mesavox
Well-known member
I must confess that I have spent a few months away from here due to the huge GAS problem I get when I come here. It has also been a bit difficult musically for me of late. So, this is a few months late, but it needs to be discussed. lol
Toto did a little bit of a prep show for their upcoming Euro tour in Denver CO last May (25th to be exact.) It was a free show headlining the Denver Day Of Rock in downtown Denver. This was a free show, and the Toto stage was definitely well attended.
Some thoughts before I get to reviewing the show... I had spoken to Luke prior to the event and they did not know what to expect. It has been a long time since Toto did a US show, and face it, the general public has never even heard of Tambu, Mindfields, or Falling In Between, let alone know any songs from those wonderful records. He showed more of this unsurety as the show started and he seemed at once surprised with the size of the crowd, yet the crowd's clear lack of solid familiarity with "Hydra." That being said, by time the doo doo doo bits came in, the crowd was boppin. As Luke first talked to the crowd, the calls for "Africa" were already ringing out, which made it even more surprising to me how well the Williams era and more obscure offerings from the Hydra album, or even the rare offering of a Isolation era tune.
So, for a short review... for a warm up show... WOW. First off, I never dreamed I would get to see Toto again on video, let alone in person with Steve Porcaro. He is as eccentric as ever in his stage movements, and it couldn't have been more awesome to see. It is the most connection to the first record Toto band we've seen in a while, and I felt the energy was evident. The stage was tiny, so there wasn't a lot of Luke's typical running from one side of the stage to the other, and poor Joseph looked like he was about to hyperventilate at times from claustrophobia lol... but, man... he was SPOT ON. His tone was clear, notes were right, and power was strong. I can't make it look like the same man who was in Toto 20 some odd years ago, but the voice is sure the same voice. lol By the way, that wasn't a slam on how he looks... he looks better than ever. Healthier is an understatement.
As for Luke... I felt the soundman had his guitar too low in the mix, but it's a Toto show, not a heavy metal guitar bashing show. lol I must admit, I've never been a huge fan of his tone in general. I'm not a huge EMG fan, and he likes a certain amount of buzz that I can't quite put my finger on, but has never really been something I care for. That being said, the tone in his fingers and as a player is perfect. That is, intonation, sustain, vibrato, digging in at just the right times... it's a huge part of why we practically worship the ground the man walks on. lol The tasty licks just never stop. We all know that he seldom plays a solo the same way twice, and it is rather amazing that he never misses on any of those flying runs that his fingers seem to pick at random and have a look of hope and prayer that it will work. lol It struck me even more in person how random his playing seems to the eyes while sounding so well prepared and thought out. I've always noticed that he moves his hand around a lot during rests before he finally settles for where he's going to fret the next note, and that he has that look of distress, unsurety, and concentration meeting all that passion and soul. But, in person you really get a sense of how intense his energy as both a player and person is. Folks, Steve Lukather doesn't do anything in an understated manner. lol Lazy and boring will never be words accurately describing the man in any aspect of his life. lol
I had hoped to speak to him at the show, but by time 15 people jumped in front of him, the last thing he would have wanted was yet another person trying to talk to him while security is pulling his arm to get to the van. In messages after the show, he was very gracious and I got the impression that he appreciated that I didn't push the issue given the fact that he isn't exactly a reclusive artist when talking to people who respectfully approach him, and in particular are fellow musicians on a increasingly difficult journey. Trev was a stage hand just to give you an idea how difficult finding work as a musician is these days. Trev is no slouch muso himself, and has a lot of friends in LA yet is in the same boat we all are in terms of label attention and getting traction this day and age. Complaining about it doesn't help, it is just something we're all having to learn, and in many cases relearn on the fly.
How that last bit relates to Toto. They were so very well received, and it surprised Steve and the band. The way music is presented in America is why it was surprising. What it did show is, get Toto on a Styx, REO, Toto tour, and people will really start finding Toto return to the American consciousness beyond just the three songs most people know. If any managers and booking agents are reading this, there is a way to get Toto doing just as well as Styx, Journey, Def Lepp, REO, Whitesnake, etc. all over the world.
Keep in mind also, that Toto is returning to the US later this year for a small number of shows here and there. This is a band that Luke was absolutely bored and through with just four years ago. Now it seems that there is no reason why Toto couldn't have a more successful 20teens than they did 2000s, which was a great decade where touring abroad was concerned. Now, I can, for the first time in my adult life see a solid touring base for Toto in the US if promoters, managers, agents, etc. etc. etc. can negotiate the right kind of situations. I believe they existed in the 2000s too. I saw Styx and Boston in 07 in OKC... several thousand people were there. We opened for REO Speedwagon in 2009. We played to over 3000 people and by time REO took the stage there were nearly 5000 people there, and that was in a very non typical venue for rock shows. Promoters may not have believed in Toto, but they really should. Those people in Denver knew far more about Toto than I expected (that is beyond the people wearing Toto or Dream Theater shirts and the like) and were ready for more when the curfew kicked in.
Highlights of the night. Hydra and St. George. Sounded better than the record, as their recent live shows tend to where the early 80s are concerned. I love those tunes, and Paich sounded great on vox. He also seemed healthier than he has in years. It was really cool. Human Nature. Sounded just like the record and everyone was singing along. Actually, lots of sing along moments at times when I wouldn't have thought that many people would have known the words. I heard people singing along to "Home Of The Brave," which was another highlight for me. The jam sessions.... they did many extended jams and... oh man.. Simon Phillips is just stupid amazing good. He really reminds me of Nick Mason in how his fills are so musical and always in the perfect place. Pamela. Kind of a guilty pleasure for a lot of hard core fans it seems, but I love that tune, and the funk factor was in full effect.
As far as I'm concerned, Toto exists as a revolving band because everyone who tends to be involved with he band over the last 25 years or so have been so amazing. That being said, there is a current struggle with their label about whether or not they owe them another record. If there is another record to come I just have to beg... every song... Luke, Paich, S. Porcaro, D. Hungate, Simon Phillips, and of course Lenny Castro with alternating vocals in any fashion Kimball, Williams, Luke, and Paich. This is really the first time in a LOOOONG time where relationships and personal life stabilities would allow such a possibility, and one can only imagine how amazing a record with those people in the midst of all of Toto's musical history would sound. And yes... just ONE would tour of all those people. I know David has a whole other life going, but man he'd make a lot of people's day that's for sure. Wishful thinking I'm sure, but stranger things have happened. lol
To sum this thing up... Toto has hours and hours of wonderful music that anyone can love, and that show in Denver CO proved that the world is at a loss as long as there is only a part time Toto that is really only operating to honor Mike Porcaro. (by that I mean, they wouldn't have gotten back together in any capacity if not for Mike's illness) These guys are still dynamic, funny, and inspiring, and a one off free warm up show was every bit as high on the list as the Dream Theater, Extreme, Winger, Styx, and Whitesnake shows I've seen. Those shows blew my mind for one reason or another, and Toto was every bit as good. This is likely no surprise to most of us on this forum, but good to know none-the-less.
Absolutely flawless show as even the mistakes Luke mentioned to me that he made were turned into the absolute right thing to play.
Toto did a little bit of a prep show for their upcoming Euro tour in Denver CO last May (25th to be exact.) It was a free show headlining the Denver Day Of Rock in downtown Denver. This was a free show, and the Toto stage was definitely well attended.
Some thoughts before I get to reviewing the show... I had spoken to Luke prior to the event and they did not know what to expect. It has been a long time since Toto did a US show, and face it, the general public has never even heard of Tambu, Mindfields, or Falling In Between, let alone know any songs from those wonderful records. He showed more of this unsurety as the show started and he seemed at once surprised with the size of the crowd, yet the crowd's clear lack of solid familiarity with "Hydra." That being said, by time the doo doo doo bits came in, the crowd was boppin. As Luke first talked to the crowd, the calls for "Africa" were already ringing out, which made it even more surprising to me how well the Williams era and more obscure offerings from the Hydra album, or even the rare offering of a Isolation era tune.
So, for a short review... for a warm up show... WOW. First off, I never dreamed I would get to see Toto again on video, let alone in person with Steve Porcaro. He is as eccentric as ever in his stage movements, and it couldn't have been more awesome to see. It is the most connection to the first record Toto band we've seen in a while, and I felt the energy was evident. The stage was tiny, so there wasn't a lot of Luke's typical running from one side of the stage to the other, and poor Joseph looked like he was about to hyperventilate at times from claustrophobia lol... but, man... he was SPOT ON. His tone was clear, notes were right, and power was strong. I can't make it look like the same man who was in Toto 20 some odd years ago, but the voice is sure the same voice. lol By the way, that wasn't a slam on how he looks... he looks better than ever. Healthier is an understatement.
