NOTE: View Slideshow of concert here.
There is always a sense of relief and joy when something is finally finished. For the band Toto,their performance at Talking Stick Resort on Sunday, September 23, 2012 was their final show for 2012. Given the smiles of all the members of Toto throughout the night, they were either relieved that there were no more gigs for the year or they really enjoy playing music with one another.
A Toto sighting in Scottsdale is a rare occurrence, the band having last played in the Phoenix area ten years ago. Rarer still is getting original Toto members, session guitar legend Steve Lukather, keyboardist David Paich and keyboard player Steve Porcaro together live. Porcaro took a twenty four year hiatus from performing live with Toto. Paich had stopped touring in 2005. Their reuniting in 2010 and bringing back their high school friend, singer Joseph Williams, who was with the band in the late 1980’s, was a Toto fan’s dream.
With blue flood lights shooting out and blinding the audience, Toto took the stage. Lukather, accustomed since the early 1990’s in being the spokesman for the band, was center stage, his chords that open “Only the Children,” bringing the crowd to their feet. Paich in his top hat and striped coat was on an elevated platform with his keyboards stage right. Across the stage from him, Porcaro, also elevated, played his keyboards in animated fashion. Williams walked the stage belting out the lyrics and the tone was set for the next hour and forty five minutes.
Toto is like the New York Yankees, except people outside of New York City like Toto. The band is blessed with talent that is unmatched from each member of the band. When one great Yankee goes down, he is replaced by another great. So it is with Toto. Tragically lose drummer Jeff Porcaro, replace him with sought after session man Simon Phillips. Have bass player Mike Porcaro become ill, ask Grammy award nominee, bass player extraordinaire Nathan East to come on tour. Lose one of your background singers close to the end of your tour. Call on accomplished singer Amy Keys to come aboard. The great just become greater.
With such a stacked line up, which also included Mabvuto Carpenter on backup vocals, every song was stellar. Vocally, everyone stayed within their range. When Paich took on a lead vocal, he was content to cover the lower range and allowed Williams to hit the high notes. Lukather sounded solid despite some technical problems. Keys and Carpenter helped add to the trademark Toto harmonies.
But there is a reason that the members of Toto are sought after session musicians. Witnessing Lukather, who has appeared on over 1,500 albums, play was jaw dropping. Song after song his effortless solos were a highlight. Paich and Porcaro both were masters of their keyboards. East’s bass work was a marvel. That they bounced around with smiles on their faces as they played made the experience even more enjoyable.
As expected, hit songs like “Rosanna,” got the fans up, dancing and singing along. But even slower numbers such as the Steve Porcaro written “Human Nature,” had the audience singing the chorus.
Once Paich hit the chords that begin the underrated “Manuela Run,” the pace for the rest of the evening never slowed. Despite being more of a vocal song on record, “Stop Loving You,” turned into an instrumental delight as well, with Lukather and East exchanging licks and Phillips showing that his drumming isn’t always in the background with a nice solo.
With the regular set closer, “Hold The Line,” the whole audience was up, much better to appreciate the sing off between Keys and Williams as they fired the lyrics back and forth at each other. In a night of highlights, this was the highest.
As the band returned for the encore, Porcaro and East pretended to switch instruments and Lukather asked the crowd what they wanted to hear. The majority yelled out “Africa,” and for the next twelve minutes, the audience was treated to another incredible version of another incredible Toto song.
Toto finished with “Home of the Brave,” Lukather’s guitar work once again on display and the band perhaps even more animated than they had been to start the show. Whether it was relief or happiness, these performers appeared to be having the time of their lives.
Sadly, Toto won’t hit the road again until 2013 and when they do, it will be in Europe where Toto remains a huge draw. If you’ve been holding out on that European vacation, perhaps it would be wise to look at Toto’s tour dates next year and plan accordingly. Ten years is much too long to wait to see Toto again.
Set List: Only the Children | Hydra | St. George and the Dragon | Rosanna | Human Nature | Pamela| I Won’t Hold You Back | Manuela Run | Stop Loving You | Hold The Line | Encore: Africa | Home of the Brave
