In the decades since their inception, Toto has traversed the world with their stellar catalogue of hits and that journey brought their latest headlining tour to a sold out crowd at Arizona Financial Theatre last week. The band was joined by Men at Work and Christopher Cross- a perfect lineup of classic favorites that had the Phoenix audience celebrating these artists’ long and storied careers all evening long.
Godfather of yacht rock Christopher Cross was dapper in a sharp purple suit and surrounded by an array of guitars for his opening set. While the crowd mostly stayed seated for his performance, the energy was still high for all the fan favorites- “Sailing” and “Arthur’s Theme” being standouts in the short but memorable set. Cross’ guitar skills are legendary and his lengthy solos showcased a lifetime of talent as the audience sat mesmerized. He was smiling and grateful between songs, closing with “Ride Like the Wind” to really get the room pumped up for the rest of the show.
Men at Work may not be working with their original lineup but frontman Colin Hay has kept the music alive with a new array of musicians for this tour. The Aussie musician kept the performance lighthearted, playing back to back hits to the delight of the crowd. The rest of the band had a chance to shine as well, with sparkling guitar solos, a plethora of percussion and a saxophone solo that had more than one jaw on the floor. “Down Under” and “Be Good Johnny” rounded out the band’s time onstage, making way for the moment the fans had all been waiting for.
Casual fans of Toto might only know the band’s biggest hits but the audience in the theatre was more than prepared for every song the group chose- and they came out firing on all cylinders. The current iteration of the band is led by Joseph Williams- cold as ice in his embroidered jacket and shades- and founding member Steve Lukather shredding away on guitar. The band hasn’t released new music in years, preferring to keep their catalog fresh by breathing new life into each song with every headlining show.
What’s striking now about Toto’s live performance is their continued and consistent joy at being onstage in front of a sold out crowd like Arizona’s. The entire band was smiling and interacting with an ecstatic front row, making everyone in the room glow with the energy that only emanates from musicians who absolutely love what they do. Songs like “Rosanna” and “Georgy Porgy” finally got the fans on their feet while the slower songs like “I’ll be Over You” and “Stop Loving You” had the room awash in nostalgia.
Following the band’s introduction, the end of the night drew near and it was time for the big guns. “Hold the Line” was nothing short of electric, segueing right into the almighty “Africa”- a performance that had both Christopher Cross and Men at Work back onstage to lend their voices to the megahit. It was an exceptionally special evening in the desert as hundreds of fans joined together to bless the monsoon rains down in Arizona before heading off into the stormy summer night.
