There are eight of them on stage as Christopher Cross joins, and the backing singers have already given it a smooth start before he’s sung a note of “All Right”—and the confident, classy way he plays it means it’s aptly named.
“Never Be the Same” actually is, and the sax gives it a lounge feel, while his desire to change things sees “I Really Don’t Know Anymore” take on a different arrangement.
He says he likes “to throw some deep cuts into the mix,” and “Sailing” performs that role tonight. There’s a pleasant, calming air to all of this, and another of his lesser-known songs, “Dreamers”, soothes.
“Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”—dedicated to and written with Burt Bacharach—still has an incredible charm, summing up the set, as does the lovely “The Light Is On”, which follows and sees Cross rip out a solo like he’s thoroughly enjoying himself.
And of all a sudden there’s a gear change. “Ride Like The Wind” injects some energy to finish, as if he’s channelling his youth.
Let’s not pretend it’s rock ‘n’ roll, but that’s not the point. Like the soundtrack to every ’70s sitcom, this is as much a part of the era as fondue parties and shoulder pads. And Christopher Cross pulls it off with aplomb and consummate ease. Never visceral, but impossible not to like.
About halfway through the set, Steve Lukather surveys Birmingham and says: “You weren’t expecting that, were you?” And in that moment, he might have encapsulated the entire Dogs of Oz tour vibe.
“Child’s Anthem”—a song that hasn’t been played in years—opens the show, setting the tone. But the first full song, “Carmen,” delivers a real prog-rock feel, with supreme harmony vocals and sky-high energy. And then, what a solo from Lukather!
If dusting off “Carmen” for the first time in a decade wasn’t enough of a statement, what follows comes from the other end of the spectrum. “Rosanna” is one of a handful of untouchable classics, and these brilliant musicians turn it into a mighty jam.
And if you thought they were just going to churn out the hits and go through the motions, you were wrong. “Mindfields”—a song they’ve never played before this tour—feels like it’s belonged in the set forever.
Lukather takes the lead on “I Will Remember”, another rarity dusted off for this run, and it carries an epic weight.
“Pamela,” according to vocalist Joseph Williams, is about a girl who ripped his heart out (“I get over it by singing this song every night,” he smiles).Greg Phillinganes clearly enjoys himself on that one, and he gets the first solo of the night, leading into “I Won’t Hold You Back”—a power ballad that soars in their hands.
Old-school deep cut “Angel Don’t Cry”—dedicated to “Fergie and Paich”—thunders like a hard rock anthem, with Dennis Atlas delivering stunning vocals (as he does all night).
Then, with a simple “Does anyone want to funky?”, “Georgy Porgy” kicks in. Atlas clearly revels in his spotlight solo, before they return for what feels like a third act. The chugging “White Sister” releases the handbrake, but with Toto, people want the ballads just as much as the rockers. Judging by the sea of phone torches in the air, “I’ll Be Over You” clearly means a lot to many—though, lacking romance in my soul, I’ll admit it doesn’t quite hit me the same way. “I’ll Supply the Love”, though? That’s more like it.
Drummer Shannon Forrest is next to take centre stage, before Lukather—visibly moved—returns with one of Jeff Beck’s guitars to deliver a stunning rendition of “Don’t Chain My Heart”.
The deep history and love within this band shine through in the lengthy introductions, leading into an electric “Stop Loving You”.
And here’s what sets Toto apart: no fake encore nonsense. Instead, a simple “Are you ready?”, and “Hold the Line” crackles with pure energy.
That leaves just one.
You know it. There’s an advert now with a bloke singing it at his wedding reception.
It’s 43 years old, and yet the enduring power of a song that contains the line “Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti” is right here, undeniable.
And it’s a reminder of how you become an arena band: have songs that connect. Massively.
Yet, think back to Lukather’s words: “You weren’t expecting that.”
Because with Toto, the hits are great.But the full story, across two hours?
That’s got a lot more to say.
