Pittsburg ? Sporting a black cap and shades while rocking in front of hundreds of people at Foxtown City Limits, Lynn Meredith looked as if he had been doing this his whole life.

But in reality, this remains somewhat new to the 53-year-old Pittsburg resident who resurrected his music career in 2002 after a 28-year layoff.

In late April, Meredith and the rest of Proto-Kaw headlined a concert at Foxtown as part of the weekend’s Biker Blast and Blessing festivities.

It was one of numerous concerts the group, which was the original Kansas, has had since reforming as Proto-Kaw three years ago.

“The first time we saw each other again, the magic was in the air,” Meredith said.

Almost 30 years after Kansas II disbanded in 1974, a group of buddies – Meredith, Kerry Livgren, Dan Wright and John Bolton – is now playing the role of rock star.

The album “Before Became After” has yielded a cult following, as well as many favorable reviews. Notoriety is nothing new to the guitarist Livgren, who left Kansas II and formed what is known today as Kansas, writing such classics as “Dust in the Wind,” “Carry On My Wayward Son,” and “Point of No Return.”

However, it has been a second chance for the others. Bolton, saxophone and flute, played sparingly between Kansas II and Proto-Kaw.

Wright, organ, said he didn’t even own a keyboard for almost 30 years. And Meredith, vocalist, did little singing during the 28-year layoff.

Actually, Meredith didn’t pay much attention to music during that time. Instead, he went to college, got married and began coaching football. The Merediths had three children, and Lynn served as defensive coordinator at Pittsburg State University.

Proto-Kaw lead singer Lynn Meredith, 53, performs a microphone check prior to a performance by the group April 23 in Pittsburg.

Lynn later became color commentator for Pitt State football and started his own Web site business. So when Livgren and Kansas hit it big, he didn’t focus on it much.

“I really didn’t even pay attention,” he said. “I wasn’t mad or anything. I just totally divorced myself from music. I got into college and into athletics and I became a football coach. I got so involved in coaching, maybe that’s why it didn’t bother me.”

Meredith kept no contact with Livgren until a few years ago when Livgren called all the original members to see if it was OK to release a CD of their music. But that phone call evolved into so much more.

“It started with a release of an old recording that we made back in the ’70s,” Livgren said. “It generated an amount of interest that really kind of stunned us. We knew we were always kind of a groundbreaking band. We were way out in left field a long time ago. It got such a reception that we decided to have a reunion. We weren’t really trying to start a band. We just wanted to see each other. We got together in Kansas City and jammed. It was real fun.”

It was so fun that Livgren suggested that the group cut some new tracks.

“It feels like we never quit,” Wright said. “It feels like we walked out the door and said, ‘See you in 30 years.’ OK, fine, and in 30 years we walk back in.”

The old group of guys, along with the additions of Craig Kew on bass, Jake Livgren on guitar, keyboards and percussion and Mike Patrum on the drums, are getting a chance to re-experience the old days.

“We’ve had a lot of deja vu,” Wright said. “On one of our first road trips, the bus breaks down just like in the ’70s. The difference is we’re older and we have credit cards. In the ’70s, we had to hitch hike.”