24/04/2025

Toto & Christopher Cross – Spark Arena: April 23, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)

Toto brought their Dogz of Oz Tour to Auckland along with their buddy and fellow yacht-rocker Christopher Cross.

Toto’s 1982 hit Africa has grown in stature over the years, much like Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, so of course everyone in the nearly-packed Spark Arena knew how the night would end, but it was Christopher Cross who got things started early…7:30, in fact, with his own brand of slick, soft rock.

Christopher Cross

They call it Yacht Rock, a term that was created, somewhat derisively, in 2005, to describe the music made in the late 1970s and early 80s by the Michael McDonald-led Doobie Brothers along with Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins, Toto and Christopher Cross.

Cross’s set tonight came across as more as that of a second headliner than an opening act. His band was tight (drums, bass, keys & horn) along with three female backing vocalists looking very glamorous in their matching green gowns. I suspect they were there, in part, to add some visual spice to an act that, while musically proficient, can be a bit dull.

Christopher Cross isn’t exactly Mr. Excitement, but at age 73, he looks and sounds well-preserved. Hits like Sailing, Arthur’s Theme and Ride Like The Wind were greeted warmly by the crowd, most of whom did show up early enough to catch the set.

And when Cross’s guitar malfunctioned, causing a brief, but awkward pause in the proceedings, Chris came up with a joke that didn’t offend, filled up the time and entertained the crowd. Which, come to think of it, describes his music to a tee.

Toto

Toto, on the other hand, came out brimming with energy. Original member Steve Lukather seemed genuinely happy to be here…or, as the 67-year-old guitarist put it…happy to be anywhere.

I’m guessing the 67-year-old version of Lukather is not much different than the 20 year old version who played on Boz Scaggs’ hits before forming Toto and contributing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller…the major change would be the shock of long white hair replacing the black of his youth.

Speaking of Michael Jackson, veteran keyboard session man Greg Phillinganes, who was all over Thriller and Bad and a bunch of Eric Clapton albums, was on stage, filling in for the retired David Paich.

And adding some youthful energy was 27-year old Dennis Atlas who played keys and sang very impressively throughout the show. We are told that Dennis was recruited at the last minute and was forced to learn the entire set in two days. Needless to say, he nailed it.

Lead vocals were shared by Lukather and Joseph Williams, who was first in the band during the late 80s. Williams, who I just learned, is the son of Oscar-winning film composer John Williams, fit right in…he and Lukather obviously enjoying each other’s company. And while Williams wasn’t the original voice on most of the hits he sang, one would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between them.

Rounding out this group of Totos is veteran drummer Shannon Forrest, a Nashville cat who has played with Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers, to name a few. Lukather’s boyhood buddy John Pierce was on bass while Warren Ham filled things out with sax, keyboards and percussion.

Needless to say, the playing was exquisite, particularly the interplay between Lukather and Phillinganes

If there is to be any complaint, perhaps a couple of the lesser-known songs could have been trimmed from the setlist, and…do we really need another drum solo, no matter how well played?

All-in-all a very enjoyable evening and I must admit Hold The Line and Africa were worth waiting for.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Chris Zwaagdyk:

Toto: