David Ragsdale is an absolute beast. To be able to master the fiddle is impressive enough, but to alternate between the violin and guitar in the middle of a song is fucking amazing. No disrepect to Robby Steinhardt, but comparing Robby to David skill-wise is like comparing Wolverine from the X-Men to Barney the Dinosaur.
all you need to know about KANSAS is whoever they put up on that stage is a master musician, or he wouldn't be there they only give a damn about the performance they put on---- they love their fans, that's why they keep performing, i've seen them live over 8 times every time is a definite thrill for sure, keep going guys ,retirement sucks, i know
Steve is a very nice and funny man... he just does not like the idea of being idolized, so he shies away from it... you can call it stuck up... I call it humbled
I played the Whiskey in 92'.. Many thanks to the Stage Manager. We opened and I left my Foot switch (about$350) there... I got it back a few days later!!!!!!!! Rock-On!
@leonakita What difference does it make what anybody looks like when they are cranking out music like this?! I suppose you say the same about Johnny Winter or Robin Trower! There is nothing dated about this. This rocks anytime or anywhere!
I read in an interview that this lineup they had was the best at recreating all the kansas material.We knew we were good! This was said by david ragsdale. They went out every night and just kicked ass!
Late summer of '91 I'm on vacation in Orlando when I get a call from a friend of mine from back home in Chicago, only he's working at Disney World then. He says, "Wanna go to Daytona to a bar (Pinky's, I believe) and see Kansas?" I said, "You gotta be kiddin'" We end up making the drive. Turns out Kerry is joining the band for the show. I spent the whole night at the sound board talking to a guy named Steve. Turns out it was Steve Morse. I remembered him from seeing him with the Dixie Dreggs.
@wingnutstube man i was born in 93 i hate all modern day music, for me 50's 60's 70's and 80's music was the best thank god i was brought up in a world of amazing music like this, kansas are outstanding
Kansas' newest CD/DVD "Works in Progress" 2006 Innersound Records includes this and others from the "Live at the Whiskey" along with some other live footage.
Anyway, after the show, my wife, my friend, and I are out in back of the bar waiting to see the band depart with a handful of others. We got pics of all of us with each member, including Kerry with his top hat on, but Walsh refused to shake a hand. Some blonde in a red Porsche pulled up, Walsh covered his face with his hands so no pics could be taken, and another girl escorted him out of the bar and into the Porsche and then sat on his lap. How rude. But the rest of the band was class acts.
His voice is pretty much back to amazing now tho. I do agree Kansas isnt proper Kansas without the original lineup but Steve sounds really really good nowadays.
It does. And Walsh did a good job at getting his voice back into shape. Not as good as it sounded in the 70s but better than it sounded on this recording.
Also I agree with Rickyon down below & anyone who loves Kansas pick up the 30th Anniversary 2cd 1dvd Special edition box set it is well worth it for any Kansas fan!
If you check out the new Kansas DVD, "There's Know Place Like Home," you'll find that Steve Walsh's voice is doing very well (since he cut out the smoking). But, he no longer is animated, at all, during performances. But, I really do love what David Ragsdale did with this (on both the violin and the guitar). 5 stars for David. Rock On, Kansas dudes!
This video is better if you just listen to it and don't watch. Steve is just too freaky looking in this. LOVE KANSAS. Remember listening to Point of Know Return when the record first came out and being blown away by it. Then I bought their older albums and been a fan ever since.
Walsh was reportedly very sick when they performed this show. That's why he sounds like hell. I saw him twice (in '99 and '01) and he sounded awesome both times.
@leonakita You're missing the point of my response. You said this is so dated. It's exactly what it should be. It's 1992. You said Rich looks like he spends all his time at Ole Country Buffet. So what!? Ever heard of Leslie West? You said Walsh's antics are goofy. Your opinion. I think it's called showmanship and it comes in all shapes,sizes and colors. Gives you something to watch. Finally, your come back proves my original point, so what if Ehart has a mullet!? I just enjoy the amazing sounds!
