Toto Took Fans Down Memory Lane With Nostalgic Performance Tuesday in Saint Louis

August 9, 2025 Sean Derrick

–by Sean Derrick

Tuesday night was nostalgia central at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Saint Louis as thousands of fans were treated to a magical trip down memory lane as Toto, Men at Work, and Christopher Cross worked their magic on the outdoor stage.

The evening got a hampered by a major accident on 270/70 that forced many fans to arrive late. Unfortunately, the ones who were caught in the snarling jam missed a very solid performance from Christopher Cross. His easy-going light rock set was the perfect way to ease into the show as the temperatures were still such that even moving around was sweat-inducing. So, fans grabbed cool refreshments and sat back and enjoyed such easy classics as “Sailing”, “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can do)”, and “Ride Like the Wind”. Cross’s voice was spectacular at the young age of 74.

Men at Work performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

A nice crowd of about 8000 seemed to fill in by the time Men at Work took the stage at 8pm with “No Restrictions” from their album Cargo.

While Christopher Cross had a large backdrop with his signature pink flamingo and a nice light setup for an opening act, Men at Work had absolutely nothing behind them indicating who they were. (I guess if you don’t know who Men at Work is by now then you need to check your music knowledge.) The only thing they had that indicated who they were was a kick drum head with their name on it. That’s it. Simple, no nonsense. Even their lighting was simple.

Instead, they relied on their music and their affable frontman, Colin Hay, (The last remaining original member who still owns the rights to the name) to voice those familiar tones while spinning yarns about origins of songs. For “Down by the Sea” Hay said that after partaking in a few indulgences the song was originally “4 hours and 40 minutes long, and later they had to cut it down to under 4 minutes.

Hay also said “Nice place you got here. No, really. I’ve played some real shitholes, and this ain’t one.” The crowd acknowledged that appreciative shout out and got into the set, which included M@W classics like “It’s a Mistake”, “Overkill”, “Who Can It Be Now?” (One of my favorites to sing at karaoke, by the way. Not that that matters) and ended with their signature sign-off of “Be Good Johnny”. A solid set from a solid act that nicely set up the headliner Toto.

Toto has been around for nearly 50 years (has it been that long already?) since they dropped their smash hit “Hold the Line” in September of 1978 on its way to 3x Platinum sales in the US, (but far from their biggest song) and a long career of international hits.

While Toto is nearing 50 years their lone remaining active member Steve Lukather isn’t showing signs he is going away any time soon. Lukather, a gifted axe wizard and prolific session musician with credits on more than 1,500 albums (Yes, you read that right) from a wide variety of artists, can flow out beautiful melodies at one moment and flat out shred the next. That was evident during the show as the band went from a slow melodic number like “I Won’t hold You Back” to jamming out the very next song with “Angel Don’t Cry”.

The band (Their latest incarnation of Lukather, vocalist Joseph Williams, keyboardists Warren Ham, Greg Phillinganes, and Dennis Atlas, bassist John Pierce, and drummer Shannon Forrest) were tight and cohesive throughout the 15-song set. One of the more emotional points was when Lukather dedicated “I’ll Be Over you” to Toto’s original drummer Jeff Porcaro, who’s sudden death at only 38 in 1992 greatly affected Lukather.

It’s obvious Toto is like a family and for their biggest hit, “Africa” the band was joined onstage by Christopher Cross and Men at Work in a joyous family-like atmosphere to close out the set and sent fans home feeling a bit younger and full of nostalgia, at least for a while.

The tour runs through the end of August where it wraps up in Ridgefield, Washington. I highly recommend checking this show out.

Also, check out the gallery of photos after the setlists below.

Cristopher Cross Setlist:

All Right

Never Be the Same

I Really Don’t Know anymore

Sailing

Think of Laura

Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)

The Light is On

No Time for Talk

Ride Like the Wind

Men at Work Setlist:

No Restrictions

Can’t Take This Town (Colin Hay song)

Down by the Sea

Overkill

It’s a Mistake

Who Can It Be now?

Down Under

Be Good Johnny

Toto Setlist:

Child’s Anthem

Carmen

Rosanna

Mindfields

Pamela

I Won’t Hold You Back

Angel Don’t Cry

Georgy Porgy

White Sister

I’ll Be Over You

Stop Loving You

I’ll Supply the Love

Hold the Line

Africa (with Christopher Cross and Men at Work)

Christopher Cross performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Men at Work performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Toto performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Men at Work performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Toto performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Men at Work performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Christopher Cross performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Toto performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Men at Work performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Toto performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Men at Work performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Toto performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Christopher Cross performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Toto performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Men at Work performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Toto performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Men at Work performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Toto performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Christopher Cross performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Men at Work performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Christopher Cross performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Men at Work performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

Toto performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in St. Louis. Photo by Sean Derrick / Thyrd Eye Photography.

2 thoughts on “Toto Took Fans Down Memory Lane With Nostalgic Performance Tuesday in Saint Louis”

Judy Henderson

August 9, 2025 at 5:10 pm

It was the most electric, exciting night of my life!! I celebrated my 74th birthday with 3 incredible acts. Toto has been my #1 since the beginning. Thanks to all 3 acts, for making my birthday incredible!!
- Sean Derrick
  
  August 25, 2025 at 11:08 pm
  
  happy birthday!

2 thoughts on “Toto Took Fans Down Memory Lane With Nostalgic Performance Tuesday in Saint Louis”

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