Procol Harum

I hadn't seen Procol in concert since 1975 and was not overly impressed by their live concert recordings. That said, Gary Brooker and friends, put on an amazing, energetic show of well known and not-so-well-known Procol songs. Brooker was in fine form and his supporting players (especially the lead guitarist) were top notch. I was really pleased that the band played tunes from Grand Hotel and Broken Barricades. The version of Whaling Stories was particularly good.

The musicians were incredible. The group only has one original member, Gary Brooker, who did all the vocals & he sounded great. The volume & sound of the instruments, at times, sounded weird. I'm not sure why but the mix or something wasn't right. Loved the venue... The Carolina Theatre was beautiful and We enjoyed watching the concert from our great seats. Overall, a very good show!

My Verdict.. It was a good show..Gary Brooker is 70 and singing better and playing better than ever..and he looks great too. The rest of the band is top notch. Josh nailed the keyboard parts nicely,and the great Geoff Whitehorn killed on guitar..a gifted and very tasteful musician..never overbearing..but melodic, powerful and sensitive. Yet I wanted to hear a few dark songs like Whaling Stories or The Idol and a rocker like Whiskey Train or Still There ll be More ..I also thought the sets were a little short on the songs we know and love. Okay ones I know and love... Gary talked between songs and was incredibly hilarious telling stories of eating in the South at the Cracker Barrel..A very witty and charming man..and a soul singer..When he ripped into When a Man Loves A Woman the hairs stood up on the back of my head it was sooo good..he even said I knew we should have recorded it!

The two best Voices in rock . Perfect venue Perfect show pairing. Gary Brooker perfect . The best Procol Harum concert of the year, new and expanded set . Intricate progressions and timing. Evocative songs arranged to perfection. Virtuoso musicality. absolutely perfect

The open theatre at Longwood Gardens is a great place (as far as it does not rain): The right size, no sound reflections like at stadiums (no metal around, no roof, only topsoil & trees), and the acoustics is good! You can actually hear the MUSIC, unlike stadiums, where one can hear absolutely nothing except for the subwoofer and shiver running through the whole building. So if one wants to enjoy great musicians, this is a place to go! I wanted to see Procol Harum live for quite some time, but never had a chance. Finally it happened, and what a delight it was: The guys were performing wonderfully, they seem to be in great shape, and it occurred to me that they were enjoying themslves: The Encore included TWO songs, the last one being, as one might imagine, The Whiter Shades of Pale... The last but definitely not the least: The auditorium was FULL and very welcoming, the weather was terrific, and that definitely raises the artists' spirits... One important thing to note is that this is not purely a nostalgic concert for aging fans. (These typically leave you in a mellow mood, but one tends to feel sorry for the performers and for him/herself). The guys are ACTIVE musicians, producing and performing new songs along with the classic ones, and that invigorates the whole show that is IN NO WAY a "well-preserved, stake picture from the past".

Annie Haslam's voice was beautiful as always. Renaissance was awesome. Procol Harum blew me away with wonderful new songs along with the one ones.

What a wonderful evening!!!! First, Annie Haslem and Renaissance open with spiritually uplifting songs. Then, a lovely stroll through the beautiful gardens during intermission. This was the perfect venue for this special evening. It was dusk and gradually getting darker....The grand culmination was a fantastic performance by Procol Harum. Gary Brooker still has it all! Even the fireflies cooperated by giving us a spectacular light show. We didn't want it to end....

Excellent soundsystem; 1and1/2 hour set; the band was tight; Gary was in fine voice as usual, so glad they're back in the states.

After over 40 years of playing still plays and sings with emotion and passion.

This was a great show at a great venue. Procol covered 40 years (or more) of not just their hits but also some of their best tunes. If you're thinking about seeing them on this tour - just do it. Connect with yourself and enjoy the music. Their musical interplay captured the feel of the jazzy rock that use to command the airways. They set so many standards for music to follow it was nice to hear it at its roots.

