The legendary Toto brings their summer An Evening With… Tour to the bay in New York with special guests Christopher Cross and The Romantics.
Kicking off the evening at Jones Beach Amphitheater were legendary power pop rockers The Romantics, who took to the stage as the sun was beginning to set over the bay. The Detroit rockers wasted no time bringing fans back with a vast catalog of classics for a fun-filled night, delivering a tight, high-energy set that proved that their songs are as relevant today as they were back then.
The band jumped right into their classic “Rock You Up,” which had fans on their feet from the opening riff as the nostalgia set in just like being thrown back to the 80s. The signature guitar hooks and the driving rhythm section brought everything together perfectly. Fans sang along to favorites like “Talking in Your Sleep” and, of course, their anthem “What I Like About You,” which had thousands of fans up for a sing-along.
Their appearance was brief but very impactful and well-received as they did exactly what an opening band should do. They engaged in plenty of crowd participation and set the vibe for the night. The Romantics wrapped up their set, making way for the legendary Christopher Cross to follow.
It was an evening stacked with legendary artists. Christopher Cross hit the stage as the amphitheater was packed with cheering fans, and he wasted little time opening his set with “All Right,” which carried over well with the crowd as the singing commenced. His vocals were on top form, his guitar playing was spot on, and the band was all around perfect.
Christopher Cross brought on a wave of sophistication with the nostalgia and effortless musicianship, delivering a performance that showed why his music remains a cornerstone of the late 70’s and early 80’s soft rock. His playing was elegant, melodic, and perfect for the laid-back atmosphere.
The band performed a lot of deep cuts, including some of his biggest hits such as “Never Be the Same,” “Sailing,” “Think of Laura,” and “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do).” With the backing vocals and piano, the whole live experience was fantastic. Cross ended up closing out his amazing set with the all-time classic “Ride Like the Wind,” which had the whole amphitheater on their feet singing the lyrics word for word, leaving a long-lasting memory of a wonderful night on the bay.
As the nearly sold-out crowd at Jones Beach Theater was on their feet waiting for Toto to take the stage to close out an already memorable evening, the anticipation was at an all-time high. The fans were ready. Toto took to the stage at 9:25 PM, wasting absolutely no time giving the audience exactly what they came for, as they opened their set with “Goodbye Elenore,” and immediately followed by their classic hit “Rosanna,” which came along with a massive crowd participation. They also included many of their other hits, such as “Hold the Line” and “Kingdom of Desire” from their extensive catalog.
The band’s sound was spot on throughout their whole performance. Every instrument was perfect in the mix, allowing their full musicianship to shine while leaving room for solos and moments of improvisation. Steve Lukather ripped through some outstanding guitar work that had the crowd focused on his effortless, technical brilliance and emotional expressions. While most members had their time to shine, keyboardist Dennis Atlas stepped out from behind the keys and performed “Endless,” which was incredible. His voice was extremely powerful, and his energy was electric. He received a wonderful crowd response. Drummer Keith Carlock also had his moment in the spotlight to showcase his magnificent skills behind the kit. He brought the power and fire to the amphitheater as the crowd cheered him on.
Before closing out the night, vocalist Joseph Williams said to the crowd, “So you all want to hear that one song, don’t you?” He then welcomed Christopher Cross and Wally Palmar as backup singers as the fans rose to their feet. The intro to “Africa” began, making the entire venue one giant choir. It was one of the night’s most memorable moments. This and so many of their songs are timeless.
Be sure to make this tour a must-see as it’ll take you back with this all-star, legendary line up. This North America tour runs through August 30th, concluding in Toronto, ON.
CHRISTOPHER CROSS
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