When Toto Meets Toto: Shooting Hydra at Doncaster Shoppingtown Hotel

So picture this – you’re standing in front of a band that sounds so much like Toto that you’d swear you’d been transported back to 1982. That’s exactly what happened when I got the call to photograph Hydra – The Australian Toto Show at the Doncaster Shoppingtown Hotel.

Now, I’ve shot plenty of tribute acts over the years, but these guys? They’re something else entirely. The brief was pretty straightforward – capture the show with a mix of individual shots and full band photos. Easy enough, right? Well, as anyone who’s tried to photograph live music knows, “easy” and “live music photography” don’t often go hand in hand.

From the moment they kicked into their first song, I knew I was in for a treat. The musicianship was absolutely spot on – and I mean spot on. We’re talking about Toto here, which means intricate arrangements, killer vocals, and those iconic keyboard parts that made songs like “Africa” and “Rosanna” legendary. These guys had it all nailed down.

But here’s what I really love about shooting live music – it’s not just about getting the perfect group shot or nailing the dramatic lighting (though those are pretty great too). It’s about catching those personal moments when each musician is completely lost in what they’re doing. Having been a musician myself for over 30 years, I know exactly what those moments feel like from the other side of the lens. You know the ones – when the guitarist hits that perfect solo and you can see the pure joy on their face, or when the drummer is so locked into the groove that nothing else exists in the universe. That musical experience helps me anticipate those peak moments before they happen.

The Doncaster Shoppingtown Hotel provided this intimate setting that made everything feel more personal. It wasn’t some massive stadium where you’re shooting from the photo pit with a telephoto lens. I could move around, get close, and really capture the connection between the band and the audience. And let me tell you, the audience was absolutely loving every minute of it.

What struck me most was how each member of Hydra brought their own personality to these classic songs while still honoring the originals. The lead vocalist had this incredible range and stage presence, the keyboardist was channeling pure David Paich energy, and don’t even get me started on the guitar work – absolutely phenomenal.

Between songs, I managed to grab some fantastic individual shots. There’s something special about capturing a musician in that brief moment between the applause dying down and the next song starting. They’re still riding that performance high, but there’s this quiet anticipation for what’s coming next.

The full band shots were equally rewarding. Getting everyone in frame while they’re all in their element, instruments gleaming under the stage lights, and that energy just radiating from the stage – that’s the money shot right there.

By the end of the night, I had a camera full of images that told the story of not just a fantastic tribute show, but of musicians who genuinely love what they do. And honestly, if you closed your eyes during their set, you could have sworn you were listening to the real deal.

If you ever get the chance to see Hydra live, do yourself a favor and go. And if you’re a photographer who loves capturing live music, this is exactly the kind of show that reminds you why you fell in love with music photography in the first place.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got “Girl Goodbye” stuck in my head again, and I’m not even mad about it.