Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale

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Gary Brooker and friends in France

Setlist, le Vigan • 24 August 2013


Gary Brooker, voice, piano and guitar | Judy Blair, Hammond, vocal, percussion | Andy Fairweather Low, guitar and vocal
Dave Bronze, bass and vocal | Paul Beavis, drums
Ashley Dow, ukulele, dobro | Debbie Dow, harmonica, percussion

Following a great blues set by Rag Mama Rag (Ashley Dow, voice and guitar, Resonator guitar, dobro, ukulele, and bass 'drum' in the form of an internally-amplified flight-case played with a standard kick pedal (see here); Debbie Dow, voice, washboard, spoons, djembe and excellent harmonicas) Gary Brooker and his all-star band took the stage at 10.04 pm for a 'soiree of blues and rock' as the presenter had put it. Photography, filming and recording during the performance were quite firmly prevented by the venue -- a modern, seated auditorium holding about 400, with great lights and sound, and packed out. Luckily the use of a pencil and notebook was not ruled out. [There are a few fuzzy snaps taken during the encores, here]

 

1 Baby Lee Gary Brooker lead vocal  
2 Let's Work Together Gary Brooker lead vocal Andy Fairweather Low and Judy Blair backing voices
3 Lay My Burden Down / Will the Circle be Unbroken
(piano break included Bye Bye Blackbird)
Andy Fairweather Low lead vocal Gary Brooker, Dave Bronze, Judy Blair backing voices
4 Let the Good Times Roll Gary Brooker lead vocal  
5 It's Only You (Blair) Judy Blair lead vocal  
6 Hoochie Coochie Man Gary Brooker lead vocal  
7 If Paradise Is Half as Nice Andy Fairweather Low lead vocal Dave Bronze, with Gary Brooker and Judy Blair, backing voices
8 Crying Time (Ray Charles) Gary Brooker and Judy Blair lead vocal Andy Fairweather Low backing voice
9 La-La Music (new Fairweather Low song) Andy Fairweather Low lead vocal Gary Brooker, Dave Bronze and Judy Blair backing voices
10 God Only Knows (!) Gary Brooker lead vocal Judy Blair, Dave Bronze and Andy Fairweather Low, intricate harmony parts
11 Conquistador Gary Brooker lead vocal  
12 Green Onions (instrumental; little piano, as Gary was loading his pipe, which he did not then use)
13 Going to Chicago Judy Blair lead vocal Wonderful Judy Blair organ solo
14 Wide-Eyed and Legless Andy Fairweather Low lead vocal  
15 A Whiter Shade of Pale (protracted ovation) Gary Brooker lead vocal Judy Blair, great organ solo
16 Blueberry Hill Gary Brooker lead vocal  
17 Great Balls of Fire Gary Brooker lead vocal  
18 Woolly Bully Gary Brooker lead vocal Andy Fairweather Low, Dave Bronze, Judy Blair backing voices
  Encores
Before #19, a namecheck from the stage, by the 'amphibious guitarist' Mr Brooker, for Roland, identified as co-webmaster of 'Beyond the Pale' ... and the only vegetarian in the Lot.
19 Midnight Special
Gary Brooker, guitar, lead vocal, with Andy Fairweather Low

Judy Blair tambourine, Andy Fairweather Low ukulele and backing voice, Ashley Dow ukulele, Debbie Dow harmonica
20 Goodnight Irene Andy Fairweather Low lead vocal; Gary Brooker one verse Judy Blair organ, Debbie Dow harmonica, Gary Brooker and Dave Bronze backing voices, Ashley Dow great dobro break
       

A great evening, with atmosphere not unlike the Brookers' Christmas shows at Chiddingfold Club (albeit seated, not standing in a crowd) in the old days; the playing really took off during the fourth number and retained high energy levels thereafter. The Beach Boys number was an extraordinary inclusion, and worked very well. According to Judy they'd had two days' rehearsal for the whole set. Band in excellent spirits afterwards. Below, the handwritten setlist for the evening (thanks, Gary) showing the tempo (Medium, Fast and Slow), the key, and the singer(s).

 

 


Procol Harum dates in 2013 | This show

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