Most of these tunes from the "Live at The Whisky" album sound so dynamic compared to the studio versions. Too bad Steve was so weirded out on drugs and sounding terrible back then.
Yeah... Steve may have laid off the bad stuff, but it's a damn shame that his voice will never go back to the way it was. Time and substances have done their damage. It really is a pity; he had a FANTASTIC voice in the 70's and early 80's. Still, the instrumentation is flawless. Ragsdale has a very gracious and smooth style that I can appreciate.
@fraroc dont forget he put half of Peru's cocaine output down his nose for 20 years....hes the US version of Ozzy but he was talented...kinda sad to see him throw his voice away.
@rickyon Righton, rickyon ;) awesome jam starting at 6:50 . pure Rock and Roll Phil's playing is so smokin' hott, even Steve has to acknowledge ( @ 7:05) :D
@normfromal I read that Walsh "released Robbie of his duties". Seems they wanted their original violinist (David?) to rejoin them. As far as I can read, Robbie didn't want to tour anymore so it may have been a mutual thing. For what its worth, Kansas without Robbie and Kerry is not much Kansas at all.
yeah...he's lucky to be alive and his voice has improved...you could hear it going on Can't Cry Anymore,which was his last stand as far as his original voice goes,i guess thats when he was going off the deep end on alcohol and cocaine....its definitely alot better than what you hear on Live at the Whiskey...he looks totally gone in this vid....kinda creepy
Eh?! Walsh’s voice is incredible on ‘Can’t Cry Anymore’. One of my all time favourite Walsh vocals and I am probably the biggest ‘Wheathead’ in the UK!
I have zero problem with Ragsdale being a "good looking 90s hair band type" He is a good violinist but he is not even close to Robby. Just an example, on this cut he has to use echoplex to approximate what Robby did with just his hands. I agree without Robby and Kerry, Kansas is still very good, but not as good. I sincerely hope Robby recovers from his medical issue. I had the pleasure of meeting him in 2003 in Nazareth, PA. He was the nicest, warm and caring person you would ever meet. Kansas will always have a special place in my heart but it is not the same without Robby.
Are you kidding me? Did you even watch the video? Did you see David's SICK violin and guitar solo? How about this, why don't you listen to Song From America from Two For The Show and then listen to Song From America from Live at The Whisky, Steve's vocal issues notwithstanding, really pay attention to the violins. David Ragsdale is WAY more skilled, creative, and has a much better tone than Robby EVER did in Kansas. 4:41 Robby was never able to shred like that.
Legger Ragsdale was with the Dixie Dregs prior to joining Kansas. Listen to the Dregs to see just how good that guy is, particularly with Steve Morse standing next to him. They may be the only band to match the musicianship of Kansas live. Its no coincidence that two of them played with Kansas at various times.
+Legger Obviously I prefer Robby, but Ragsdale did such a terrific job on Freaks of Nature, and he sounds great here... Granted, it's a bizarre juxtaposition of his image (and Steve's, poor guy) with everyone else's...
Robbie is king for sure (Bringin' It Back live attests to that!) but David is very adequate on the violin and probably much better these days but I have to say, he's not half bad on the guitar!!
@rickyon how did i end my comment?>>>'no Livgrin or Robby here, but Ragsdale is dynamite and the music rocks'..... love em all!... P.S. ( AND I DIDNT EVEN MAKE A CRACK ABOUT THAT DRUMMERS MULLET! ;>p)
also wtf was Steve in LOL I see his eyes like he's really seeing a figure that's dressed in black and he can't run out of there hahahaha!!!! Hey Steve! It was Williams on guitar!!!!!
