Guided by the songwriting savvy of Livgren, Proto-Kaw's second album proves that the band is no longer just a collaborative effort of old friends and musicians, but a band full of progressive force and stability, able to create musical landmarks without forgetting their storied past.

According to Livgren the aftermath from Before Became After provided the impetus for more things to come. "I think we were very pleased considering where the band came from, which was out of nowhere," said Livgren. "To complete a project like that and have it turn out the way it did, from my perspective, it was not just a bunch of musicians who came together, it was a bunch of guys who hadn't played in literally decades."

However, as the band, which is rounded out by vocalist Lynn Meredith, sax player John Bolton, drummer Brad Schultz, keyboardist Dan Wright and bass player Craig Kew, slowly began to gel, Livgren and company headed into the studio with more confidence than ever before. Now more comfortable with his collective ensemble, The Wait Of Glory became the product of Livgren's more specified vision.

"On The Wait Of Glory, we went into it as a functioning band," said Livgren. "I knew what to expect as a producer and a writer. I knew what the band sounded like and what they were capable of. Before Came After, that was all totally unknown and a roll of the dice. With this album, I was able to write the material envisioning the band that was going to be performing it."

Labeled as a "jammy, progressive rock band", The Wait Of Glory evokes a cinematic, Broadway-like feel, something that wasn't lost on Livgren during the creation of the album.

"I didn't sit down and say I was going to write in this style," said Livgren. "As the music developed, there was a style that was becoming obvious and probably 'cinematic' is a good word. The music is progressive, but progressive I think, in a new way. There are elements of R&B, which is going back to our very early roots before we were called Kansas and this is melded into a progressive thing and I can't think of anyone doing that."

After 30 years in the music biz, Kerry Livgren is still forging ahead, fully aware of his musical legacy with Kansas, but also seemingly against resting on his past laurels. Judging by the complicated and vast nature of The Wait Of Glory, the man is in no hurry to slow down.

"What I'm trying to accomplish now is for me to do something new. That's a not a new thing for me, but I get from people all the time, 'why don't you do another "Dust In the Wind?' Why would I do that? Those songs were what they were and I'd just be imitating myself. So many artists do that. They have one great hit and the rest of their songs imitate that hit. I like to be a moving target (laughs)."