Toto - Hammersmith Apollo - 26/06/2011

Returning to the Apollo for the first time since 2006.There is no new product to promote these dates are to raise some money for bass player Mike Porcaro who is suffering from ALS.

Joining Steve Lukather (guitar/vox) we had Joseph Williams (vox and heavy coat and scarf on the hottest day of the year!) David Paich (keys/vox), Steve Porcaro (keys), Simon Phillips (drums), Nathan East on bass and 2 fantastic backing singers Jenny Douglas and Mabvuto Carpenter.

Weighing heavily on the classic ”IV” album and the two Joseph Williams led “Fahrenheit” and “The Seventh One” albums, they were greeted like returning heroes.

This is what they played:

Child’s Anthem

Till The End

Afraid Of Love

Lovers In The Night

Somewhere Tonight (including Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry!)

Pamela

Leah

Gift Of Faith

Keyboard duel

Africa

Human Nature

Rosanna

Georgy Porgy

Stop Loving You

Home Of The Brave

Encore of Hold The Line

With superb sound and lighting in front of a backdrop with a new Toto logo from “In The Blink Of An Eye 1977-2011” the band hit hard with the first 4 numbers played back to back to an amazing crowd response. Again I go back to the Journey gig recently and how a crowd can make a show.

Joseph Williams was in fine form and sounded excellent and there was a real joy coming from the band who are obviously enjoying being back together after a long time apart.

“Human Nature” off Michael Jackson’s Thriller cd written by Steve Porcaro was a welcome addition as was the lengthy extended guitar solo by Steve at the end of Rosanna.

A lengthy “Home Of The Brave” ended the set to more crowd delirium and Steve’s son Trevor (seen talking outside to Bernie Marsden (yes him again)) joined his dad for a guitar led  “Hold The Line” which brought the evening to an end.

There will be a dvd released by the end of the year, to be shot shortly in Italy, which will be a fitting tribute to an evening of class music.

 10/10

Shazz