OK, forget Renaissance. I know I already have. But Gary Brooker's voice. That's another thing altogether. Listening to Whiter Shade of Pale, which they played as their finale, I tried to dissect what it is about this song that has made it the most listened to song in the last 75 years. I can't figure it out but I don't really care. Procol sounded huge in the open air theatre.

Classic: Procol Harum sounded great! Even loved the songs that I wasn't familiar with. Vocals and instruments were very good. Guitar rocked! PH should have got an opening act in the same music genre. Would go to see them again, as long as they had an appropriate opener. Strange: Sorry, but I'm not a fan of Renaissance. Never heard of them prior to the show. I should have done a little research before showing up. Not that they were horrible, but just not for us.... and apparently several others sitting around us who had very similar comments. Thought the music was interesting, but had trouble getting into the combination of the vocals and music together.

the best preform OS-OM Procol Harum after so many years still the best

Renaissance was one of my favorite bands back in the day and I still listen to their music today. When I heard they were getting back together (Annie Haslam and Michael Dunford) plus some others that were not from the original band, I was delighted. That they were appearing with Procol Harum, the first band I saw at The Spectrum in Philly, was cool. Procol Harum was never one of my favorite bands but one I don't dislike. Top all of this off that the concert was being held at Longwood Gardens and the promise was there for a magical evening. Since the price of the ticket ($$$) included admission to Longwood Gardens my wife and I arrived a few hours early and wandered around the grounds and conservatory. It was spectacular. We have been there before but not at this time of year. There was hardly anyone walking around the grounds so it was almost like we had the place to ourselves! The area they hold the concerts in, an open air "ampitheater" with plastic chairs was nice but it was open air. The weather folks were calling for rain and that would have really put a damper on the concert however it didn't rain!!! It was a pleasant evening, weather wise, with some nice breezes. Renaissance came out and put on a great show. The sound was surprisingly good. Annnie and the band were almost exactly as I recall sounding over 25 years ago. I was a bit disappointed that Annie didn't have a bit more interaction with the audience. She lives in PA from what I understand and Philly has always supported the band. They haven't played in so many years so it would have been nice to hear about some details of what they have been up to and future plans. Michael did say they have a new album coming out sometime next year but that was about the extent of it. Every tune they did was one that I liked, including the one new song. The crowd seemed to really love seeing them again and showed this by giving a few standing ovations. Procol Harum put on a good show. Strong vocals by Gary Brooker and very good lead guitar though I don't recall the gutarists name. They had a sound problem that came and went but was ultimately fixed. Again, everyone seemed to enjoy their performance by strong applause and standing ovations. If you are into either Renaissance or Procol Harum I don't think you'd be disappointed seeing either or both. Both bands still "have it" after so many years have passed since their beginnings. One last thing...I will be checking out other concerts at Longwood Gardens as it was a very unique and delightful place for such an event.

I hadn't been to a Procol Harum concert since 1972 at the Spectrum with my girlfriend. It was a pleasure to see a favored band of mine although the sound was sub par, especially with the Spectrum acoustics. As I recall Gary Brooker was quoted in the review the next day saying the person at the sound board should be shot. I think Gary must have been very pleased with the sound last evening in their concert at Longwood Gardens. The sound was excellent, the choice of songs ranged from old to new and the Longwood Gardens venue was a fantastic location for such a treat. The heavens threatened to downpour during the concert but we were lucky to leave no wetter than when we had come.

great concert at a great venue (as long as it doesn't rain). Two of my favorite bands, both in great form. Most amazing are the voices of Annie and Brooker, still in great shape and hitting every note as if they were still in their youth. The new song introduced by Renaissance sounded like their classics and I look forward to the upcoming new album. I'd go again in a minute.

Had to suffer through Renaissance first, but once their lackluster set was complete the real show started. Longwood Gardens is a fantastically small venue. Procul Harum brought the house down. Gary Brooker was in fine voice and Geoff Whitehorn was awesome on guitar.

Wonderful concert - I was not that familiar was most of the songs of Procol Harum - but enjoyed everyone of them. The musicianship was top of the line. Their lead guitar player blew my mind. Gary Brooker's voice was outstanding. Renaissance who played first also did a great job. Annie Haslams voice was just the way I remember it back in the 70's . Absolutely beautiful!

