Let me admit–I know TOTO, but I don’t know TOTO. Of course, I’ve heard of the hits like Africa and Hold the Line, but anything past the first five songs on their Spotify Popular list? That’s beyond me. So when the chance came to dive deeper into this Grammy Award-winning band’s legacy, there was no way I would waste this opportunity–and for good reason, too!
This one-night concert—as part of TOTO’s Dogz of Oz tour—marks almost two decades since the band last came to Singapore in 2006, which coincidentally, is almost as long as I’ve been alive. So, with a lineup featuring original member Steve Lukather alongside longtime vocalist Joseph Williams, Greg Phillinganes, Shannon Forrest, John Pierce, Warren Ham, and Dennis Atlas–here’s everything I heard at their concert in Marina Bay Sands!
Child’s Anthem
Whilst settling into my seat and listening along to the pre-concert setlist of classics like Boston’s More Than a Feeling and Kansas’ Carry On Wayward Son—the latter of which tonight’s touring member Warren Ham has performed during his time with the band—the lights suddenly went low, the crowd erupted into cheers, and TOTO burst into the first song of their set: Child’s Anthem.
This instrumental piece was played beautifully, with both the banging pianos and the epic guitar given their true justice. And since Joseph Williams obviously didn’t have much to sing, he went around the stage performing jazz hands at each of the members instead, giving the show its first cheeky moment out of the many that’ll happen during this concert.
Carmen
Right after finishing Child’s Anthem, the band wasted no time and jumped straight into Carmen–a heartfelt plea to a long-lost lover bearing that name. This tune was a real rocker, alright, and the combined vocals of both Joseph Williams and Dennis Atlas made it sound all the more powerfully desperate.
No worries though–the instruments also had their moments too, with spotlight-stealing solos from both the keyboardists’ snazzy synths that sounded straight off the album and Steve Lukather’s electrifying guitar work, which added an exhilarating edge to an already energetic performance.
Rosanna
Then, the classic drums of Rosanna set in, and soon everyone was singing along to that familiar name. Hmm, that’s the second song titled after a woman, I wonder if this trend will continue…
Anyways, what more can I say except that this was awesome! It was the first tune I finally knew the lyrics to, so being able to sing along with the crowd was amazing. My special mention this time has to go to keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, who delivered an almost honky-tone-style solo that left me thoroughly impressed–though Warren’s saxophone work, which excellently complemented both Greg and Steve’s playing, definitely deserves a shoutout too!
However, in terms of true entertainment, Joseph goes undefeated once again–he made the crowd chuckle by massaging Greg’s shoulders during the middle of his solo!
99
As Rosanna came to a close, the audience erupted in resounding applause, right before Steve Lukather greeted us with an equally enthusiastic “Hello, Singapore!” Then, after promising us “it’ll be a fun night” and taking a sip of what he jokingly called his “fake beer,” he and the band kicked off the following track–a little diddle called 99.
For such a seemingly simple song, I actually had no idea who or what 99 is. Yet, it moved me in a strangely abstract way–and in my quest to understand why, a quick search online led me to be further surprised by two unexpected tidbits of information.
First, 99 is apparently a tribute to George Lucas’ first film, THX 1138, where people live in a totalitarian state and are identified by numbers instead of names. Thus, the titular 99 in this fantasy love track is imagined as someone from that world.
Next, and even more shockingly, Steve hated this song. It’s reportedly why the band rarely performs it live anymore aside from the original album tour–and based on setlist.fm’s statistics, it seems to be a trend that still holds today. At the time of writing, out of the 30 shows TOTO has done this year, 99 has only been played at seven of them.
That’s so crazy to me! Yes, while it’s less upbeat than the setlist presented so far, I still think it has that distinct TOTO sound to it. And if you’re reading this, Steve, just know that what I’m about to say is meant as a compliment: 99 definitely deserves a spot in TOTO’s setlist, especially when you and the rest bring it to life on stage. So please, consider playing it more at future shows–like when you return to Singapore!