He prolly Snorted "an 8 ball" B4 the show, but coulda been injected, for as wired as he looked, i remember seeing him.back kick, with hands on the keys, and his feet were probably higher than his head! Lol
@netrioter I'm guessing that he's not as much as a stuck up asshole nowadays that he's sober. I mean, look at the video where the band met a little kid that did a cover of "Dust". Steve seemed to shy away from him and only scribbled on his guitar as an autograph, but you can really tell that he was proud of the kid. But I do agree that it was a bit selfish of him to throw away a beautiful singing voice to get caught up in taking the ole' Peruvian Marching Powder.
Bt the way Steve Walsh looked like he was totally coked up out of his face which he did have a problem with back then he's clean now! I suggest that anyone who likes Kansas pick up the DVD Device Voice Drum it may be without Kerry Livgren but it still kicks ass!
Wow, that violinist/guitarist is so talented!!! His solo was beautiful. ___ Steve Walsh was painful to watch... it must have been hard for the band to witness his decline. Hope he's cut out the drugs by now!
Truth be told, I like Dave Ragsdale (the violinist/guitarist in this vid) better then Steinhardt as a band member. His style seems to blend better with the rest of the music. Plus, it's pretty funny; Phil Ehart always looks like he's angrily talking to himself when he drums...
I see some people here are complete fool's no one fired Robbie, & Steve Walsh voice is still amazing...... I seen this band 5 times and every performance they were totally on the mo
Steve was even sicker in a show from Germany they did with ELO Part 2. I think here it could be a culmination of just an abusive lifestyle (drugs/alcohol, etc.) but the Germany show he was clearly the victim of an illness. Looked like flu. He still got out there, though.
Listening in 1974, still listening now, and amazed by this live interpretation. An everlasting Wheathead here
tight musicality! eternal kudos to the original lineup, but the "newbies" have done a great job of preserving and continuing the Kansas sound...
It's sad to see Walsh so doped up during this time period. He performs so much better in his sober days.
Fantastic performance of Dave. A lot of talent gathered in one night.
This is one of the best live performances I´ve seen so far. I love the arrangements and the power Walsh and the band transmit!
Man.. i own this whole show on tape and i recall always wanting the exact guitar that Ragsdale plays here!!! he was my idol for a long time
David Ragsdale is an absolute beast. To be able to master the fiddle is impressive enough, but to alternate between the violin and guitar in the middle of a song is fucking amazing. No disrepect to Robby Steinhardt, but comparing Robby to David skill-wise is like comparing Wolverine from the X-Men to Barney the Dinosaur.
all you need to know about KANSAS is whoever they put up on that stage is a master musician, or he wouldn't be there they only give a damn about the performance they put on---- they love their fans, that's why they keep performing, i've seen them live over 8 times every time is a definite thrill for sure, keep going guys ,retirement sucks, i know
Steve is a very nice and funny man... he just does not like the idea of being idolized, so he shies away from it... you can call it stuck up... I call it humbled
I played the Whiskey in 92'.. Many thanks to the Stage Manager. We opened and I left my Foot switch (about$350) there... I got it back a few days later!!!!!!!! Rock-On!
Phil is allways great and so are Rich And Steve-Great to see them having FUN
Kick ass band, kick ass song... Walsh was clearly intoxicated. Poor bastard, i love his music and voice. I hope is recovered by now.
Probably somethin a bit stronger than coffee, but nevertheless, Steve is awesome!
Redbull?
Most DEFinitely, Steve is amazing and awesome and beyond competition. He is THE BEST!!!
in 3 hours I'm seeing Kansas LIVE, they came to my country Panama... I'm so lucky.
Dr, Ragsdale and Dr. Walsh! The Premier surgeons!
@leonakita What difference does it make what anybody looks like when they are cranking out music like this?! I suppose you say the same about Johnny Winter or Robin Trower! There is nothing dated about this. This rocks anytime or anywhere!
I read in an interview that this lineup they had was the best at recreating all the kansas material.We knew we were good! This was said by david ragsdale.
They went out every night and just kicked ass!
Sweet cadence at 2:48-2:52 followed by Steve's eyes popping out of his cranium again!
Rich was ON that night...
