Steve Lukather’s iconic rock group is touring amphitheaters for the first time
“I toast you with my fake beer; please have a real one.” One of the most important guitarists in the history of rock music raised his bottle to the packed crowd at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, VA on Wednesday (Aug 13th).
That guitarist is Steve Lukather, and his band, Toto, is on a triumphant run of 10,000-plus capacity venues. It’s something that, before, seemed to elude Toto, but has come with 40-plus years of grinding it out: finally graduating to amphitheaters.
Selling amphitheaters—or any venue north of a large auditorium—is a mark of a band that has transcended workaday touring. It’s a mark of true cultural status, and an achievement four decades in the making that Lukather, Toto’s sole touring OG member, should be eminently proud of.
Accompanied by Joseph Williams’ otherworldly voice and enigmatic, film-noir-esque stage presence, Toto jammed out 15 songs in their headline set. “Mindfields” and “Rosanna” were early jams, while Williams slowed it down with his emotive, grieving vocals on “Pamela.”
Lukather, his iconic Afro now a snowball white upon his head, effortlessly shredded at every opportunity. Whether long, sorrowful notes or rocking out, Luke made it look easy. He always does.
New member Dennis Atlas is a monster on the keys and a killer vocalist. His tenor is strong enough to go toe-to-toe with Williams on “Angels Don’t Cry.” Atlas’s command of the stage apron is such that Williams—whose voice is still pristine—has a natural successor should he decide to hang it up. Ala, Luis Maldonado stepping in for Kelly Hansen of Foreigner next year.
This tour is supported by two “yacht rock” legends: Colin Hay’s Men At Work and Christopher Cross. Both delivered hit-packed sets to kick off this night of rock and roll. “Land Down Under” (Hay) and “Ride Like the Wind” (Cross) had the crowd on their feet, in particular. Oh, and how do I know that haughty descriptor of the genre is ok? Cross’ daughter produced the HBO documentary called…Yacht Rock.
But if yacht rock is leisurely, a Toto set is anything but. They have some of the most high-octane, complex arrangements anywhere in music. Their live secret weapon to this end is Warren Ham. He’s a triple threat: a percussionist, saxophonist, and vocalist. Perched upstage center and splitting the difference between Luke and Joe’s mics, he’s been a fan favorite for years.
Toto tours with no video screens. Just a cloth drop and old-school rocker skills. Lukather has had fits and starts with the band over the last few years—there was a question mark on the band coming out of Covid, particularly. But this Amphitheater tour is the pinnacle of the band’s 40 years on the road. It’s finally confirmation: the Dogz of Oz “Hold the Line,” and they’ve become the legends fans always knew they’d be.
