Blimp Time-Hop: Kansas Brings Audio-Visions Live To Portland
40 years ago today, the Audio-Visions tour came to Portland, Maine. This second appearance by Kansas at the Civic Center was also their second sold-out show here on November 9, 1980.
Their first trip to the CCCC was on December 12, 1977 in support of Leftoverture. This was when the building was pretty much brand new, after just opening in the spring of that year.
Kansas made their Maine live debut at the Lewiston Armory opening for Queen in 1975. It was the first of 6 total Kansas shows that we count in Maine. The Blimp is honored to have officially presented Kansas each time they were here from 1975 to 2017.
This framed promotional poster from 45 years ago hangs proudly on the wall at WBLM.
The Audio-Visions album features the rockin' sea shanty single Hold On. It was the last one with the original line-up until a reunion in 2000 for the album, Somewhere to Elsewhere.
This show was a sellout on the multi-platinum strength of previous albums Leftoverture, Point of Know Return and Monolith.
Audio-Visions didn’t make as far as the previous three, only going gold. Still, half a million records sold ain’t too shabby at all.
Let’s go back in time to December 9, 1980 for a fantastic Kansas show in Texas one month after our Portland concert. When we think of ridiculously great rock vocalists, I believe Steve Walsh is often left out. This performance below is a reminder that he should always be included among the best of all time.