Three iconic acts, one packed night of classics!
There was something pretty cool about looking around Germania Amphitheater on Saturday night and seeing so many different generations in the same place. Some people were already in their seats before the first note, while others were walking around, grabbing drinks, and getting ready for a night built around songs they probably grew up with.
The lineup itself felt like a little trip through pop and rock history. The Romantics opened the night, followed by Christopher Cross, before TOTO took the stage as part of the Dogz of Oz Tour. Three very different acts, but all connected by songs that have managed to stick around for decades.
The crowd seemed to know exactly what they came for. A lot of people were sitting back and listening, while others were on their feet whenever a familiar chorus came around. It was especially fun watching younger fans singing along with songs released long before they were born. There was no pressure to make the night into anything bigger than it was. People were simply there to hear some great songs played by the people who originally made them.
THE ROMANTICS
The Romantics wasted very little time getting everyone involved. With Wally Palmar, Coz Canler, Bruce Witkin, Joey Malone, and Mike Rizzi, the band came out ready to play the songs people came to hear.
Their set moved through a solid collection of classics, including “Rock You Up,” “Do Me Any Way You Wanna,” “When I Look In Your Eyes,” and “Bop.” But once they reached “Talking In Your Sleep,” the mood in the amphitheater changed. You could hear people around the venue singing along almost immediately.
Then came “What I Like About You,” which was exactly the kind of closer the set needed. People were standing, dancing, and singing every word. It was one of those moments where you don’t really need to explain why a song has lasted this long. You just watch an entire crowd react to it.
What stood out most was how natural the set felt. The Romantics weren’t trying to reinvent these songs. They simply played them well and gave the audience a chance to hear them live again. For fans who grew up with these tracks, it was a chance to relive them. For younger fans, it was a pretty good introduction to a band whose songs still work just as well in a live setting.
CHRISTOPHER CROSS
Christopher Cross followed with a set that felt completely different, but just as familiar. His voice was the first thing that caught your attention. It still has that unmistakable quality that made these songs so recognizable in the first place.
He worked through “All Right,” “Never Be the Same,” “I Really Don’t Know Anymore,” “Sailing,” “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” “Say You’ll Be Mine,” and “Ride Like the Wind.” Hearing those songs live, one after another, made it pretty easy to understand why they have stayed part of the soundtrack for so many people.
Cross was also impressive on guitar. His playing gave the set another dimension, while his touring musicians and three backing vocalists added plenty without taking attention away from him. Everything sounded tight and well arranged, but never overly busy.
Then came a genuinely unexpected little moment. Cross brought his two puppies, Arthur and Emma, onto the stage. After a set full of songs that many people had known for decades, seeing two little dogs wandering around beside him was probably not what anyone expected. It was also a pretty perfect reminder that live shows can still surprise you.
And then there was “Sailing.” Cross returned to the song at the very end for an acoustic version, stripping everything back and letting the song speak for itself. It was a fitting way to close his set.
TOTO
DOGS OF OZ TOUR
By the time TOTO came out, the crowd was ready. With Steve Lukather on guitar and vocals and Joseph Williams handling vocals, the band had a lineup built around serious musicianship. John Pierce on bass, Warren Ham on percussion, Keith Carlock on drums, Rai Thistlethwayte on keyboards, and Dennis Atlas on keyboards filled out the sound.
The set opened with “Goodbye Elenore,” followed by “Rosanna” and “Hydra.” From there, the band moved through “Georgy Porgy,” “Kingdom Of Desire,” and “Taint Your World” before getting into the songs that had the entire amphitheater singing.
“Hold The Line” was one of those moments where you could hear the audience taking over parts of the song. And, of course, “Africa” brought the night to its biggest singalong.
What made the show work wasn’t just the setlist. Watching Lukather and Williams interact with each other, along with the smiles and little moments between the musicians, made the band feel comfortable onstage. There was a real sense of camaraderie.
And underneath all of it was the musicianship. TOTO has always been a band where the details matter, and hearing these players work through the songs live made that very clear. The arrangements had room to breathe, the instrumental parts weren’t treated like filler, and everyone seemed completely locked in.
Three Generations, One Crowd
One of the best things about the night was looking at the audience during the biggest songs. There were older fans who clearly knew every word, people around my age reliving songs from their childhood, and younger fans discovering music that has been around longer than they have.
A lot of people simply sat back and listened. Others got up when the right song came along. By the time “Africa” played, it didn’t really matter how old anyone was. Everybody knew the words.
That’s probably what made this lineup work so well. The Romantics, Christopher Cross, and TOTO each have their own sound, but all three brought music that people have carried with them for years.
HOW TOTO BECAME TOTO
TOTO came together in Los Angeles in the late 1970s, built around musicians who were already respected session players. Members of the group had worked on records for major artists before TOTO even released its first album, which helps explain why the band’s music has always had such a strong focus on playing.
Their breakthrough came with the 1978 debut album Toto, followed by records like Hydra and Toto IV. The latter became the band’s biggest commercial success, producing “Rosanna” and “Africa,” while “Hold the Line” from the debut remained one of their defining songs.
What makes TOTO different is that their music can appeal to people for completely different reasons. Some fans come for the hooks. Others come for the guitar, drums, keyboards, or the sheer level of musicianship. After seeing them live, it’s easy to understand why the band continues to attract new listeners decades into its career.
