I have been on the end of much light-hearted banter about the next three gigs I am scheduled to attend. Toto, Brian Wilson and Crosby, Stills and Nash. It has not escaped my antenna that none of these acts are exactly in their first phases of youth, although at least Toto’s members are broadly the same age as me and the rest are in their seventies, but so what? They’re bloody good.
First up next week is Toto at my favourite venue, the Hammersmith Odeon, as it isn’t called these days. Now, I am well aware that Toto is not a band that excites the chattering classes but these guys are some of the greatest musicians who have ever lived. If you have ever heard a Steely Dan or Michael Jackson record, you will have heard some of Toto’s main men playing, probably without even knowing it. Tell ’em that it’s human nature? One of Toto wrote the thing. Thriller? Steve Lukather played the main riff. And did I tell you that the amazing Lenny Castro, THE greatest percussionist on the planet, is on this tour? I’m not sure I did. No matter.
I’ve even got to like Africa, which was never my favourite Toto tune, not least because of the absurd lyrics but because it sounds so insanely good live. And Rosanna with THAT Rosanna Shuffle drumbeat, played by the brilliant Shannon Forrest? How good can it be? Hold the line, won’t you? I can’t stop loving you!
And then it’s Brian in Cardiff. He too plays with a stellar band, featuring the Wondermints, a part of Poi Dog Pondering and at least two other Beach Boys, maybe three. With a back catalogue to die for, it will be great. And probably the last time I will ever see him live.
Crosby, Stills and Nash, also in Cardiff. Please play Suite: Judy Blue Eyes and just about anything else you like. Start with Carry On/Questions, please, and don’t forget Wooden Ships and Cathedral.
Of course, I want to see Toto, Brian Wilson and CSN playing their hits, but more than that I want to hear them playing the new stuff, too. Both Toto and Brian released new records this year and CSN always debut new tunes. It’s obviously a nostalgia trip to some extent, but I get just as big a buzz from the new songs as I do from the old. In short, I want the old tunes but I am not really wanting to see a show if there aren’t any new ones.
On my my must see list are also Songhoy Blues, Tame Impala and Gaz Coombes, all of whom are a bit younger than the acts I am seeing so don’t go telling me I’m locked in the past. I like the past, there’s nothing wrong with that, but I like the past when they play new tunes as well. In fact, I just like good music. Well, at least I think I do!