Absolutely awesome! Longwood Gardens is a great place for a show. I've waited to see Procol Harum for a long time and it was as wonderful as I thought it would be! Renaissance was a great way to open the show. She's still got it!

Procol Harum was excellent Venue was great. Staff was terrific.

Both bands were excellent. It is amazing after all these years the energy these rockers from the late 60's and early 70's still have the groove of their original music. And Longwood Gardens is a great venue for this or any other concert or event!

Absolute classic. The show , the sound, the performance was amazing. Gary B. has not lost his touch. The guitar player was a stand out as well. This guy can jam. Was third row center and blown away. If you like Classic old school rock, you need to see this show.

RENAISSANCE so happy to hear them once again!! looking forward to seeing them again. ' PROCOL HARUM unfortunately we had to leave early but enjoyed them thoroughly!! enjoyed the way they handled the organ connection problem! really liked the venue wish other popular bands would play there!

Great combination. Booker still has all the emotion from Mathew Fischer days. What bright kids they were in their 20's when their music was conceived with vocals, piano, B-3 Hammond organ and Leslie amp, bass and drums. Gary did several new numbers of which 2 I enjoyed. Played several more obscure album cuts which were down right amazing. Opened with Homburg. Does not seem to work off of a set list thought Whiter Shade was one of the encores. Renaissance still fresh, punctuated with classical riffs, amazing rhythm and instrumental harmonies. Annie Haslam sounds wonderful, it's the original line up. Must see both of these performances.

Both bands remain at peak performance levels with regards to muscianship and vocals. Hearing Annie Halsam back in 1977 fronting for Renaissance, and hearing her the other night, her voice has NOT changed!!! Absolutely amazing... and the same can be said for Gary Brooker of PROCOL. He sounded just as he did on the recorded albums from 40 years ago. The accompanying band members for each group were also still on top of their games. I am, and have been a professional muscian, so nothing was going to get by me... and there was nothing negative, musically. The was a problem with Josh Phillips Hammond Organ from the very first number of Procol's act, and it was too bad that a key organ solo was not to be had as a result of some technical issue. The sound quality was fantastic...kudos to the Tropicana!

Dispite equipment problems, which the tech. staff seemed ill equiped to handle, Procal Harum was able to "shine on brightly". Brookers voice was worth the price of admission, the insturments were a bonus. Great show, Great songs, Great time. I'd love to see Gary Brooker team up with Jack Bruce for a tour. The combination of those two voices, JUST THINK.

The show was execellent. They played old & new music. They snuck in some snippets of other artist music at the right times! All the old hits I want to hear were blading included in the show. The Carolina Theatre was a quality place to see a concert!

Great concert with Carl Palmer opening for Procol Harum. Fantastic, intimate venue.

Have seen many shows over the years and this was one of the best! Gary Brooker's vocals were amazing. How he has mainitained his voice over all these years is a mystery!

This is my second show on the current YES/Procol Harum tour (saw them a couple weeks ago in Raleigh). Procol Harum really rocked. They did a fantastic set of their better known songs and Gary Brooker's vocals were forceful, soulful and stirring. He's absolutely amazing after all these years. The rest of the band were very tight and professional, with special kudos to Geoff Whitehorn (guitarist).

Ok, so the show was excellent. It was a beautiful summer evening at an outside venue, downtown Raleigh,NC. A nice light summer breeze kept the evening very comfortable. Procol Harum opened the show and played many of their better known (to casual fans) tunes. Their hour plus set included many of their timeless classics (A Salty Dog, Whiskey Train, Conquistador and of course A Whiter Shade of Pale. The band seemed to be in good humor as Gary Brooker would kibbutz between songs w/ the audience. He commented that they haven't played in Raleigh in a very long time, probably before most of you (the audience) was born.