Mindfields
With that request and 99 said and done, let’s get back to the show. As mentioned by Steve, this next number, originating from their 1999 album, has never been played live until now at the Dogz of Oz tour. It’s “quite a groovy song,” it’s one we should check out, it’s none other than Mindfields.
This time, it was Greg Phillinganes’ turn to take on a song’s pre-chorus, and what do you know: his commanding vocals were a perfect fit for the foreboding warning in the lyrics. Moreover, just like 99, I’m glad that the band dusted this one off from their catalogue to play live, since it introduces this lesser-known tune and its titular album to total TOTO newbies (that has a ring to it) like me.
I Will Remember
Now, I’m not sure if it’s because most people instantly recognised the track—or, like me, mistook the tribal beats for Africa—but either way, the crowd was pumped for I Will Remember.
This track was surprisingly effortless to sing along to, thanks to its predictable humming and a chorus that was both elegant and easy to follow. But my goodness, that guitar solo by Steve at the end was hauntingly beautiful.
Said solo became even more poignant later in the show when Steve shared that one of the reasons TOTO still performs is to “keep playing for Mike and Jeff [Porcaro]”–the band’s longtime bassist and co-founding drummer, respectively, both of whom have sadly passed on. So, by performing this heart-wrenching piece, they probably weren’t just playing a song–they were also likely playing for these talented musicians, making both themselves and us remember.
Pamela
Thankfully, after that emotional tune, Joseph Williams was back to lighten up the mood with a classic call-and-response. While this audience interaction technique featured no “Ay-oh’s” like a certain prominent planet-named frontman might’ve done, Joseph gave us something just as electrifying–a stunning belt of “Arrivederci!” that echoed through the venue instead. Of course, though we roared back this Italian goodbye right back at him with the same vigour, though clearly, no one was quite ready to leave just yet!
That included Steve, who wasn’t struggling to bid farewell to us, but rather to a girlfriend he had way back in the ’80s. In his own words, “it’s hard getting over her because we keep singing this every day.” And who is this (un)lucky girl, you ask? Well, I don’t know much about her except her name–but does Pamela ring a bell?
One aspect of the show I haven’t touched on is the lighting design–mostly because it feels a little too technical for a music article. But when the lights hilariously flash in sync with every signature pause in this song, how could I not point that out?
Nevertheless, music-wise, Steve and the crew were still killing it on both the lead and backup vocals. Plus, the honky-tonk-like piano finally made its long-awaited return through Greg, who was hammering away at his keyboard in a slick call-and-response of his own with Steve’s wailing guitar. This might have been my favourite performance so far–hey, wait…where’s the band going?
Solo by Greg Phillinganes
Gradually, the spotlights came on–each one focused on Greg Phillinganes, who began playing by himself. Though there isn’t much I have to note about the sappy solo, the same can’t be said for the man behind the keys.
Greg and Steve have known each other long before their TOTO days, when one was jamming with Stevie Wonder and the other with Boz Scaggs, respectively. Since meeting each other in the studio back in their teenage days, the two have crossed paths on hundreds of records, such as on Michael McDonald’s I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near).
However, Greg’s musical legacy extends far beyond playing the keyboards for TOTO. He’s also played alongside Rock and Roll Hall of Famers like Quincy Jones, Eric Clapton, and Paul McCartney–and if that still isn’t enough, he’s even served as the musical director for the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson.
So yeah, he’s a pretty big deal. Even if this sweet but short solo isn’t doing his musical legacy full justice, something tells me he doesn’t need it to anyway. Thus, while the spotlight may have shifted away from Greg with his final lone notes flowing into the next song and the other members making their way back on stage–his presence nonetheless remained unmistakable for the rest of the show.
