A fan's Procol tour diary: Japan (3)

1 November 2003 : Al 'One-Eye' Edelist

At about 10 am I met with the crew in front of the hotel and we went to Club Citta (pronounced 'Cheetah') in Kawasaki for the soundcheck, which wasn't scheduled until 2 pm.

We arrived around 11:20 and I walked around Kawasaki and had lunch.

This room is very similar to San Diego's 4th and B. Graham [Ewins] is using a new system they have installed called "V-DOS" which places the sound evenly through the club so that every set realizes the same pure sound. It was amazing!

Just before the show, I met one of our frequent Japanese visitors to BtP, Shurzo Murai.

Pandora's Box was flawless and An Old English Dream was like fine wine.

During Whaling Stories, Mark added the bird chirps at the usual place after the long mid-section and again at the end of the song.

As an aside, Gary introduced Matthew - prior to Weisselklenzenacht - as "Rock Legend Number 3" in response to the series of classic rock shows in Japan by this promoter, this being "Rock Legends Vol 3".

Mark used a circular semi-bell-shaped percussion instrument to get the bell sound at the beginning and end of A Salty Dog.

There was polite clapping at the end of the set with one guy standing and yelling politely.

A Whiter Shade of Pale included the "Mermaid" verse, and Matthew played a beautiful organ passage right after it.

During Repent Maf does variations on the melody. Geoff is incredible. Gary is visibly moved. Matt hits the double notes perfectly to bring the mid-section strongly into the final passage. Mark is majorly powerful on the new Pearl kit with Ziljian cymbals, which was used on Friday as well. He couldn't have sounded better.

Gary is moved again by a young lady who brings him roses at the end of the show.

There is a major standing ovation at the end of the show, evidently not typical behavior from the usually very polite Japanese.

The power and emotion and outstanding sound of this set raised Club Citta to the heavens.

"Something Magic being born....KR"

Note curiosities such as 'backlike', 'looby' etc

Oe, the monocular one