We had great seats. 9th. row center. The sound was great. They played 19 songs this evening, starting with Shine on Brightly which was prefaced by introduction from Richard Lewis (comedian, "curb"). Continuing with Homburg, Toujours L'Amour, Wall Street Blues, As Strong as Samson, Grand Hotel, One Eye on the Future and Simple Sister. Then came a 20 min. intermission. The show continued with: The VIP Room, Kaleidoscope, Strangers in Space, The Devil, Came From Kansas, TV Caesar, Pandora's Box and An Old English Dream. To be honest I was starting to worry because they hadn't played A Salty Dog, which is my favorite. The next song was a fantastic version of Conquistador. Finally, they played my song. A great job I might add. Then,band introduction took place and they left.... But of course came back and did Whiskey Train. Now, you know they would have been attacked if they hadn't performed one more song. Their claim to fame, Whiter Shade of Pale. The crowd went wild. What a show. Gary joked and spoke to the audience quite a bit, which was cool. Gary Brooker is 65. His voice is still amazing. Geoff Whitehorn on guitar is a show on it's own. Dunn, Pegg and Phillips rounded out the band, all in fine form. Another bonus, except for all the I phone and cell phone lights, the crowd was well behaved. It's been over 7 years since they played in L.A. Hopefully it won't be that long before they return. So, to sum it up... On the Rob Report card, overall, I gave it an "A".

The show at the Orpheum Theatre was amazing , Gary's voice was the same as the last time I saw them in 1973. And now this being our first time to the Orpheum Theatre and now that is our favorite place for shows small and good sound...good to see so many old hippie types there also and no one on CELL PHONES....yea..

I've been a fan of Procol Harum since the late 60's (wow over 40 years !). Having seen them on numerous occasions in the late 60's and early 70's with the original lineup (including Robin Trower -guitar, B.J. Wilson - drums and Matthew Fisher - Hammond organ). I lost track of them during the 90's but then accidentally re-discovered them about 5 years ago. I had seen a newspaper blurb reporting that the original organist (Matthew Fisher) was suing Gary Brooker for songwriting autheorship and royalties for "A Whiter Shade of Pale". Anyway, I discovered that they were alive and well (albeit with a new lineup) and recording ("Well's On Fire" album - 2003), as well as still performing in Europe. This past summer they toured mostly as the opening act for Jethro Tull. I attended one of the shows (Holmdel, NJ). Most of the fans theere were Tull fans, but Procol Harum, though playing a shortened set, blew them away. On Saturday, Nov. 6th in Collingswood, NJ, I had the opportunity (or shall I say the privilege). of witnessing a full course of wonderful Procol Harum music. This band (Gary Brooker, singer/piano), Geoff Whitehorn (guitar), Matt Pegg (bass), Josh Philips (Hammond organ/synthesizer) and Geoff Dunn (drums) were absolutely astonishing and mesmerizing. Mr. Brooker's voice is just as strong and soulful as ever (maybe even better than it was 40 years ago, if that's possible). It's amazing how he can hit the high notes without going into falsetto. I've seen many of the great blues/rock guitarists (Clapton, Paige, Trower and Hendrix) in my day, but I must say, Mr. Whitehorn is at least equal to any of them. The remaining musicians are all first rate and the entire band truly appeared to enjoy performing together. They played approximately 19/20 songs in the 2hr+ performance and had the audience on their feet many times for standing O's. It's very unusual in today's music world to have distinctive melodies to songs. EVERY Procol song is distinctive in it's melody. Also, Gary Brooker adds a nice touch by being a cordial host and chit-chatting with the audience between most songs. A truly wonderful evening was had by all and the crowd called out for more!! ,

Procol Harum still one of the greats, they put on an excellent show.

I have been a Procol fan since 1967 and this band never disappoints. Nothing can compare to the original lineup in my opinion but Gary Brooker is the heart and soul of this band. He is indeed like fine wine. Just keeps getting better. The rest of the band pulled off very faithful renditions of many classic tracks but times change and things sounded a little bit mellow compared to the Procol of old. I have never been a fan of Whitehorn on guitar. Robin Trower had an economy of notes that was unbelievable. I never heard anybody do so much with so little. Every note he played was important and he was the hard edge to the Procol sound. That aside, the band was tight and the sound balance was excellent for an outdoor concert. Keep shining on guys.