I Won’t Hold You Back
The next TOTO tune to be heard was I Won’t Hold You Back–a power ballad about the speaker realising he’s lost feelings for his lover. If you’ve ever heard of this and thought it couldn’t sound any sadder, try listening to it live whilst sober enough to remember the memories because you couldn’t afford the alcohol served: now that’s tragic.
But enough about me, this track is already sad as is. Once again, the band’s impressive vocals came alive to provide the song’s melancholic chorus, and Steve’s gently weeping (iykyk) guitar solo at the end made it hit harder. In moments like these, when I’m on the verge of tears, if only there were a rockin’ hit to offer me some advice…
Angel Don’t Cry
Wow, it seems like my prayers have been answered! Plus, on top of being a piece for us rock and rollers to get out of our seats for as mentioned by Steve, this next performance of Angel Don’t Cry will also feature singing from the “badass kid at the back,” aka none other than Mr. Dennis Atlas!
Okay, as much as it sounds like it came straight out of a cheesy ‘80s high school flick, that’s exactly what I love about this song. And those vocals that the audience was promised from Dennis? Man, did he deliver–nailing both his solos and duets with Joseph Williams, where during the latter the two locked eyes like it was the Battle of the Bands from that very same flick.
Finally, the guitar and keyboard solos—which seem obligatory by this point—were amazing as usual.
Georgy Porgy
Keeping in line with the sobbing theme, the tenth tune on the setlist was Georgy Porgy–a funky piece about a man who infamously “kissed the girls and made them cry.”
Personally, this track has been on repeat for me ever since I left the concert. Yes, the lyrics are depressing. Yes, Georgy Porgy and whoever he’s pining over need to have that “What are we?” talk–but holy moly, this song is so groovy. And the flute…the flute! Special props once again to Warren Ham for absolutely killing it on the wind instruments, and to Greg Phillinganes’ buttery smooth delivery–only he can make moaning a name like Georgy sound that good.
Also, shout-out to the number’s nursery rhyme-like chorus as well. It made it ridiculously easy for everyone to sing along without missing a beat, and sing we did. Oh, look, everyone’s leaving the stage again, but this time, I’m ready.
Solo by Dennis Atlas
Meet Dennis Atlas, the “badass kid at the back” you’d just read about a while back. As the newest addition to the band, Dennis joined under some pretty tight circumstances–he was brought on mid-tour to fill in for a sudden lineup change after being recommended to Steve Lukather by former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal as “the right guy.” From there, he had to learn the whole show in one day without having played with TOTO before, but guess what? He did it!
So now here he stands—just 27 years old, with an upcoming album on the horizon—ready to show off the very chops that earned him a spot on this legendary stage. And without a moment’s hesitation, he starts us off with an almost medieval-sounding introduction.
Slowly, the performance builds in intensity as Dennis masterfully shifts through keyboard presets. One moment it’s like a UFO has entered the venue, the next it’s an upbeat stadium organ, squealing robot synths, and a vampiric pipe organ. Then–ding! Silence, but only for a heartbeat.
His fingers slide back onto the keys, triggering a pulsing rhythm of alarms going off before drawing us into a clap-along frenzy. At last, what follows is the jaw-dropping finale: a cosmic journey of chord progressions so grand and intricate, it was as if we were riding through a Yes album. But just as quickly as it started, he slides back up the keys for one last time—and boom—the solo was over, leaving a flabbergasted audience to clap thunderously in united applause. Now that’s Dennis Atlas.
White Sister
As the other members return to their original positions, I hear a passing comment by Joseph: “Dim those lights for me, brother.” Sure enough, the stage fades into darkness except for a single spotlight, which slowly swells on Greg.
He starts us off with a lovely keyboard arrangement that gets the crowd clapping along for what feels like the umpteenth time this night. Though in a moment, the rest of the band slowly grows behind Greg—layer by layer, louder and louder—until all of the lights burst back on and Joseph comes screaming in, launching us into White Sister.
