and DITW; the guys spared no expense in producing this. Child of Innocence has to be their most under rated tune; it always has rocked and this version is awesome. Two regrets, no kids on Cheyenne Anthem and would have liked to hear all of Magnum Opus.
Rating:
Summary: WOW !
Review: The only way I even knew this DVD existed was by browsing...I'm very glad I found it...and it was the reviews here that made me buy it ! Like many...I was disappointed in the fuzzy...grainy picture quality...that's what kept me from giving this 5 stars . As I watched though...the picture quality almost gave me a "retro" feel as I became accustomed to it...but it's about the music and showmansip right ? Ahhh...the music ! Steve Walsh sounded better than he has in a long time...I've seen Kansas 2 times live between 1995 and now and they sound awesome here...and everything was mixed perfectly. This version of "Dust In The Wind"...with help from a string quartet of lovely young ladies was a big favorite of mine...and any true Kansas fan would appreciate it ! As far as showmanship...Steve Walsh and Robbie Steinhardt are great frontmen...and like Robbie said "Who says you can't rock at 52 ? " Thanks amazon.com customers and fellow Kansas fans...I wouldn't have bought this without your help !
Rating:
Summary: Great concert...
Review: I picked up this DVD a couple nights ago. I wanted it immediately when it first came out, but I was a bit sheepish about laying down the money. You see, about 10 years ago, Steve Walsh's voice went to the dogs, and I didn't really want to hear these great songs sounding terrible. But I just couldn't resist, and finally bought the thing. Glad I did!!! What a great concert!! First of all, let me deal with the negatives, as there are only two. The first neg is Steve's voice. He just sounds worn out and damaged. Having said that, most of the concert he sounds pretty good, and there are times when he sounds really great, like in the bridge of "Point of Know Return." The other negative didn't hit me until the credits: I realized that this show was shot in Atlanta! I could have been at this concert, but never even knew they were playing here! ARGH! Now the good stuff. The band sounds amazing. The arrangements are very good, with old classics sounding fresh and alive. The musicians are absolutely tight, but without loosing that live fire (unlike Fleetwood Mac's "The Dance," which is pretty lame throughout). These guys still love their job and love their music and it shows with no doubts. And Phil Ehart -- my God, I think that man is an even better drummer now than he was when I saw them years ago in their heyday. I saw them two years ago on Yes' 'Masterworks' tour, but was sitting so that I couldn't see the drum riser, and remember thinking, "Christ, who is that drummer? Sounds like Phil, but better." Now I know. To me, he's the real star of the DVD. An amazing player. It's rare to find drummers that play with 'heart.' Phil adds so much to the arrangements and excitement of each song. Kansas is one of those rare bands that actually sounds better live than they do in studio. The sign of true art (as I said in my review of the YesSymphonic DVD) is when it can transcend its original construction or intention. Kansas has always been a band whose music truly comes to life when played on stage. Some of the most competent musicians around. The song list is almost perfect. I think I would have chosen at least one other pure rocker (maybe "Got to Rock On", "Relentless" or "Silhouettes in Disguise"...although I would really have preferred my favourite track ever, "Mysteries and Mayhem"), as it starts to get a bit molasses-y in the middle. But otherwise, the songs sound amazing. Very well played, and well arranged. The highlights for me are "Icarus II", "The Preacher" live with choir, "Child of Innocence", "Miracles Out of Nowhere", and the pretty cool arrangement of "Fight Fire with Fire / Play the Game Tonight." I was still a big fan throughout the Elefante years, and it was great to hear these gems thrown in. Here's how good this disc is: I don't like "Portrait" very much, never have. But when hearing this arrangement, I found myself actually enjoying it quite a bit. If you're a Kansas fan, pick up this DVD. It will remind you why you love them and what a great live band they are.
Rating:
Summary: The magic is back...
Review: While I'm a long-time Kansas fan, I can't say I was really looking forward to this DVD. "Live at The Whiskey" had been a big disappointment due to the character of Steve Walsh's voice (though I later read he was sick the night they recorded it) and so I was very skeptical about Device-Voice-Drum. Thank God for Amazon.com! After reading all the positive reviews I took the plunge and was very much blown away - the band sounds phenomenal! Walsh's voice is powerful and clean; the opening phrases of "The Wall" sent shivers down my spine. The set is tight and well executed. The 5.1 mix is perfect - every instrument is distinct and at it's proper level. I own lots of concert DVDs and this is one of the BEST. Several people have compained about the grainy picture quality. I would have to agree that when the lights are dim the picture can get a little grainy, but I didn't find it distracting even on my 50" plasma display. The video editing itself is superb for a concert DVD, so to me the graininess was a non-issue. Order this now!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome DVD!! Please read this!
Review: Before I tell you how great this DVD is, I want to address the few petty remarks that have been made about this DVD.