This was the third time in less than 18 months for me to attend a Procul Harum concert (Tampa, Las Vegas, Atlanta). Although I have been a huge fan since they first came on the scene in the late 60s, never was able to see them live until recently! Gary Brooker is an incredibly talented musician that has reformed the band with some huge talent, including Geoff Whitehorn on lead guitar. Brooker's arrangements combined with Keith Reid's lyrics produces some of the most incredible and timeless songs of all time...Whiter Shade of Pale, Conquistador, Simple Sister, Homburg, Salty Dog, etc. Brooker's voice remains strong and sounds just like it did four decades ago, reaching unbelievable crescendos on Salty Dog.

Excellent show. Real honor and privilege to see and hear Gary Booker. Band was very good. The songs brought back a lot memories.

Have been listening to their music for 45 years, my Wife and I were married May 10, 1969, and their music was played as we moved into our first apartment and on each move there after. "Shine on Brightly" was adopted as and became our moving album. Thanks to Carolina Theatre, theatre staff and most of all "Procol Harum" for an unforgettable night!!! Donald Hubbard

The event would have been better WITH the Symphony, but, overall, we enjoyed the Concert.

Procol Harum, the 60's and 70's standard bearer for Prog Rock or Symphonic Rock, was powerful, moving and exhibited their vast musical talent in Atlanta on July 20, 2014. The setting, at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, was perfect for their style of music. Singer, leader, keyboardist, pianist Gary Brooker, has lost none of his incredible voice. The song selection, from the opening off Grand Hotel, to the final three songs Simple Sister, Whiter Shade of Pale, and Conquistador, explored the wide catalog of Procol Harum's music, and performed it masterfully. Gary Brooker's stage banter, from stories about dinner in the Kremlin, private jets and limos in the past, and the present fare of buses and Popeyes in current times, was humorous and entertaining. A supporting band that was talented and tight, performed the music with style and passion. So why was this event only attended by maybe 800 to 1000 in the audience in a venue that could hold 3000-4000? (We were moved from the upper balcony to Row K in the orchestra.) I'm mystified on that fact. Insufficient publicity? No marketing? I actually traveled from Fort Lauderdale to see this epic (along with a Marlins/Braves game and a side trip to Savannah) when I saw the event online. While the average age of attendees was over 50, I was disappointed by the turnout. Surely even those only familiar with Whiter Shade of Pale, the only song to get current radio play, should have been curious. Baby boom -- Where have you gone?

Great show with all my old favorites from the "good old days". Highly recommended.

Outstanding. The band played extremely well. I am glad we went.

Great setting to see this classic rock band. Gary Brooker sounds as good (or better) as he did 40 years ago. Group still has the classic Procol sound, despite lack of any other original members. Surprising number of hard core Procol fans at concert. Failure to be elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is another indication of the unfortunate bias that organization has always had toward non-U.S. progressive rock bands.

Brooker was game, but it was clear that his voice was strained by the nightly tour schedule. He even sounded rough talking to the audience( between every song!). His chatter infused with occasional politics was annoying, and often unintelligible. The musicians that he surrounded himself with were quite capable ,but with minimal.synergy. The worst part was the sound mix, drums and guitar started off way too loud for symphony hall, so to compensate after intermission they increased the volume on Gary's mic and the hammond organ. A little better, but then everything was a little too loud for venue that is accoustically balanced for non -electric music. .Advice: fire the sound guys, play a real piano and set all the volumes to match it.

Great seats, sound quality wasn't that great, it was hard to hear the words clearly. The last three songs were brilliant, put the first hour and a half was nothing to write home about.....I think the performance would have been unbelievable if the Orchestra would have joined them...( was hoping that was the case when I bought the tickets)..

We enjoyed not only the music - which is just as good now as it was in the 60s-70s - but Gary Brooker's quick wit and well-honed humor was also very entertaining. We'd love to see them back at Atlanta Symphony Hall, perhaps accompanied by the symphony.

