When it comes to music from the 1980s, it was all about chart-topping hits. Whether it was stadium anthems, arena rockers or soft rock singer songwriters, the goal was to be at the top of the Billboard charts and see your albums selling at record stores. 40 some years later, three of the biggest names from the aforementioned genres – Toto, Christopher Cross, and The Romantics – have set out on a joint summer tour which kicked off at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, New York on July 15.
Kicking off the night was The Romantics, that five-piece band from Detroit who wrote a song that is required to be played at every wedding reception, anniversary dinner or graduation anywhere in the world. Headed by founding front man Wally Palmar and longtime member Coz Canler, the band helped set the pace for the night with rockers like “Rock You Up,” “Got Me Where You Want Me,” and the romantically titled “Do Me Any Way You Wanna.”
At age 73, Palmar’s voice is showing noticeable wear and tear and is very weak when it comes to louder, intense vocal requirements. At several points during the band’s 40 minute set, Palmar would simply back away from the microphone when it came to the more strenuous parts. It’s to be expected with aging rock and rollers, especially those known for powerful singing. Regardless of some of the vocals, The Romantics had the crowd singing along as they ended their set with their biggest hits, “Talking In Your Sleep,” and the infectious anthem “What I Like About You.”
Rock You Up
Do Me Any Way You Wanna
When I Look in Your Eyes
Got Me Where You Want Me
Bop
She’s Got Everything (The Kinks cover)
Stone Pony
One in a Million
Talking in Your Sleep
What I Like About You
If you ever listened to a soft rock, adult contemporary or Top 40 station in the 1980’s, you couldn’t’ avoid the name Christopher Cross. He wrote songs that were catchy, was a good guitarist, and had a voice that was so gentle and relaxing that he’s often credited as creating the “yacht rock” genre. Wearing a round fedora shaped hat, Cross took to the stage surrounded by approximately a dozen guitars and immediately broke into his 1983 pop smash “All Right.” His songs have a defining sound to them and “Never Be the Same” followed the same style as the opening number before leading into the acoustic “Dreamers.”
A soft piano intro kicked off one of his biggest hits, “Sailing,” which was performed nearly identically to the original studio version. It’s a song that defines Cross’ career so much that it wasn’t the only appearance the song makes on his current set list. Showing how much of a star Cross was in the 80’s, he was associated with the popular soap opera “General Hospital” with his song “Think of Laura.” In Bethel, Cross seemed to still be enjoying the crossover success the song brought him, and delivered a stellar performance of the number. One of his earliest hits, the widely successful “Arthur’s Team (Best That You Can Do),” was a set highlight and garnered some of the loudest applause from the predominantly older crowd.
After the upbeat “Say You’ll Be Mine,” perhaps his most rock and roll number, “Ride Like The Wind” followed with Cross leading the way with its iconic guitar riff. The song is also famous for famed vocalist Michael McDonald’s backing vocals, which were instead performed by a trio of female vocalists who gave the song new life. Immediately after its conclusion, Cross grabbed an acoustic guitar and told the crowd he would need their help for his encore. He then broke into an acoustic version of “Sailing” – if he’s the father of yacht rock; some things just need to happen – that surprisingly seemed more enjoyable than the full band version.
All Right
Never Be the Same
Dreamers (Martin Luther King Intro)
Sailing (w/ Piano Intro)
Think of Laura
I Know You Well (Duet with Bella Hicks)
The Light Is On
Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) (Dedicated to Burt Bacharach)
Say You’ll Be Mine
Ride Like the Wind
Encore:
Sailing (Acoustic)
Following a brief changeover, Toto took to the stage with wild-haired guitarist Steve Lukather leading them out. Lukather’s loud power chords kicked off “Goodbye Elenore,” which had everyone up out of their seats. Keeping with the momentum, the pop hit “Rosanna” followed with Lukather and Joseph Williams sharing vocal duties and sounded fantastic for a band rapidly approaching its 50th anniversary. Keyboards are a major part of Toto’s sound and they were at the forefront of cuts like “Hydra,” “Georgy Porgy,” and the slower “I won’t Hold You Back.”
Lukather told a story of how the band wasn’t able to perform a song on their last several tours because there was no one in the band capable of singing it, but with the addition of keyboardist Dennis Atlas the band has added “Endless” into its set list, and Atlas delivered a powerful performance for the fans in Bethel. A dawn out “Kingdom of Desire,” led to another song titled after a woman’s name, “Pamela,” before the ballad “I’ll Supply the Love.” A rowdy “Taint Your World” featured a short but impressive drum solo from Keith Carlock before the legendary piano opening of the band’s debut single, “Hold the Line.”
Welcoming Cross back to the stage, the famous drum opening of their worldwide smash hit “Africa” filled the air and with it came one of the loudest singalongs of the evening. Whether it’s because of classic rock radio, various TV commercials or even perennial alt-rock favorites Weezer breathing new life into the song, “Africa” has consistently remained a staple of rock music and will most likely continue to be played everywhere even after Toto is done and gone. As a matter of fact, several songs from all artists on this tour will stand the test of time which is one of the best selling points of this package tour. Sure, you can relive the glory days these songs and artists had throughout the late 70s and 80s, but the tour shows that although these artists will one day be gone, their art and radio staples they created will be here for a very long time to come.
Goodbye Elenore Rosanna Hydra Georgy Porgy Keyboard Solo (Rai Thistlethwayte solo) I Won’t Hold You Back Endless (Sung by Dennis Atlas) Kingdom of Desire Pamela I’ll Be Over You (Followed by Band Introductions) I’ll Supply the Love Taint Your World (Drum solo) Hold the Line Africa
To submit an article an article or review, or to just say hello hit us at lmnandr@gmail.com
Also- check out the search feature in the upper right hand corner and search for your favorite artist, event, venue or genre. You’ll be surprised at what you find!
Check out the Live Music News and Review.com Facebook page for updates and announcements.
