well... oh man walsh is the man. never got credit for his playing . not only was he the best vocalist of the 70's, he could hang with kerry on the keys!!!
the was the first time i even hear this live, wow!!!!! I remember how complex the studio version of this was and didn't think it would sound nearly as good live, Im glad to be wrong on this. was that steve alone on this one, or did robby play the violin parts like in the original, my speakers suck
I saw Kansas back in '79 (the Monolith tour) and the whole band played this song like it appeared on the Know Return LP. It was killin'! I've seen them several times since and they've never played it as an ensemble again. Why the hell not?! AND...I've never heard them play "The Devil Game" live EVER. That would be a great opening song!
lol the Whiskey I still have that vid tape somewhere, I hear you brother .. good to see he's healthier and playing well, the sound is a bit muddled not the submitters fault, but in person Steve's execution is flawless, to this day even as a keyboardist, it amazes me how he can alternate and play music originally set for 2 keyboard players (Kerry Livgren left the band) at once and make it sound so immense.
Kerry was also a guitarist, which means Rich Williams now does all guitars as of late, as Kansas was down to five members when Steve Morse rejoined Deep Purple to fill in for Ritchie Blackmore.
I wonder if in the Kerry Livgren years (1974-1984) that if the extra guitar layering was just for ornamentation or something? I know in many cases Livgren would do the leads while Williams would do the rhythm parts. But I wonder if the rhythm parts nowadays is only through the bass work of Billy Greer?
Wow. I love this song and I've listened to it more than a hundred times, but it's so much more impressive when you can actually see his fingers fly across the keys.
I had exactly the same reaction! Steve is AMAZING! I'm not sure why he called it the spider, but his fingers moving across the keys reminds me of an arachnid walking across!
I've gained a whole new appreciation of Kansas 30 years after first hearing them!
I think that I read somewhere that Kansas was trying to come up with a name and somebody else proposed "The Spider" because of the way that his fingers moved.
One thing if I may critic, not just Walsh, but many keyboardist from the 70s who are playing today. It would be nice if they, like Wakeman and Emerson, kept at least one of the 70s era analog keyboards in their rack because they have such unreproducible "fat" sounds.
Yeah, I agree it would be great -- particularly with Steve, since the majority of his playing on Kansas' '70s material was on organ (Kerry played most of the synth parts). You just can't re-create the fullness of an organ on a synth (any synth).
The prob, of course, is that most of the great old '70s analog synths from Moog, ARP, Prophet, Yamaha and others have broken down by now and they're hard to get parts for. So to tour with them is difficult at best (and no doubt very expensive).
I knew back in the day, but it's been so long now that I don't remember Kerry and Steve's specific keyboards from the '70s.
Although most of Steve's playing on the '70s material was on organ, I think he did play a little synth & piano. Years later he claimed he played a few parts on their early records that he didn't get credit for, and implied he could get in hot water if he talked about it. That was during his coked-out years though, so I dunno if it was true or if it was the drugs talking.
I didn't know about those new Moog models. I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the tip. :-)
I really wish some company would buy the rights to the old circuit designs for the best old analog synths and produce a new line of "reissue vintage" keyboards. That thick, breathy, analog sound just can't be re-created with digital keyboards. Roland has come close at times, and the Fairlight CMI that Geoff Downes used with Asia early on was capable of some amazing sounds too.
I agree 100% on the seeming inability to recreate digitally those classic analog sounds. Steve's Kurzweil sounds nice now, but is not as "thick" as his 70s keyboard sound. In the early 90s a lot of guys were using these terribly thin sounding Korg synths.
Rich as the now sole guitar player has definitely "fattened" up his sound since the 70s. Incorporating an analog synth may allow Steve to do the same.
Agreed. Some nice sounds can be derived from modern synths, but they're nice in a different way than the old analog ones. Mark Kelly from Marillion got a particulary lush, expansive sound on a track they did awhile back called "Afraid of Sunlight." He used a digital synth, and I think it might have been a Kurzweil (I can't remember for sure -- I'd have to look it up).
Sans an analog synth, it would really add to the old material if Steve could bring an organ on tour like the old days.
Yes ! you are so right about these digital sounds being a little thin. but you have to understand the old ARP 2600 would go out of tune any time during a show when they got hot.
These old keyboards were very tempermental and you were always worrying of their performance.
