Gary Brooker, claiming to have a bit of a cold, sounded great and
hit all the high notes with power to spare. The rhythm section was
lively and tight – to be expected, throughout their incarnations
Procol Harum has always been a musically immaculate operation –
while guitarist Geoff Whitehorn and organist Josh Phillips added
coloration and emotional depth.
The only variation from the tour's standard setlist was the substitution of Cerdes with a mellower piano-based song I did not recognise. Gary Brooker gave the song a spoken introduction, but the cheers and whistles of the enthusiastic crowd made it hard for me to hear.
The band received two standing ovations, after A Salty Dog and A Whiter Shade of Pale. They closed with a rousing rendition of Conquistador that earned cascades of applause while the band departed.
In all, a wonderful and unforgettable night. My wife and I were talking over drinks prior to the performance and I realised I'd been a fan of Procol Harum since 1972, so one could say I've been waiting forty years for this concert. And I'm pleased to say it was well worth it.