近距离内射合集

Toto really brought the rains down in New Mexico.

As a fan of the band鈥檚 well-known hits like 鈥淗old the Line鈥� and 鈥淎frica,鈥� I was fairly excited for the concert, which took place Monday night at the First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater.

That excitement waned a bit when Christopher Cross was delayed by rain for an hour. The skies opened up as openers The Romantics were ending their set. Headliners Toto didn鈥檛 take the stage until after 10 p.m.

But Toto鈥檚 performance proved worth getting rained on and the late bedtime. While New Mexico is generally a dry state, the impromptu weather was a friendly reminder to pack a poncho or umbrella, just in case.

The rain delay led to Cross鈥� and Toto鈥檚 performances being cut a bit short. However, Toto still played all the fan favorites, ending with 鈥淎frica,鈥� which by then the rain had ironically finally stopped.

It seems to me that older musicians aren鈥檛 as focused on a stage production as they are on playing the music for the fans. Toto had not much else happening on stage aside from the band and the instruments. A flowing backdrop depicted their name in large letters, and lighting added ambiance, but there wasn鈥檛 much more to the presentation. And they didn鈥檛 really need it.

The band has an extensive catalog of music, dating back nearly five decades, and the concert was filled with everything from 鈥淩osanna鈥� to 鈥淕eorgy Porgy.鈥�

What I learned during this concert is that Toto isn鈥檛 really about the lyricism or singing but rather how accomplished each member is at their instrument. The concert was about 40% singing and 60% riffing with instrumental solos and call-and-response between the members.

With members having musical credits with the likes of Mick Jagger, Ringo Starr and Sammy Hagar, it鈥檚 no surprise they can shred with the best of them. For several members, they are the best of them. The range of instruments utilized throughout the show was by far my favorite part.

The band shows off by utilizing things like a harmonica, bongos, a saxophone and even a flute. I always love seeing instruments that aren鈥檛 as commonly used on stage, adding a different layer of sound to the performance.

Steve Lukather, one of the founding members of Toto, was spectacular throughout his multiple lengthy guitar solos, and I didn鈥檛 understand how he could play as long as he did. Lukather and band member Warren Ham returned to Albuquerque with Toto after performing in Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band a few months ago.

Lukather took the time to introduce each member and their extensive, impressive r茅sum茅s to the crowd, showcasing how accomplished the band is apart and together.

A highlight of the night was the spotlight put on its youngest member, Dennis Atlas. A 28-year-old vocalist and keyboardist who is touring with the band is rather easy to overlook when faced with the likes of Lukather and Joe Williams, Toto鈥檚 lead singer. However, the band gave him his time to shine with a solo rendition of 鈥淓ndless.鈥� Lukather introduced Atlas by explaining how, without past Toto member Fergie Frederiksen, they have not performed 鈥淓ndless鈥� live until now.

Touring with the band, the 28-year-old vocalist and keyboardist could easily be overlooked

Atlas brought youthful, boundless energy to the stage, running and bouncing across it with impressive vocals to the song.

It was easy to see throughout the concert that the band, despite a rotating number of members over the years, was tight-knit and played together like a family. The chemistry between them in moments, such as Lukather and keyboardist Rai Thistlethwayte playing back and forth, letting the music build higher and higher, was amazing to see.

By the end of the night, my excitement was restored and as high as my hair from the humidity.

Toto is a band that clearly loves the music and loves what they do, which is what made the show worth the rain.

Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow for the 近距离内射合集. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.