Portrait Up Next For Summer Music Series
Portrait lead vocalist Anthony Ingracia performing at the Orris for Stone in Love in 2021.
By MARK EVANS
STE. GENEVIEVE HERALD
Kansas tribute band Portrait will be on stage at the Orris Theatre this Friday night as the 2022 Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce Summer Music Series continues.
Crossroads heated up the historic Orris Theatre last Friday night, in the second week of the 2022 Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce Summer Music Series.
“Portrait is a faithful and powerful presentation of the music of Kansas,” according to the group’s website. “Focusing on the band’s most celebrated music, hits and deep cuts. Portrait employs correct instrumentation, superb musicianship, strong harmonies and an accurate presentation of the musical genius that Kansas brought to the world.”
Lead singer Anthony Ingracia is a veteran of the 2021 music series, with another Kansas tribute band, Stone in Love. Harold Draper, who mans the Hammond organ for Portrait, also does keyboard for Silver Bullet STL, the Bob Seger tribute band that returns for a second Summer Music Series appearance this year.
James Comparato, the other lead vocalist and guitar player, said the band is familiar with Ste. Genevieve and the Orris.
“Tony loves playing down there,” he told the Herald, “I’ve played down there before, may years ago, with Pepperland, which was a Beetles tribute. We love the venue. A number of players in the band have played there in different bands.”
The band formed in 2017 and operates out of the St. Louis area.
“Most of us have been in your lovely venue and have played a show there,” he said. “We’re greatly looking forward to it. This is the first time Portrait will be in the room.”
Comparato loved the enthusiastic crowds that attended the event in the past.
“What I remember well from playing your venue is you have a very attentive, music-loving crowd,” he said. “It’s very different than playing a big night club where you’ve got a lot of people drinking. It feels like people are there for the music and the show, which is a blessing.”