Fabulous evening with Procol Harum . I ,however, felt embarrassed at so small a turnout . It might behove the Woodruff to spend some of its money on promoting a band like this.

Procol Harum was great. Gary Brooker (vocalist/keyboards) definitely still has it going on. If you get a chance, see them.

They delivered! I was impressed that they actually started on the scheduled time and kept the hits coming. I would love to hear them again with the symphony. That seems to be what their music is geared for, in my opinion.

Procol Harum has been around since 1967. They developed a number of outstanding tunes, played by top-notch musicians. Those tunes will be played and used in movies and commercials for many years to come. Gary Brooker, the voice of Procol Harum, is near 70 years old, but still presents that voice that we all know and love. Long live Procol Harum.

We had great seats....Had not seen this group.....Great show. Greatly enjoyed.

I'm an old Procol Harum fan, but I have never seen them live prior to last night (naturally I have followed every recorded and filmed/video'd performance I could). I must say they exceeded my expectations (I am always braced for the possibility that a band might not sound as good live...or as they age...as I recall), but they were absolutely amazing. Gary Brooker's vocals sounded as good as they ever did. Their guitar player,Geoff Whitehorn (with them since 1991) performed amazingly (incredible tone from his setup - which looked like a Paul Reed Smith guitar...unknown pedals...into a Marshall JCM900 head with a Mesa Boogie cabinet - naturally I have no idea about any modifications he might have made to either the amp or the cabinet). Throughout the night, he remained very engaged with the audience (lots of eye contact, warm smiles, etc.). The remaining bandmembers were Geoff Dunn on drums, Matt Pegg on bass and Josh Phillips on B3 and Yamaha keyboard. All performed flawlessly. Between songs, Gary engaged the audience with disarming dry wit. The band members all looked like they were having a great time - they appeared relaxed, and were very interactive on stage. Overall, they impressed me with the feeling that a band COULD age gracefully...and still produce music with quality, integrity and fidelity to their work (no apologies necessary- they seemed to be as good as they have ever been!) Amazing!

Procol Harum is old, but they still know how to rock and roll! Played some great songs, the singer still has that irreplaceable voice! My only complaint is that the volume was just a little too high -- but that is the fault of the Theatre, not the band.

Gary Brooker looked 80, talked like he was 85, but sang like he was 25. In all the original keys, etc. Right on the mark. The sound though was terrible. Very muddy, vocals lost in the music. Brooker did make a politically incorrect comment about Muslims. What was that about? Totally inappropriate but also showed the state of feelings in England. Finally the show was broken up into two short sets which didn't work, and the first set was filled with songs no one ever heard before, except for Shine On Brightly. Gary alluded to the fact that this may have been because of urinary problems, but I'm not sure. All in all still worth seeing as how much longer do you think the 69 year old Brooker is going to be doing this.

I enjoyed this way more than I expected. Gary Brooker was amusing and connected with the audience rather well. The sound was pretty decent, lead guitar was a tad screechy and vocals were a bit buried in the mix at times, but this was the best show I've seen at this venue.

Technically, Gary Brooker still has his chops! His voice was great, as well as his piano playing. The band was awesome. A really full, professional sound. Probably won't happen, but I'd like to see a group of back-up singers to enhance Gary's vocals. In my opinion that would really make it shine. A fun (and very British) sense of humor throughout the show, with a lot of banter between Mr Brooker and his guitar player, Geoff Whitehorn, which keeps it light and interesting. Loved this show!!!

Best English band with an unbelievable combination of music, lyrics, musical knowledge, intelligence, wit and self-deprecation. If you don't like Conquistador or Salty Dog or Simple Sister or Lighter Shade of Pale or Grand Hotel (all on the setlist for this show), then you really are missing something unique.

I last saw Procul Harum in 1992 in the UK, when they were in their prime, so it was interesting to catch them again in Durham, though in truth only Gary Booker is left from that earlier band. I was very impressed with the show and particularly with the strength and reach of Booker's voice, which seems amazingly unchanged. Overall, if you enjoyed Procul Harum in the late 60ties/early 70ties you will certainly enjoy the show.

