Music Blu-ray Review: Toto - 35th Anniversary Tour: Live in Poland

By , Contributor
Filmed June 25, 2013 during the Lodz, Poland stop of their 35th anniversary tour, Live in Poland is a generous 130-minute concert by arena rock survivors Toto. Recently issued on Blu-ray by Eagle Rock Entertainment, the concert features the then-current touring lineup of Steve Lukather (vocals, guitar), David Paich (vocals, keys), Joseph Williams (vocals), Steve Porcaro (keys), Simon Phillips (drums), and Nathan East (bass). Amy Keys and Mabvuto Carpenter are on hand for backing vocals.

Skilled musicianship, tight arrangements, and professional showmanship make this show essential for longtime Toto fans. For casual fans, or perhaps those brand new to Toto, the big hits are here in all their glory. From the late-‘70s there’s the Billboard top five “Hold the Line” that put the band on the map. Mega-smashes “Rosanna” and “Africa” continue to perfectly evoke the early-‘80s with their razor sharp hooks. The performances here are faithful but manage to kick with a still-fresh enthusiasm. Mid-‘80s biggies “I Won’t Hold You Back” and “I’ll Be Over You” are present, as well as album cuts like “Wings of Time” (with a great guitar solo by Lukather). It’s a well-paced concert, with plenty of showcases for each member.

Eagle Rock’s Blu-ray offers a rock-solid, 1080i transfer that handles the various extremes of the stage lighting very well. Shadows cast on musicians not in the spotlight still yield plenty of detail. This is a great example of how a contemporary high definition concert video should look. Also effective are the audio mixes, a choice between DTS-HD MA 5.1 and LPCM stereo. Naturally, the separation is much more pronounced in the surround mix, with lots of breathing room between the instruments.

A 20-minute “behind the scenes” featurette is included as a special feature, offering a nice selection of recent interview clips from the band members.



Complete Set List:

“Intro 13”

“On The Run/Child’s Anthem/Goodbye Elenore” (Medley)

“Goin’ Home”

“Hydra”

“St. George and the Dragon”

“ I’ll Be Over You”

“It’s A Feeling”

“Rosanna”

“Wings of Time”

“Falling In Between”

“I Won’t Hold You Back”

“Pamela”

“99”

“ The Muse”

“White Sister”

“Better World”

“Africa”

“How Many Times”

“Stop Living You”

“Hold the Line”

“Home of the Brave” (Encore)

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Chaz Lipp writes for The Morton Report.

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