Artist:  Toto

Venue: City Hall, Newcastle

Date:  13 march 2007 

While sitting back drinking a cold beer in a snow bound Philadelphia on St Patrick’s day, I look back to a warmer night earlier this month on what has to be one of the gigs of the year for me so far.

In my opinion there were four classic eighties rock bands that made their mark on the world - Boston, Journey, Reo Speedwagon and Toto.  These four bands set the bench mark in AOR music in the eighties, with each band doing it their way.

Tonight we saw one of that classic quartet make a rare appearance here in the UK with one of only three shows.  Tonight Steve Lukather and Bobby Kimball, together with Greg Phillinganes, Simon Phillips, Tony Spinner and bass legend Leland Sklar, (who is standing in for Mike who couldn't make the tour due to injuring his hand), bring giants Toto back to the UK stages.

The lack of support act tonight meant that Lukather and Co could fit in many of the bands classic material, as well as songs from their new album 'Falling In Between', into a set of over two hours.

 Things got underway with the title track off the new album 'Falling In Between' and instantly the bands huge sound was there for all to hear.  Kimball's voice was tonight just as huge as it ever was and Lukather guitar playing was just immense. 

Things carried on with 'King Of The World', also taken from the new album, but this time with keyboard maestro Phillinganes opening up the vocals for this one.  This opening salvo seemed to stun, mesmerise and paralyze the audience who showed their appreciation with rapturous applause, but remained seated.

It was time for Lukather to say a few words and introduce the living legend that is Lee Sklar before the band slowed things down a touch with the first of the bands classic material, the excellent ‘Pamela’, with Lukather being the focal point once more as he ripped it up on the guitar.

It was briefly back to the new album for one my favourites off said album the haunting melodies of ‘Bottom Of Your Soul’, before picking things up again with a couple of classics ‘Caught In The Balance’ and ‘Don’t Chain My Heart’.

By this time the band must have been wondering if the crowd had been super-glued to their seats, but things were about to change as the first few chords of ‘Hold The Line’ were heard, the crowd reacted like there was 20,000 watts put through their chairs as they rose as one entity and cheered as the band just brought the City Hall alight with this classic hit.

With the crowd now alight the band kept things going with an semi acoustic medley of some more material from the bands vast back catalogue.  Starting things off with ‘Stop Loving You’, following this with ‘I’ll Be Over You’, ‘Cruel’ and ‘I Will Remember’, which led nicely into the first of tonight’s solo’s as Greg Phillinganes showed his skill on keyboards.  With the added visuals courtesy of camera’s set around him, which gave great views of Greg from above the keyboards, a great idea that more bands should introduce as this gives the audience a greater perspective.

As band hits go the next song ranks right up there with the greats of our time, ‘Rosanna’ has to be one of the songs that if you as someone name a Toto song this is one of those at the top of many peoples list.  The band started if off in an acoustic style slowly building it up into a monstrous rendition of this classic.

It was then time for another huge medley this time starting off with ‘I’ll Supply The Love’, a stirring rendition of ‘Isolation’ then the excellent ‘Gift Of Faith’, followed by the another superb Lukather performance on ’Kingdom Of Desire’, before he really shone his solo’s this time Simon Phillips showed his worth on the drums.  Then the medley was rounded off in superb style with ‘Taint Your World’, another favourite of mine from the 'Falling In Between' album.

Lukather formerly introduces the band and puts a case for him as an after dinner speaker as his exchanges banter with the various band members, then it was time for some serious rocking with ‘Gypsy Train’ and finishing off the main set with ‘Drag Him To The Roof’, both bringing out outstanding performances by all members of the band.

It was then time for another huge medley this time starting off with ‘I’ll Supply The Love’, a stirring rendition of ‘Isolation’ then the excellent ‘Gift Of Faith’, followed by the another superb Lukather performance on ’Kingdom Of Desire’, before he really shone his solo’s this time Simon Phillips showed his worth on the drums.  Then the medley was rounded off in superb style with ‘Taint Your World’, another favourite of mine from the 'Falling In Between' album.

Lukather formerly introduces the band and puts a case for him as an after dinner speaker as his exchanges banter with the various band members, then it was time for some serious rocking with ‘Gypsy Train’ and finishing off the main set with ‘Drag Him To The Roof’, both bringing out outstanding performances by all members of the band.

The band left the stage for a short rest bite before returning to cap off the night with the bands biggest hit ‘Africa’, another great song by a great band who show how a live show should be.  No gimmicks, no pyro, just good old rock n' roll.

Setlist: Falling In Between, King Of The World, Pamela, Bottom Of Your Soul, Caught In The Balance, Don't Chain My Heart, Hold The Line, Stop Loving You, I'll Be Over You, Cruel, I Will Remember, Rosanna, I'll Supply The Love, Isolation, Gift Of Faith, Kingdom Of Desire, Hydra, Taint Your World, Gypsy Train, Drag Him To The Roof, Africa (Encore).

 

 

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