It’s a solid, noisy rocker, but it isn’t anything too innovative by TOTO’s standards. As always, Steve’s guitar shredding was top-tier, but honestly, what stood out to me more were the theatrics of it all. Still, the band looked like they were having an absolute blast playing it, so that’s a win in my books!
I’ll Be Over You
Right as White Sister wrapped up and Joseph stepped forward to say a few words, a chorus of song requests erupted from the crowd, with Africa being unsurprisingly the most popular title shouted.
But I’d like to believe the man himself didn’t catch a single name–because after cheekily asking, “Is that what you wanna hear?” and declaring, “How can I deny all the beautiful people here?”, Joseph and the band didn’t break from the script at all. They simply carried on with the setlist as planned, smoothly easing into I’ll Be Over You.
Regardless, this was a sweet tune, made all the more heartfelt when Joseph whipped out his phone, flashlight on, and waved it around–prompting the audience to follow suit. As the hall glowed in a sea of lights and Steve Lukather poured his heart out onto his guitar, for one tender moment, it felt like we were all united in getting over our exes…together.
Stop Loving You
Therefore, the only natural conclusion from promising to move on is actually doing it! Enter the aptly titled Stop Loving You, a track that sounds like the speaker has gotten closure, but on a closer listen, has he really?
Well, I won’t spoil the reveal–after all, that’s for you to find out! However, what I will say is that TOTO absolutely delivered with this one-of-a-kind performance. The upwards intonations at the end of every verse, almost as if the speaker’s asking questions, the doubts still echoing in his mind. Then suddenly—forget it—all that uncertainty erupts into a chorus of unfiltered passion.
Literal chills, I’m telling you, literal chills ran down my spine during this performance…which is why I was so glad we had one final solo to get us heated for the last stretch of the night!
Solo by Shannon Forrest
Lucky soloist number three was none other than Shannon Forrest–a powerhouse session drummer hailing from Nashville. Having worked with the likes of Michael McDonald, Donald Fagen, and Taylor Swift, it’s no surprise that Shannon has become such a recurring force in TOTO–his raw talent and heartfelt admiration for the band, especially for the late original drummer Jeff Porcaro whom he cites as a key influence, make his presence feel like both a tribute and a natural continuation of the band.
Slamming his sticks across a wall of drums, cymbals and toms, Shannon treated the crowd to a whirlwind of rhythms à la Whiplash, unintentionally getting us pumped as we cheered with every accelerating beat. Just as the crowd reached a fever pitch, that manic drumming steadied into a smooth, nifty beat–and before we could even realise, the next song was starting.
Also, yes, you read that right, he worked with that Taylor Swift.
Don’t Chain My Heart
We’re in the home straight now! Here comes Don’t Chain My Heart, an intense tune about breaking free from an overly passionate relationship. The number itself wasn’t anything mind-blowing, except until Steve Lukather started his solo. And I promise, this time, it wasn’t just great, it was exceptional.
So much so, in fact, that both Greg Phillinganes and Dennis Atlas stepped away to the side of the stage to visibly gawk and whisper to each other as Steve let loose. And as I would later learn online, the guitar he played wasn’t just any regular electric–it was a gift from the same Jeff Porcaro mentioned above, who passed away during the crafting of the album this track hails from.
Knowing all of this now, I only have two words to say: that’s beautiful.
I’ll Supply the Love
After Don’t Chain My Heart, Steve then took the time to introduce each member of the band. Besides the three soloists whom I’ve already told you about, he also gave a special mention to the “Swiss army knife” of the band, aka Warren Ham, who could sing, play, and groove just like no other. Also, he’s been nicknamed “Mr. Fabulous” by the band, though it’s for reasons Steve can’t divulge…
Then came the presentation of John Pierce, the bassist, whom Steve proudly called his “first-ever friend in life.” That’s because not only were their mothers pregnant at the same time, on the same block, same street, and even in the same hospital, but also because they’ve been rocking together since primary school.