Ragsdale is an extremely badass musician! Wow and wow. Such emotion...
Late summer of '91 I'm on vacation in Orlando when I get a call from a friend of mine from back home in Chicago, only he's working at Disney World then. He says, "Wanna go to Daytona to a bar (Pinky's, I believe) and see Kansas?" I said, "You gotta be kiddin'"
We end up making the drive. Turns out Kerry is joining the band for the show. I spent the whole night at the sound board talking to a guy named Steve. Turns out it was Steve Morse. I remembered him from seeing him with the Dixie Dreggs.
You commented to me about David Ragsdale before. Now that I've seen this video, I know what you mean. Incredible!
@wingnutstube man i was born in 93 i hate all modern day music, for me 50's 60's 70's and 80's music was the best thank god i was brought up in a world of amazing music like this, kansas are outstanding
Kansas' newest CD/DVD "Works in Progress" 2006 Innersound Records includes this and others from the "Live at the Whiskey" along with some other live footage.
I just love this version. It hits all the right spots, even if Steve's a little scary.
Anyway, after the show, my wife, my friend, and I are out in back of the bar waiting to see the band depart with a handful of others. We got pics of all of us with each member, including Kerry with his top hat on, but Walsh refused to shake a hand. Some blonde in a red Porsche pulled up, Walsh covered his face with his hands so no pics could be taken, and another girl escorted him out of the bar and into the Porsche and then sat on his lap. How rude. But the rest of the band was class acts.
Kerry is an amazing composer
Thank you, I stand corrected. In that case, my admiration for Robbie has just increased a notch.
His voice is pretty much back to amazing now tho. I do agree Kansas isnt proper Kansas without the original lineup but Steve sounds really really good nowadays.
Steve is so much better now that he's clean. What a different persona he now projects live all shy and reserved behind his keyboard!
Marvelous music!
Hate to say it but Steve Walsh just became downright spooky.
Ok probably the best performance from that infamous live...
damn rich you and phil rock hard,and rags,going from violin to guitar,very damn impressive
It does. And Walsh did a good job at getting his voice back into shape. Not as good as it sounded in the 70s but better than it sounded on this recording.
The Live in Omaha 1982 version with Robby is more magical!
The Dreggs were great back in the day. Steve Morse is a class act, I've heard from many friends who've met him
@rdety They didn't fire Robbie. He left the band in 2006, that's when Ragsdale was invited back.
Also I agree with Rickyon down below & anyone who loves Kansas pick up the 30th Anniversary
2cd 1dvd Special edition box set it is well worth it for any Kansas fan!
If you check out the new Kansas DVD, "There's Know Place Like Home," you'll find that Steve Walsh's voice is doing very well (since he cut out the smoking). But, he no longer is animated, at all, during performances.
But, I really do love what David Ragsdale did with this (on both the violin and the guitar). 5 stars for David.
Rock On, Kansas dudes!
This video is better if you just listen to it and don't watch. Steve is just too freaky looking in this. LOVE KANSAS. Remember listening to Point of Know Return when the record first came out and being blown away by it. Then I bought their older albums and been a fan ever since.
Walsh was reportedly very sick when they performed this show. That's why he sounds like hell.
I saw him twice (in '99 and '01) and he sounded awesome both times.
@leonakita You're missing the point of my response. You said this is so dated. It's exactly what it should be. It's 1992. You said Rich looks like he spends all his time at Ole Country Buffet. So what!? Ever heard of Leslie West? You said Walsh's antics are goofy. Your opinion. I think it's called showmanship and it comes in all shapes,sizes and colors. Gives you something to watch. Finally, your come back proves my original point, so what if Ehart has a mullet!? I just enjoy the amazing sounds!
Happy Birthday Steve!
love u Steve...song is scary..should be performed that way
Wow! These guys were really on fire! Kinda wish the fellas were a little more animated these days as well. They're still great though!!
great video uffff....
The drummer is rocking the baddest mullet. . .
