The Movie
DEVICE, VOICE, DRUM: The Industrial Project!

For those not familiar, this "garage band" from Topeka, KS. was discovered by Wally Gold who worked for Don Kirshner. They released their first album in 1974 showcasing their name and their progressive style of music. Influenced by the groups of YES and Genesis the band went on to produce eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums (Leftoverture, Point of Know Return, Best of), one platinum live album (Two for the Show) and a million-selling gold single, "Dust in the Wind." Playing to sold-out arenas and stadiums across North America, Europe and Japan they appeared on the charts for over 200 weeks during the 70's and 80's. "Carry On Wayward Son" was the #2 most played track on classic rock radio in 1995 and went to #1 in 1997. In 1998, they released an orchestral CD, "Always Never the Same" in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London. They followed with an orchestral tour accompanied by top-caliber symphony orchestras. The members, Phil Ehart (drummer), Billy Greer (bass guitar, vocals),Robby Steinhardt (violin, vocals), Steve Walsh (lead vocals, keyboards) and Richard Williams (lead and acoustic guitar) have achieved success by playing only their original music.

In 2002, KANSAS decided to give back to their fans and went to work in cooperation with Real 2 Reel Studios to create their first concert DVD. The project director Michie Turpin, and director of photography Steve Shepard decided to shoot it on film utilizing five, 16mm cameras. The group has always been on the edge of technology producing top quality work and eventually spent 6 months in the making of the final product to ensure that those standards were maintained.

On June 15th, surrounded by a small group of their most avid fans, they performed the concert that you see on this disc from Compendia Music Group. I've seen them live on and off since 1977 and although they are a little older, a little grayer, the sound and the magic is still there. The DVD represents the classic progressive music they have always been known for and have played with enthusiasm. The concert spans the entire history of the band from that first self-titled album though one of their latest, "Somewhere to Elsewhere". Interspersed throughout, are accompaniments by orchestral quartets, digital animation and a gospel choir. Steve Walsh belts out the vocals while Robby Steinhardt works his magic with violin melodies that are the essence of the bands identity. Song after wonderful song delivered with energy and passion including one of the best renditions of The Wall I've ever heard, all this on a colorful stage dappled with laser lighting. State of the art technology in film, audio and visual design make this the next best thing to being there.

Video
Anamorphic DVD presented in 1.85:1. Recorded on location, live, on June 15 at EarthLink in Atlanta, GA. Shot on film using five cameras. Extra lighting, usually required when working with film, was kept to a minimum creating the perfect live feeling. Michie didn't want to create an atmosphere that was foreign to one normally seen at a KANSAS concert. While tricky business, it was a gamble that paid off. It looks and feels like you are right there with them, and not like you're watching a MTV music video.

As mentioned earlier, there is some animation on the disc. The band decided to animate the instrumental middle section of "Miracles Out of Nowhere" (from their Leftoverture album). Vocalist/keyboardist Steve Walsh transcribed to MIDI each note played by each instrument in the band for that segment. This MIDI data was used to procedurally animate a unique group of instruments to play that segment of the song. The process uses proprietary motion generation software called MIDImotion operated by director Wayne Lytle and crew at Animusic. Another animation appears in the intro before the concert begins as well as Animusic artwork on the disc case and menus.

Audio
English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo).
Initially captured on a Sony 3348 digital 48-track tape machine and then transferred to Real 2 Reel's ProTools HD system for editing and mixing in 5.1. Both offerings on the DVD are crisp and clear with good dynamic range. I cranked it to the limits of sending my cats climbing the walls and it remained clean without distortion. This is good stuff!

Tracks:
Intro: Animusic animated musical short
1. Belexes
2. Icarus II
3. Icarus
4. Song for America
5. Howlin' at the Moon
6. The Wall, The Preacher
7. Journey from Mariabronn
8. Dust in the Wind
9. Cheyenne Anthem
10. Child of Innocence
11. Miracles Out of Nowhere
12. Point of Know Return
13. Portrait/Pinnacle
14. Fight Fire with Fire
15. Play the Game Tonight
16. Carry On Wayward Son

Menus
Fully animated menus by Animusic. View Concert, Song Selector, Bonus Features and Sound Setup.

Extras
Looking back - interviews with Jeff Glixman, producer; and the band members describing how they have gotten to where they are. How they are affected by and influence others.

DVD Thoughts - Phil Ehart (drummer) and other band members discuss the anxieties and anticipations encompassing the production of the DVD.

Songs - The impact of the hits Dust in the Wind and Carry On Wayward Son have had on their careers, along with the timeless favorites such as Song for America and The Wall that are the cement of their foundation.

Making of the DVD - time lapse view of the delivery and stage setup, rehersals. Steve Rawls (co-producer), Michie Turpin (director) and Real 2 Reel's collaboration in making it come together. How a recording studio was built and the decision to use Super 16 film. The selection of the audience and their effect during the performance and how the DVD title was arrived at. Behind-the-scenes photos.

Discography - narrated discography of the history of each album and title tracks. 1974(KANSAS), 1975(Song for America, Masque), 1976(Leftoverture), 1977(Point of No Return), 1978(Two for the Show), 1979(Monolith), 1980(Audio-Visions), 1982(Vinyl Confessions), 1983(Drastic Measure), 1984(Best of KANSAS), 1986(Power), 1988(Spirit of Things), 1992(Live at the Whiskey), 1994(Wheels box set), 1995(Freaks of Nature), 1998(Always Never the Same w/ London Symphony Orch.), 1998(King Biscuit Flower Hour), 1999(Best of digital re master), 2000(Somewhere to elsewhere), 2001(Masque, Leftoverture, Point of No Return digital re masters), 2002(Ultimate 36) and 2002(Device, Voice, Drum).

ANIMUSIC Previews - short clips from the company that did the DVD animations. I personally own Animusics' digitally animated music DVD. Impressive stuff.

Final Thoughts
This is the way a music DVD should be done, giving you the feeling of being there. The camera highlights each member individually showing the passion and emotion as it happens and avoids flipping around like most music video productions tend to do. America's foremost progressive rock group, with albums and songs gone platinum more than 20 times, pounding out timeless classics for over three decades. If you haven't seen them, you need to check them out. If you have, you need to check them out again... and again.