Steve Lukather at the Bilston Robin. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. November 20th 2010.

It really was a coup of epic proportions when the announcement was put out that ex-Toto guitarist Steve Lukather would be playing the Robin 2 in Bilston. Steve has played some of the biggest venues in the world in his time and has recorded and jammed with some of the biggest artists but nothing could have prepared him for the colossal welcome he received from an expectant and incredibly vocal Midlands crowd.

Having just released his latest solo album, All’s Well That Ends Well, Steve went headlong and with some element of pride into the gig. Even though the album is quite possibly one of the most personal recordings he has created, the sound that he delivers seems to give nothing but pleasure to any crowd who turn up to see it.

Steve opened up the night with the deeply delicate sounding Darkness in my World, from the first note the capacity crowd was cheering on the quiet American to give the type of gig that as a spectator you dream about attending.

As the evening drew on, it was evident to all present, that no matter what Steve has been through the last year, he was more than ready to enjoy this gig. Treating the crowd to a few songs from his back catalogue was always going to go down well and his choice of songs didn’t disappoint as he played Extinction Blues amongst them.

Steve had maintained that on this tour he was not going to be playing any of the tracks that made his name during his time with Toto but he relented a couple of times, one for his mother, the inspiring Out of Love and a surprise acoustic number at the end of the show, the wonderful The Road Goes On.

No matter what life has thrown at this genuinely talented man, he still manages to come up trumps and remind audiences that some people are just too good to stay down for long.

Ian D. Hall