Toto celebrated 48 years with “An Evening With Toto” by bringing “The Dogz of Oz” tour to Hard Rock Live Orlando, Florida. “The Dogz Of Oz” tour is the name of the 2020s world tour with the revamped lineup. With founding member, guitarist Steve Lukather, and long time member vocalist Joseph Williams, the core sound is the same and the new comers filled it out nicely. It was a beautiful, clear evening in The City Beautiful, Orlando, Florida at Hard Rock Live in Universal Studios. Every seat in the arena was filled and even standing room general admission was sold out. The crowd filed in with anticipation of a great night of music and they weren’t disappointed.
Toto took the stage just after 8:15 pm as the start was delayed do to fans finding their seats through the first song. An extended version of “Rosanna” was the second song and the house was shaking as the audience was rocking. Keyboard players, Dennis Atlas and Rai Thistlethwayte thrilled the crowd with individual solo’s in the heart of the night’s set list. Crowd favorites like “Georgy Porgy” and “99” filled in the middle of the show, that ended on a high note with “Hold the Line” and “Africa,” the band’s Billboard number five and number one charting singles respectively closing out the show.
Toto was on stage, but most in the crowd came to experience the “melodic and intense” playing style of guitarist Steve Lukather. Lukather built his reputation as a session musician before the founding of Toto as he appears on approximately 1,500 albums to date which covers Boz Scaggs‘s albums Down Two Then Left and Middle Man, to Michael Jackson‘s Thriller. Luke has also recorded nine solo albums along with the 14 studio albums released by Toto.
The concert was reminiscent of shows from the 1970’s as songs were extended with guitar solos and the jamming of Lukather to the delight of all in attendance. The only thing missing was a drum solo by Shannon Forrest which was used by 70’s bands to extend the set. Toto has 48 years of material and the show lasted over two hours, extending the set it wasn’t needed.
The both the Steve Lukather and Toto fans got everything they came to see and left the venue satisfied and fulfilled.
Band Members:
Steve Lukather – Lead Guitar/ Backing Vocals/Bass Guitar
Joseph Williams – Lead and Backing Vocals/Additional Keyboards
Warren Ham – Saxophone/Harmonica/Flute/Backing and Occasional Lead Vocals/Percussion
Shannon Forrest – Drums/Percussion
John Pierce – Bass
Dennis Atlas – Keyboards/Backing and Occasional Lead Vocals
Rai Thistlethwayte – Keyboards/Backing and Occasional Lead Vocals
Setlist:
1.Goodbye Elenore
2. Rosanna
3. Tale Of A Man
4. Georgy Porgy
5. Pamela
6. Keyboard Solo (Rai Thistlethwayte)
7. I Won’t Hold You Back
8. Endless
9. Kingdom of Desire
10. Keyboard Solo (Dennis Atlas)
11. Stop Loving You
12. I’ll Be Over You
13. Jake to the Bone
14. 99
15. Orphan (Followed by band introductions)
16. Gift of Faith
17. I’ll Supply the Love
18. Taint Your World
19. Hold the Line
20. Africa
Follow Toto Online:
Photographer and Editor/Founder of AllMusicMagazine.com. My love of live music has taken me to incredible experiences with the top bands of all time in stadium shows to the smallest venues with equally inspiring musicians. Using the medium of photography and my publication, these memories will last forever.