Yes, Rich has gained weight, SO WHAT!!! He plays great!
Yes, Robby has alot of hair, SO WHAT!! He plays great too!
Yes, Steve's voice has changed quite a bit over the years....hey, sometimes that happens when you get older.....let's see how spunky today's "hot new artists" are when they're hitting 50 and 55. Besides, he's a awesome on keys. What I find admirable is that Steve has been learning to get around his obstacle and "re-invent" his voice. I first saw Kansas in '94 when Ragsdale and Roberts were in the band. Compared to then, Steve voice is in great shape!!
I do have to agree, I was a little disappointed with the grainy picture. I have always like video because of it's look of really being "live."
But you know, these guys have endured alot of ... both personally and professionally. They were once a club band trying to make it, then they made it and began playing huge arenas. Then when they hit just the tiniest of hard times, they are discarded by money driven decisions, and even tossed aside by ignorant listeners because they chose to listen to music that commericalism says is "good."
They deserve to go out and put out something this high in production. The sound is great!! I even like the lack of that second guitar in the songs. It's a very clean show!! Definately a must for any Kansas fan and potential new fans. Let's stop making fun of these guys from the 60's through the 80's. I'm 28 yrs. old and I spent the 90's rediscovering the '70's. All you people/critics that are near my age and ridiculing the older acts need to get off this "slandering" band wagon and just accept the fact that these types of bands have withstood the test of time, therefore assigning them the title of "a qualtiy band." It's by far, the best and most accurate live recording of the band to this date.
Rating:
Summary: Semi-Technical review of this DVD
Review: Let me start off to say I have been a fan of Kansas from the beginning. So I will not reiterate all the accolades others have given for this project. What I will do is be unbiased and just give my views from a technical standpoint and try to especially clear up the wide range of comments ranging from "very grainy" to "excellent ". Video: First, Kansas is on a very small stage surrounded closely by the audience, which you really don't see. But this does not give any kind of claustrophobic feeling. The background is total black, and the surrounding audience can barely be seen. They are in the dark. Kansas chose to use a standard light show with the usual color gels in lights. The total black surrounding in combination with the concert lights gives the so-called grainy look, especially with the blue, green and red lights. Now the grainy look happens occasionally and it is quite apparent. But after watching it several times, my theory is it was the result on one particular camera at bad angles. For most of the shots, the picture is excellent. So yes there is some grain, but it does not take anything away. Audio: Perfect. The mix is excellent. You can hear every instrument and voice with clarity and crispness. Steve Walsh still has the voice. Production: Excellent. Like I said, you hardly noticed the audience there like many other nauseating concerts (such as Paul McCartney's latest). The camera's where in the right spot to capture the right moments of these skillful musicians. Editing was top notch, save for a couple of moments where they for some reason kept in a Drum camera angle of Phil. Band: Tight and dead on. I did miss Kerry Livgren, my personal opinion, but Kansas did any excellent job without him. A very enjoyable concert to watch and listen to. Now I would like to thank Phil Ehart for keeping the spirit alive and the band together. I hope they continue on and hopefully produce a Part 2 of this concert.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Get Enough
Review: Well, I ordered the DVD and 2-CD Set of Device - Voice - Drum shortly after seeing it for 3 nights in a row on VH1. I can not get enough of this music. I am 53 years old and spent my mid adult years listening to Kansas. They are by far the greatest band of a gone by era to still be around and kicking. I can not get enough of this CD Set or the DVD. I have to catch a time when my wife isn't around (she doesn't like this kind of music). Well, I have had plenty of time on my hands lately. She has been down helping out her daughter. I watch the DVD atleast 2 times a day and listen to the CD Set at least once. I am listening to the CD as I am writing this. Simply put, Kansas just can not be beat. I sincerely believe they will always keep that golden sound of theirs that has rocketed them to the forefront of music today.
Rating:
Summary: TOP PRODUCTION; TOP DIRECTION; TOP MUSIC
Review: It took me awhile to buy this DVD. It was in a way a mistake for I tought that the best Prog DVDs were already out (Roger Waters, Yes, Nektar, etc.) and in reality the DVD Music Concerts had just begun. This particular Kansas DVD is actually a step forward in Production and Direction. Somehow the quality of the filming and editing matches perfectly the quality of the music. Me, being a Kansas fan for over 30 years and having seeing them alive several times in different stages of their career it just brings back the best of memories. As a matter a fact, this particular show -I didn't attend- it's probably one of the best ever perfomances by Kansas. And the best of all is that it was recorded by professionals in a professional matter. I can't really find a defect other that Kerry Livgren's absence; but ironically I feel He was not necessary for this performance. If you are not a Kansas fan or just don't care for progressive rock you should still buy this DVD just for the heck of owning a nice piece of art; both from the musical and technical points of view. I think it should be shown to filming arts students, specially if they're interested in filming concerts.
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