Kansas City, MO – September 12, 2026 Uptown Theatre – The Runaway Again Tour
I never know what to expect of these legacy tours composed of several bands or artists, where it’s one original member playing the popular hits.
Backstory
Jefferson Starship is the headliner with opening acts Pure Prairie League and Firefall. All bands scoring hits in the 1970s. Jefferson Starship was formed in 1974 as an offshoot from Jefferson Airplane. Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, David Freiberg, Craig Chaquico, Pete Sears, Papa John Creach, and John Barbata were the band, and they recorded the album Dragon Fly. Marty Balin would soon join. In 1979, some lineup changes occurred. Slick left the band due to substance abuse struggles, Barbara was in a serious car accident, and Balin left to pursue other interests. Aynsley Dunbar joined as drummer and Mickey Thomas came on as a lead vocalist. A few years later, Dunbar departed, replaced by Donny Baldwin, and Slick reenlisted. In 1984, Kantner left and sued the band. By 1990, Sears, Freiberg and Chaquico were gone, with the name changing to Starship featuring Mickey Thomas.
In 1992, Kantner powered up a new version of Jefferson Starship, and invited past members to participate. At various times, Slick, Balin and original Airplane bassist Jack Casady performed with the band. Later, Freiberg and Baldwin joined up. In 2016, Kantner died. The band carried on amidst lawsuits involving the use of Jefferson Starship, which was owned by Slick and former manager Bill Thompson. That lawsuit was settled, but Chaquico filed his own lawsuit over the band name and unauthorized use of his likeness in advertising. That lawsuit was eventually settled. The current lineup is Freiberg, Baldwin, Jude Gold, Chris Smith and Cathy Richardson.
Between 1974-84, the band released an impressive eight gold or platinum-selling studio albums, and one gold-selling compilation.
After Freedom at Point Zero, I was done with band. Too 80s sounding and doing anything for a radio hit. The back catalogue was still important.
Pure Prairie League formed in 1970, has no original members left. Original member Craig Fuller wrote their early country-rock hits. Vince Gill was a member for a few years. Pure Prairie League scored five consecutive Top 40 LPs in the 1970s and added a sixth in the 1980s. “Amie”, “Fallin” in and Out of Love” and “Two Lane Highway” were great songs. The newer members are keeping live the blend of country and bluegrass, with rock and R&B.
Firefall was formed in Boulder, Colorado, in 1974, by Rick Roberts (Flying Burrito Brothers), Jock Bartley (Zephyr), Mark Andes (Canned Heat, Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne, Heart), Larry Burnett, David Muse, and Michael Clarke (Flying Burrito Brothers, Byrds). Bartley is the only original member still performing with the band. Firefall had six Top 40 charting songs. Very yacht rock sounding, even though that term was still 30-plus years in the future.
The Concert
[Some videos from recent performances, not from my concert.]
Firefall
“Livin’ Ain’t Livin’” No. 42 hit. Written by Rick Robert. From the debut album (1976).
“Just Remember I Love You” No. 11 charting hit. From the second album, Luna Sea (1977).
“Cinderella” No. 34 hit. Written by Larry Burnett. From the debut album (1976).
“You Are the Woman” No. 9 hit written by Roberts. From the debut album (1976).
“Strange Way” – My favorite band song. Solid, rockin’ version. Great flute action. No. 11 hit, from Élan (1978). Written by Roberts.
“Mexico” – Definitely not a melody love song. Rockin reminder of what they can do. Written by Roberts. From the debut album (1976).
All songs I recognize, and well played. Did it sound exactly like the recordings, no, but close enough. On the last two songs, they opened it up for some soloing and the guitars and the flute. These songs may have leaned generously into the adult contemporary genre, but when they want, these guys can rock it.
Pure Prairie League
“Two Lane Highway” – From the 1975 album of the same name.
“The Beginning” – from 2024 album Back on Track.
“Skipping Stones” – funky, jazzy, the from 2024 album Back on Track.
“Let Me Love You Tonight” – from 1980 album Firin’ Up. Vince Gill sang lead on that version. Top Ten on Hot 100, number one on Adult Contemporary chart.
“Back on Track” – from 2024 album of the same name. Funked up rock.
“Falling In and Out of Love”/ “Amie” – from the 1972 album Bustin’ Out. Written by original member Craig Fuller.
This band is a little perplexing. They are really two bands. With no original members, they can play the country/rock of the 1970s, and switch to a funky, jazzy, contemporary groove, and then into a ripping bluegrass swing.
Jefferson Starship
“Find Your Way Back” and video going back to the origins of The Jefferson Airplane. The original song reached No. 29 on the chart. From the album Modern Times (1981).
“Stranger” Another song from Modern Times. No. 48 on the chart.
“Runaway” – from the Earth album, Freiberg sang the Marty Balin part. Reach No. 12 on the chart.
“Miracles” from Red Octopus (1975). The single reached #3. Written by Balin.
“Count on Me” – Richardson sang the Balin part. A #8 charting single from Earth (1978).
“White Rabbit” – One might that thought Richardson owned this song the way she inhabited it. Great version. Released in 1967, reaching #8, from Surrealistic Pillow. Written by Grace Slick.
“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” – Freiberg and Richardson sang the leads. Reached #1 on the chart, from the 1987 album, No Protection.
“We Built This City” yes, the crowd was singing. Reached #1 when it was released. On the first Starship album, Knee Deep in the Hoopla.
“Jane” Freiberg sang the Mickey Thomas part. Respectable version. From the 1979 album, Freedom at Point Zero (1979), the single reached No. 14. Written by David Freiberg, Jim McPherson, Craig Chaquico, Paul Kantner.
“Fooled Around and Fell in Love” (snippet for Donny Baldwin who played on the Elvin Bishop song)
“Jet Pack” – a new Jefferson Starship song.
“Fresh Air” – (Quicksilver Messenger Service cover) snippet for Freiberg
“Somebody to Love” Another Richardson triumph. The band did a solid job. Written by Darby Slick, released 1967 on Surrealistic Pillow, reach #5.
Final thoughts
David Freiberg, 88 on Aug. 24, is still leading the band and not slowing down. I wondered if his voice would be up to sharing the vocal lead – he was. Cathy Richardson has been the co-lead vocalist of Jefferson Starship since 2008. How do you begin to shoulder the Grace Slick comparisons with being the face of the band onstage? I was impressed, she is a great performer, powerful stage presence and carries the legacy. Donny Baldwin joined the band in 1982, left and returned in 2008. He plays drums and provides the high harmony vocal. Chris Smith has been onboard since 1998, playing bass and keyboards. Jude Gold took over on lead guitar in 2012. In addition to being a touring musician, he’s a writer for Guitar Player magazine and director of the Guitar Institute.
My expectations were modest for this concert. Legacy acts can be unpredictable, but I was pleasantly surprised. It may not be long before all of these bands lack any original members. What happens then? Certainly, these bands could continue, assuming legal use of the band’s name, but are they really tribute bands at that point? Pure Prairie league technically qualifies as there are no remaining original members on stage, yet they are releasing new music under the band’s name.
As long as I know what’s going on with a band, am okay with ticket prices, and am confident with the product being offered, I’ll keep supporting these legacy bands on a case by case basis.
In this case, the Runaway Again Tour was great fun and my ears were pleased with what they heard.
Ticket 2 Ride 
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