Aw Wow! So this is freaking fantastic!!! 3:30 Woah! And then 5:20 he wails on that guitar!
definitely, however im very impressed as far as his current voice goes...i dunno how he did it, but he got it back!
Perfect metric....awesome!
Most of these tunes from the "Live at The Whisky" album sound so dynamic compared to the studio versions. Too bad Steve was so weirded out on drugs and sounding terrible back then.
Robbie WAS the original violinist...
Yeah... Steve may have laid off the bad stuff, but it's a damn shame that his voice will never go back to the way it was. Time and substances have done their damage.
It really is a pity; he had a FANTASTIC voice in the 70's and early 80's. Still, the instrumentation is flawless. Ragsdale has a very gracious and smooth style that I can appreciate.
@fraroc dont forget he put half of Peru's cocaine output down his nose for 20 years....hes the US version of Ozzy but he was talented...kinda sad to see him throw his voice away.
@rickyon
Righton, rickyon ;)
awesome jam starting at 6:50 . pure Rock and Roll
Phil's playing is so smokin' hott, even Steve has to acknowledge ( @ 7:05) :D
It is a great record so ahead of it's time.
so good sound
He has. From what I know he's clean now.
cant remember the comment, but I told you!! Ragsdale is amazing...
amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@normfromal I read that Walsh "released Robbie of his duties". Seems they wanted their original violinist (David?) to rejoin them. As far as I can read, Robbie didn't want to tour anymore so it may have been a mutual thing. For what its worth, Kansas without Robbie and Kerry is not much Kansas at all.
@wingnutstube damnit i was born after 1980, its ok though because im not partially deaf like most of my generation, long live rock
Awesome Kansas!
Steve should give up the pipe.
yeah...he's lucky to be alive and his voice has improved...you could hear it going on Can't Cry Anymore,which was his last stand as far as his original voice goes,i guess thats when he was going off the deep end on alcohol and cocaine....its definitely alot better than what you hear on Live at the Whiskey...he looks totally gone in this vid....kinda creepy
Eh?! Walsh’s voice is incredible on ‘Can’t Cry Anymore’. One of my all time favourite Walsh vocals and I am probably the biggest ‘Wheathead’ in the UK!
I have zero problem with Ragsdale being a "good looking 90s hair band type" He is a good violinist but he is not even close to Robby. Just an example, on this cut he has to use echoplex to approximate what Robby did with just his hands. I agree without Robby and Kerry, Kansas is still very good, but not as good. I sincerely hope Robby recovers from his medical issue. I had the pleasure of meeting him in 2003 in Nazareth, PA. He was the nicest, warm and caring person you would ever meet. Kansas will always have a special place in my heart but it is not the same without Robby.
Are you kidding me? Did you even watch the video? Did you see David's SICK violin and guitar solo? How about this, why don't you listen to Song From America from Two For The Show and then listen to Song From America from Live at The Whisky, Steve's vocal issues notwithstanding, really pay attention to the violins. David Ragsdale is WAY more skilled, creative, and has a much better tone than Robby EVER did in Kansas.
4:41 Robby was never able to shred like that.
Legger Ragsdale was with the Dixie Dregs prior to joining Kansas. Listen to the Dregs to see just how good that guy is, particularly with Steve Morse standing next to him. They may be the only band to match the musicianship of Kansas live. Its no coincidence that two of them played with Kansas at various times.
+Legger Obviously I prefer Robby, but Ragsdale did such a terrific job on Freaks of Nature, and he sounds great here... Granted, it's a bizarre juxtaposition of his image (and Steve's, poor guy) with everyone else's...
Robbie is king for sure (Bringin' It Back live attests to that!) but David is very adequate on the violin and probably much better these days but I have to say, he's not half bad on the guitar!!
@@fraroc Dude calm the hell down. The guy was just sharing his opinion.
Amazing then. Amazing now.
