"A Journey Through Parallel Realities and Musical Dreams"

Intertwining aspirations and chance encounters led to the formation of HYDRA – The Australian Toto Show, a dynamic musical collective based on the fusion of lifelong dreams and shared passions. Separate paths converged, bringing together individuals who share a profound love for music and an unwavering devotion to the iconic sounds of Toto which are defined by Steve Lukather, the Porcaro brothers and David Paich.

At the core of Hydra’s origin are the efforts of guitarist Michael Uberti and keyboard player Jeremy Zatorski to create an Australian Toto tribute show.

Michael’s artistic development was profoundly shaped by the music of Steve Lukather and Toto. Michael's quest to pay homage to his musical heroes progressed through a coincidental meeting with a bassist who harboured a similar desire to create a Toto-inspired show. This ignited the spark that would eventually light the path for Hydra. Throughout 2022, Hydra's first incarnation witnessed sporadic rehearsals and valiant efforts, yet Michael's pursuit for excellence was constrained by the realisation that the show's trajectory was not aligned with his vision. Lineup changes were explored, but true dedication proved elusive during this phase.

On a parallel timeline Jeremy was fervently pursuing his own ambition of forming a Toto tribute show. After months of looking for committed and capable musicians, illness and pursuit of other interests meant that a promising first lineup never got off the ground. Deflated but not defeated Jeremy continued his search and, as luck would have it, heard about Michael’s attempts to establish a Toto tribute show. After initial discussions in late 2022 Michael decided to form a joint project with Jeremy. Together with Ashley Warner (drums) and Millie Clifton (backing vocals) the band’s nucleus was formed.

Over several months the core quartet set out to find additional musicians with a passion for Toto’s music and commitment to the project. The search eventually resulted in welcoming Michael Emmerling (bass), Adam Spizzo (vocals), Roger Nicholson (keys, synth) and Amanda Warner (vocals) to the band.

Hydra's vision is to honour the profound musical legacy of Toto, with a particular emphasis on the era defined by the legendary Jeff Porcaro. Through their performances, Hydra aims to celebrate Toto's vast body of work and their unparalleled talents while preserving the art of live performance. Join us on this remarkable journey through parallel realities and shared dreams, as Hydra brings to life the melodies and memories that have woven themselves into the fabric of our musical hearts.