As for Luke... I felt the soundman had his guitar too low in the mix, but it's a Toto show, not a heavy metal guitar bashing show. lol I must admit, I've never been a huge fan of his tone in general. I'm not a huge EMG fan, and he likes a certain amount of buzz that I can't quite put my finger on, but has never really been something I care for. That being said, the tone in his fingers and as a player is perfect. That is, intonation, sustain, vibrato, digging in at just the right times... it's a huge part of why we practically worship the ground the man walks on. lol The tasty licks just never stop. We all know that he seldom plays a solo the same way twice, and it is rather amazing that he never misses on any of those flying runs that his fingers seem to pick at random and have a look of hope and prayer that it will work. lol It struck me even more in person how random his playing seems to the eyes while sounding so well prepared and thought out. I've always noticed that he moves his hand around a lot during rests before he finally settles for where he's going to fret the next note, and that he has that look of distress, unsurety, and concentration meeting all that passion and soul. But, in person you really get a sense of how intense his energy as both a player and person is. Folks, Steve Lukather doesn't do anything in an understated manner. lol Lazy and boring will never be words accurately describing the man in any aspect of his life. lol
I had hoped to speak to him at the show, but by time 15 people jumped in front of him, the last thing he would have wanted was yet another person trying to talk to him while security is pulling his arm to get to the van. In messages after the show, he was very gracious and I got the impression that he appreciated that I didn't push the issue given the fact that he isn't exactly a reclusive artist when talking to people who respectfully approach him, and in particular are fellow musicians on a increasingly difficult journey. Trev was a stage hand just to give you an idea how difficult finding work as a musician is these days. Trev is no slouch muso himself, and has a lot of friends in LA yet is in the same boat we all are in terms of label attention and getting traction this day and age. Complaining about it doesn't help, it is just something we're all having to learn, and in many cases relearn on the fly.
How that last bit relates to Toto. They were so very well received, and it surprised Steve and the band. The way music is presented in America is why it was surprising. What it did show is, get Toto on a Styx, REO, Toto tour, and people will really start finding Toto return to the American consciousness beyond just the three songs most people know. If any managers and booking agents are reading this, there is a way to get Toto doing just as well as Styx, Journey, Def Lepp, REO, Whitesnake, etc. all over the world.
Keep in mind also, that Toto is returning to the US later this year for a small number of shows here and there. This is a band that Luke was absolutely bored and through with just four years ago. Now it seems that there is no reason why Toto couldn't have a more successful 20teens than they did 2000s, which was a great decade where touring abroad was concerned. Now, I can, for the first time in my adult life see a solid touring base for Toto in the US if promoters, managers, agents, etc. etc. etc. can negotiate the right kind of situations. I believe they existed in the 2000s too. I saw Styx and Boston in 07 in OKC... several thousand people were there. We opened for REO Speedwagon in 2009. We played to over 3000 people and by time REO took the stage there were nearly 5000 people there, and that was in a very non typical venue for rock shows. Promoters may not have believed in Toto, but they really should. Those people in Denver knew far more about Toto than I expected (that is beyond the people wearing Toto or Dream Theater shirts and the like) and were ready for more when the curfew kicked in.
Highlights of the night. Hydra and St. George. Sounded better than the record, as their recent live shows tend to where the early 80s are concerned. I love those tunes, and Paich sounded great on vox. He also seemed healthier than he has in years. It was really cool. Human Nature. Sounded just like the record and everyone was singing along. Actually, lots of sing along moments at times when I wouldn't have thought that many people would have known the words. I heard people singing along to "Home Of The Brave," which was another highlight for me. The jam sessions.... they did many extended jams and... oh man.. Simon Phillips is just stupid amazing good. He really reminds me of Nick Mason in how his fills are so musical and always in the perfect place. Pamela. Kind of a guilty pleasure for a lot of hard core fans it seems, but I love that tune, and the funk factor was in full effect.
As far as I'm concerned, Toto exists as a revolving band because everyone who tends to be involved with he band over the last 25 years or so have been so amazing. That being said, there is a current struggle with their label about whether or not they owe them another record. If there is another record to come I just have to beg... every song... Luke, Paich, S. Porcaro, D. Hungate, Simon Phillips, and of course Lenny Castro with alternating vocals in any fashion Kimball, Williams, Luke, and Paich. This is really the first time in a LOOOONG time where relationships and personal life stabilities would allow such a possibility, and one can only imagine how amazing a record with those people in the midst of all of Toto's musical history would sound. And yes... just ONE would tour of all those people. I know David has a whole other life going, but man he'd make a lot of people's day that's for sure. Wishful thinking I'm sure, but stranger things have happened. lol
To sum this thing up... Toto has hours and hours of wonderful music that anyone can love, and that show in Denver CO proved that the world is at a loss as long as there is only a part time Toto that is really only operating to honor Mike Porcaro. (by that I mean, they wouldn't have gotten back together in any capacity if not for Mike's illness) These guys are still dynamic, funny, and inspiring, and a one off free warm up show was every bit as high on the list as the Dream Theater, Extreme, Winger, Styx, and Whitesnake shows I've seen. Those shows blew my mind for one reason or another, and Toto was every bit as good. This is likely no surprise to most of us on this forum, but good to know none-the-less.
Absolutely flawless show as even the mistakes Luke mentioned to me that he made were turned into the absolute right thing to play.
