Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

You can wait a lifetime for the right moment in which you believe that the fates align, or you can seize the opportunity offered, brave the inclement, and seemingly never ending Hell driven, weather and relish the thought of seeing one of those bands that always conjures images of the definition of American A.O.R., of a time when M.T.V. was actually dedicated to music, when bands with the power of a ripping chord and introspective lyrics ruled the airwaves, Kansas, Chicago, Boston and for the fortunate ones on this journey round the Sun, the revolution of the night, Toto.

For many who packed out the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester with expectancy and daring hope, this particular journey was one that they had visibly waited for so long that the hard driving rain that would have followed them all day, was barely more than an incontinence, rain, what rain, there is always the image of the plains of Africa, of lost love and a group that has remained socially engrained into the fabric of their genre, of Rock and Roll dynamic, for 40 years.

If this was the fan’s first visit to the shores of Toto, or indeed whether they had seen them across the period of the existence and clapped with elation and positive thrills through a multitude of albums and revelled in the work ethic, then the Bridgewater Hall was more than a night in which to remember, it was to be seen as a pilgrimage for the north west fans in which might never be seen again in their lifetimes.

There is always time in this world for a band from across the Atlantic to show their appreciation for the music that Britain gave the world, and with a beautiful rendition of George Harrison’s superb contribution to The Beatles White Album, Whilst My Guitar Gently Weeps filling the auditorium in the same way and overwhelming attitude as Toto’s own tracks, Spanish Sea, English Eyes, Mushanga, Stop Loving You, Lion, Angela, Dune and the radio friendly classics of Hold The Lion, Rosanna and Africa, the mix of the evening was one of joy in the hearts of the long term fans who feared they might never once again take part in such a spectacle to the elation of the young fan who was there in abundance and couldn’t believe their luck to finally witness Steve Lukather’s guitars play sweetly alongside David Paich and Steve Pocaro’s keyboards and Joseph Williams’ vocals.

A stunning night of music by one of the true legends of the American music world, a lifetime to whom has been one absolute fulfilment, Toto return to the British shores and bring a sense a sense of the exotic wonder with them.

Ian D. Hall