Plus you can not get parts for these guys anymore. If he ran his his main output thru a tupe spl vitalizer his sound would have all the balls it once had and then some.
best keyboardist
xbgyuri 4 months ago
wwwwwoooowwwww
rodrigodlm 1 year ago
These idiot corn dog circuit fools have no idea the musical feat that is being performed by a true artist. This is true musicianship!
tmg1968 1 year ago
Sweet!!! Aclassic tune!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
am2boni 1 year ago
The most underrated keyboard player of all time!
That80sband 1 year ago
this is CRAZY good! Steve rules
lifesonfan 1 year ago
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LuvIzAhl 1 year ago
Keyboard players (like myself) love this. Its called the spider for obvious reasons, watch his hands
sallysbaby 2 years ago
well... oh man walsh is the man. never got credit for his playing . not only was he the best vocalist of the 70's, he could hang with kerry on the keys!!!
cdlaino 2 years ago
amazing work Steve!!
medicinedream 2 years ago
Kansas rules!! I love these guys!
CardinalTim 2 years ago 2
the was the first time i even hear this live, wow!!!!! I remember how complex the studio version of this was and didn't think it would sound nearly as good live, Im glad to be wrong on this. was that steve alone on this one, or did robby play the violin parts like in the original, my speakers suck
xxbicceyxx 2 years ago
Looks like 100% Steve to me. Man, they should *really* make a professional quality vid of him doing this!
RamblinManBlues 2 years ago
@RamblinManBlues Next DVD should feature more of this
LuvIzAhl 1 year ago
the audience doesn't deserve the performance.
RamblinManBlues 2 years ago
Man did you ever hit the nail on the head. True genius on stage and these yokels can't shut the F up. Great comment dude.
amoskowitz0103 2 years ago
I saw Kansas back in '79 (the Monolith tour) and the whole band played this song like it appeared on the Know Return LP. It was killin'! I've seen them several times since and they've never played it as an ensemble again. Why the hell not?! AND...I've never heard them play "The Devil Game" live EVER. That would be a great opening song!
2an4 2 years ago
Though I've seen Kansas in concert numerous times, never saw this "live" until now. Thanks for the video.
LuvIzAhl 3 years ago
That piece is real easy to play ! yea right!!! lol.
The composer of a piece like that is the only one who can play that.
Walsh is the Man !
dgcmusi 3 years ago 2
On his website he says it's the hardest of all Kansas songs to play.
augustanna 2 years ago
No surprise, there.. The most progressive, too. One of my favorites off a very strong album!
JonP1961 2 years ago
This is really Music. EXCELLENT. Period.
sdamron67 3 years ago 2
Well they have always been my favorite, since maybe 75-76. Nothing but talent baby, all five of them!
appercu 3 years ago 2
Steve Walsh...Made in America! You are my hero!
tmg1968 3 years ago
Steve Walsh Rules!!!
zenithband 3 years ago 2
Hi guys
Watch my videoresponse to this video.
Also watch my own made Kansas-videos.
Bragolin5 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
looks like crap.
TAYLORT5 3 years ago
steves back .a bit of a change from the whiskey , 30 pounds later.god bless you steve walsh
hypermolicule 3 years ago
lol the Whiskey I still have that vid tape somewhere, I hear you brother .. good to see he's healthier and playing well, the sound is a bit muddled not the submitters fault, but in person Steve's execution is flawless, to this day even as a keyboardist, it amazes me how he can alternate and play music originally set for 2 keyboard players (Kerry Livgren left the band) at once and make it sound so immense.
navygent 2 years ago 3
@navygent
Kerry was also a guitarist, which means Rich Williams now does all guitars as of late, as Kansas was down to five members when Steve Morse rejoined Deep Purple to fill in for Ritchie Blackmore.
ClassicTVMan81 1 year ago
@ClassicTVMan81 Actually, the violinist David Ragsdale also plays guitar on some songs, such as Carry On WS. He's not a bad player.
rcharding 1 year ago
@rcharding
But what happens when Kansas plays a song which requires both the violin and two guitars, then?
ClassicTVMan1981X 1 year ago
@ClassicTVMan1981X Then they use one guitar...is that too hard to figure out on your own?
rcharding 1 year ago
@rcharding
I wonder if in the Kerry Livgren years (1974-1984) that if the extra guitar layering was just for ornamentation or something? I know in many cases Livgren would do the leads while Williams would do the rhythm parts. But I wonder if the rhythm parts nowadays is only through the bass work of Billy Greer?
ClassicTVMan1981X 1 year ago
Thanks,Steve!
zenithband 3 years ago
I'd love to see Stevie hammer this one on a B-3 with a screamin' Leslie spinnin!
Deke100 3 years ago 6
Wow. I love this song and I've listened to it more than a hundred times, but it's so much more impressive when you can actually see his fingers fly across the keys.
chriskot89 3 years ago 2
I had exactly the same reaction! Steve is AMAZING! I'm not sure why he called it the spider, but his fingers moving across the keys reminds me of an arachnid walking across!
I've gained a whole new appreciation of Kansas 30 years after first hearing them!
RoyNeary 3 years ago
I think that I read somewhere that Kansas was trying to come up with a name and somebody else proposed "The Spider" because of the way that his fingers moved.
It really is a great song.
chriskot89 3 years ago
steve is the keyboard magician
jmh0812 3 years ago
One thing if I may critic, not just Walsh, but many keyboardist from the 70s who are playing today. It would be nice if they, like Wakeman and Emerson, kept at least one of the 70s era analog keyboards in their rack because they have such unreproducible "fat" sounds.
JonWRowe 3 years ago
Yeah, I agree it would be great -- particularly with Steve, since the majority of his playing on Kansas' '70s material was on organ (Kerry played most of the synth parts). You just can't re-create the fullness of an organ on a synth (any synth).
The prob, of course, is that most of the great old '70s analog synths from Moog, ARP, Prophet, Yamaha and others have broken down by now and they're hard to get parts for. So to tour with them is difficult at best (and no doubt very expensive).
Ken5244 3 years ago
That's a great point. I think Moog makes newer models (kind of pricey) that captures the vintage analog sound with modern digital like controls.
I always thought that Steve & Kerry both had their own analog synths as well. Didn't Kerry have a Moog and Steve an ARP?
JonWRowe 3 years ago
I knew back in the day, but it's been so long now that I don't remember Kerry and Steve's specific keyboards from the '70s.
Although most of Steve's playing on the '70s material was on organ, I think he did play a little synth & piano. Years later he claimed he played a few parts on their early records that he didn't get credit for, and implied he could get in hot water if he talked about it. That was during his coked-out years though, so I dunno if it was true or if it was the drugs talking.
Ken5244 3 years ago
I didn't know about those new Moog models. I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the tip. :-)
I really wish some company would buy the rights to the old circuit designs for the best old analog synths and produce a new line of "reissue vintage" keyboards. That thick, breathy, analog sound just can't be re-created with digital keyboards. Roland has come close at times, and the Fairlight CMI that Geoff Downes used with Asia early on was capable of some amazing sounds too.
Ken5244 3 years ago
I agree 100% on the seeming inability to recreate digitally those classic analog sounds. Steve's Kurzweil sounds nice now, but is not as "thick" as his 70s keyboard sound. In the early 90s a lot of guys were using these terribly thin sounding Korg synths.
Rich as the now sole guitar player has definitely "fattened" up his sound since the 70s. Incorporating an analog synth may allow Steve to do the same.
JonWRowe 3 years ago
Agreed. Some nice sounds can be derived from modern synths, but they're nice in a different way than the old analog ones. Mark Kelly from Marillion got a particulary lush, expansive sound on a track they did awhile back called "Afraid of Sunlight." He used a digital synth, and I think it might have been a Kurzweil (I can't remember for sure -- I'd have to look it up).
Sans an analog synth, it would really add to the old material if Steve could bring an organ on tour like the old days.
Ken5244 3 years ago
Yes ! you are so right about these digital sounds being a little thin. but you have to understand the old ARP 2600 would go out of tune any time during a show when they got hot.
These old keyboards were very tempermental and you were always worrying of their performance.
Plus you can not get parts for these guys anymore. If he ran his his main output thru a tupe spl vitalizer his sound would have all the balls it once had and then some.
dgcmusi 3 years ago
I have always loved this song! I never knew that Steve played this live!!! A classic!!! Thanks for posting!!!
am2bonilla 3 years ago
I wish he'd play this more often.
JonWRowe 3 years ago
Rock on steve! WOOT!!!
HamsterPants522 3 years ago