@rickyon how did i end my comment?>>>'no Livgrin or Robby here, but Ragsdale is dynamite and the music rocks'..... love em all!... P.S. ( AND I DIDNT EVEN MAKE A CRACK ABOUT THAT DRUMMERS MULLET! ;>p)
just listen and stop analyzing
insightful fungus arnt ya
Steve coked out of his mind to a point of band breakdown,,, how sad, Glad he got clean!!
Indeed.......glad the only Coke ever to make it into my body was carbonated and artificially sweetened.
+Myrna Swanson OK, that makes sense now... still sounding OK but... that OUTFIT
@wingnutstube well said sir
Hate, no Robbie!!!
Damn. Ragsdale is a beast.
Terrific performance by everyone, but What The Fuck Is Steve Wearing?!?! (Also, gawd, Phil has an Epicmullet)
also wtf was Steve in LOL I see his eyes like he's really seeing a figure that's dressed in black and he can't run out of there hahahaha!!!! Hey Steve! It was Williams on guitar!!!!!
He prolly Snorted "an 8 ball" B4 the show, but coulda been injected, for as wired as he looked, i remember seeing him.back kick, with hands on the keys, and his feet were probably higher than his head! Lol
To my knowledge Ragsdale never played with the Dregs
Violin solo? This band is awesome
Are you talking about recently?
Dream dreamers,dream on!
@netrioter I'm guessing that he's not as much as a stuck up asshole nowadays that he's sober. I mean, look at the video where the band met a little kid that did a cover of "Dust". Steve seemed to shy away from him and only scribbled on his guitar as an autograph, but you can really tell that he was proud of the kid. But I do agree that it was a bit selfish of him to throw away a beautiful singing voice to get caught up in taking the ole' Peruvian Marching Powder.
I want some.
! ! ! ! ! ! ! *
do these guys have anything in common with those who play dust in the wind?
Wtf was Steve smokin' in this video.
you mean snortin', right?
I'm thinking crack or meth.
@Mary thank God he got off all of that!! He came close to death. He sure isn't himself in this. The look scares me. Eyes popping out of his head 😂
The other guys are on something too.
jacque trosper you know this how?
i was listening to ragsdale's guitar solo, and his tone kinda sounds like neal schon's. weird.
Bt the way Steve Walsh looked like he was totally coked up out of his face which he did have a problem with back then he's clean now! I suggest that anyone who likes Kansas pick up the DVD Device Voice Drum it may be without Kerry Livgren but it still kicks ass!
Well that's convenient. In my 45 some years I've never heard anyone idolize... uh... Steve.
Wow, that violinist/guitarist is so talented!!! His solo was beautiful. ___ Steve Walsh was painful to watch... it must have been hard for the band to witness his decline. Hope he's cut out the drugs by now!
@rdety they probably didn't want to be bothered by ignorant assholes... nobody fired Robby
woah steve's out of his mind
well i still miss Steve Morse man..
I didn't know Kansas hired Alice Cooper?
Phil Ehart is an outstanding drummer. Walsh is suffering though...
Like I said, suffering.
Heh. This was 16 years ago.
No heavy guitar, no go!
saddens me very much to say that Steve Walsh is not "Steve Walsh" any more....
Truth be told, I like Dave Ragsdale (the violinist/guitarist in this vid) better then Steinhardt as a band member. His style seems to blend better with the rest of the music. Plus, it's pretty funny; Phil Ehart always looks like he's angrily talking to himself when he drums...
Wow! Great version of a great song. But, dang, Steve is coked out of his head!
I see some people here are complete fool's no one fired Robbie, & Steve Walsh voice is still amazing...... I seen this band 5 times and every performance they were totally on the mo
like he's acting, its a mystery for sure :)
nice performance
Steve was even sicker in a show from Germany they did with ELO Part 2. I think here it could be a culmination of just an abusive lifestyle (drugs/alcohol, etc.) but the Germany show he was clearly the victim of an illness. Looked like flu. He still got out there, though.