Procol Harum • New York, USA

Fabulous vocal performance: venue goes completely still. Discreet bass runs, such plaintive guitar in the playout. Subtle change when Josh shift to the Hammond ... impossible not to sing along to the chorus. Standing ovations noted here and there
 

A scalding torrent of sound.  Matt Pegg very inventive.  In the 'gaps' passage Geoff Dunn's break ... an immense rolling tom-tom round ... outstanding. Tonight Gary Brooker's offering was Hall of the Mountain King ... last night it was the opening of A Christmas Camel.
 

Blistering solos from GW; long Troweresque notes with occasional frenzies of speed. Lyrically verse three is one of the best in Procoldom, its seeming non sequiturs bonded together with a semantic glue of their own exudation.  That A flat chord, now so heavily emphasised, was missing from my original Essex Music lead-sheet.  GW two great solos, and a cadenza to boot. No sign of the BBC Match of the Day theme which was manifesting itself at this point, at the end of last. He's 'in the zone'.
 

Little patter up to this point. Josh plays very close to the Matthew Fisher line in the organ solo: XK5 sounding brilliant.
 

'It’s only when you’re old that you don't have money, and that is when you need it, when the doctor's bills come in.  Doctors stick around, we may need you later.' 

Verse three continues to grow a reggae influence,  but also hints of Wall Street Blues riffery. And always Matt's dynamic bass scurrying about in the undergrowth.

'I might retire tonight.  First gig we played in USA was here, Cafe au Go-Go.  Don't tell me you were there! Nobody’s that old!' Gary says he'll have a Norwegian drink and name-checked Jens, who runs 'Beyond the Pale'. 'We have a fan who insists I always have a Norwegian schnapps sometime in the evening.' 
 

Very amusing 'Neighbour patter'.  'This song was inspired by Buddy Holly as you'll hear immediately it starts.' Definite Holly articulation in the group vocals at the end.
 

It’s not all death, doom and destruction with Procol, there are lighter moments, and there’s one coming up.' First GB greets the people from Athens who came over especially for the gig, inviting them to inspect the Chrysler building (!); the band plays a burst Zorba the Greek.

Notable for the grizzled cove at the back who entertained his two young girl-friends by enacting all the song's words in interpretative mime while they filmed him, all three of them completely missing a spectacular performance.
 

A fairly typical spiel about the 'old days' but this time including 'Andy Warhol did our rooms' and an account of all the A-listers 'including Linda Lovelace.' (Search BtP and you should be able to find both these names and get a sense of their involvement with Procol Harum).

Wonderful consistency of this line up, more so even than in Europe late last year. 'the nights we dine on fish and chips' from Geoff'n'Matt gets a good laugh; likewise their sobbing pantomime during the violin solo. Amazing to be so playful and so solidly moving at the same time: the 'mandolin' section so serenely beautiful . 

'I smoked too many joints today, that’s the trouble.'
 

Very great restraint, and showmanship, from Josh.  This song was omitted from last night’s printed setlist