Following that, here’s the man who truly needed no introduction: Joseph Williams, who, believe it or not, had been belting out powerhouse vocals all night despite nursing a broken rib the entire time. Oh, and for a more fun fact–he’s also the voice behind Hakuna Matata from the original Lion King.
And finally, as Joseph put it, the original member of TOTO who’s both “83% extraterrestrial DNA” and “the brother of another mother”–it’s Steve Lukather! In my eyes, he’s the standout of the lineup: delivering silky vocals and masterful guitar riffs, sometimes both at once! Though that’s not to say that the rest of the band weren’t stellar in their own right. So enough about them, let’s jump right back onto the next track!
Immediately, we’re thrust into I’ll Supply the Love, which more than lives up to its name. Alongside continuing to bring that infectious energy, this song also gives Dennis some long-overdue solo vocal moments—finally! I’ve missed his voice so much, and hearing it so distinctly on such a hype tune was obviously a treat.
So with that, plus a steady clap-along beat and a chorus practically made for shouting in unison, yep—this tune is another certified TOTO banger. It’s clearly achieved its goal of locking the crowd in, and since we’ve no reason for slowing down, the band charged full-steam ahead into the next number.
Hold the Line
We’re nearly at the end–and for the first time in a very long while, is that…a song I actually recognise? With its unmistakable piano riff and gritty guitars, yes, it’s none other than Hold the Line!
Let me tell you, Joseph didn’t need to utter a single word of encouragement–I was already shouting out every damn line right from the start. And unlike what its lyrics suggest about love, this song came perfectly on time, making it the ultimate penultimate track. If anything, it’s a shame it’ll soon be overshadowed by that track, but until then, the crowd and I kept singing in unison like we were the band ourselves!
Africa
Oh man, after 90 exciting minutes, it’s finally all led up to this. So when Joseph asked everyone to stand up to “end things right,” you bet I was already out of my seat faster than that iconic jingle could even finish playing. Thus, with Joseph on main vocals, Steve on guitar, John on bass, Warren on bongos, Shannon on drums, alongside Greg and Dennis tag-teaming the keyboards–here’s TOTO presenting Africa!
For this grand finale, they truly pulled out all of the stops: electrifying solos for both Steve and Dennis, magical moments of silence where only the audience’s voices echoed the tune through the hall, and even a sick return of the call-and-response as we scatted along with the gorgeous instrumentals.
At this point, it felt less like a performance and more like a collaborative effort between both us and them—a once-in-two-decades experience I’ll always treasure. Even when the band sadly didn’t return our calls for an encore, I couldn’t be disappointed–especially not when my lucky stars got me to catch a legendary band that almost disbanded for good back in 2019.
Regardless, Africa was a fittingly bombastic conclusion to this already-crazy concert, but honestly, I’m not sure how I’ll ever be able to see the studio version as anything but an inferior version of the live ever again.
And so, my journey ended just as it began–surrounded by timeless classics, trailing through the venue this time with Paul Simon’s You Can Call Me Al echoing faintly in the background. As I walked, I mentally recounted all my favourites, both old and new. Sure, the holy trinity of Africa, Hold the Line, and Rosanna were delivered flawlessly, and there wouldn’t be another song on the setlist that I’d miss them for.
However, it was the live renditions of tunes like 99, Pamela, and Georgy Porgy that truly won me over in turning me from just a casual hits listener into a full-fledged TOTO fan. All in all, really, what an incredible night. It wasn’t just a TOTO concert–it was a heartfelt tribute to past members, a showcase of rising talent, and ultimately, a celebration of both parties coming together to play on one stage.
Do follow TOTO on Instagram and Facebook for more information about the band and their Dogz of Oz tour. Additionally, check out the CK Star Entertainment website for more concerts like this. With that said, let’s hope that TOTO will come to Singapore again!
Visuals courtesy of CK Star Entertainment.