Gary Brooker keeps the music and the sound of Procol Harum alive. Even though it is not the original band, this version has been together longer than most bands from the 60s-70s and they are great. Its a trip down nostalgia road with favorites like Simple Sister, Bringing Home the Bacon, Salty Dog, Homburg and of course Whiter Shade. Didn't really know what to expect but it was a great show.

Sun Center is a great small venue, not a bad seat in the house! Procol Harum did a great job and at the age of 69, Gary Brooker can still belt out a tune.

The show was outdoors and the seating was folding chairs. The weather was beautiful and the lighting and sound were very professionally done. The musicians were all exceptional and seemed to be very happy to work together and enjoyed what they were doing. Each had a respect for the others; talent. It was a pleasure to experience. The musical selections were varied from the earliest recordings to the most recent and a tribute was done in honor of Johnny Winters who passed this week. I truly enjoyed the concert and the venue took pride in the was the music was presented.

I have now seen Procol Harum three times since I first saw them in Philly in 1970, just after "Home" came out. First, the music. Pretty much spanned the entire life of the band, including "Kaleidoscope" from their first LP. I was especially moved to hear "Whaling Stories", one of my favorite Procol tunes. My wife has always been put off by the lyrics of the songs, which at least at times have focused a lot on death. But I tend to focus on the music itself, and Brooker's melodies can be sometimes very beautiful. The band is excellent, very proficient at covering the wide range of Procol tunes and not wandering too far off from the original, unless, of course, that's what Brooker wants to do. Both the guitarist and the drummer are careful to preserve some of the more memorable licks, and still add their own touch. I tend to stay away from concerts by 60's bands who often bear little or no resemblance to the original. But this band is much better than that. Definitely worth checking out- a very enjoyable evening. By the way, Brooker's voice is still super, able to hit the high notes, and still has plenty of punch. And the boy can still rock n' roll! He did a few lines of "When A Man Loves A Woman" that gave Percy Sledge a run for his money. And I remember from the 1970 show, the encore was Good Golly Miss Molly, a real ass kicker.

procal harum was great. they did all the songs I had hoped for. gary is great! the only down side was the volume of the music was too loud and the volume of the vocals were too low. over all a great show. I had seen them several times in the 60's and 70's

Excellent concert, Gary Booker was charming, voice still as great as ever, never had a chance to see them in the 60's/70's when first got into their music, so great to see and hear them now. Try to catch them every time they come thru Philadelphia.

Saw Procol Harum and am "so glad" I went. They were GREAT. They did a number of their classics and the music was so unique and so enjoyable. Gary Booker was as good as ever and very entertaining.

I will see Procal anytime they are close by. I bought tickets earliest and did not notice it was outside. Well after my purchase they added Carl Palmer as 1st act. He was uncomfortably loud and self indulgently bad that we sat on picknick tables until he was done with minimal applause. The seats were very uncomfortable with nonsupportive backs. But as usual Procal Harum was fabulous and I was thrilled to see and hear the band at the 3rd row.

Gary Booker and Carl Palmer both seemed to be enjoying themselves playing to a smaller knowledgeable crowd (around 1000 people) outdoors in perfect weather. Great evening of progressive rock from the late 60s. Took me back to 1969-72 when a lot of this music was coming out and we would grab a blanket go out to a field and some rock group would play. The venue, Sun Center, has plenty of parking, no lines to the bathroom, good food and beer and wine, and hits its demographic, baby boomers, on the mark. I wish they would have let both groups play longer. Carl Palmer was on a time limit and Procol Harum did one set plus encore. If you enjoy Procol Harum, they hit all of their highlights. Carl Palmer was doing ELP with a guitarist and bass and while the guitarist was quite good, he wasn't a full replacement for Keith Emerson's keyboards. All in all, a great concert.

Great outdoor concert. Had tremendous seats. Great place to see show. Every seat is a good seat. Procol Harum & Carl Palmer were fantastic. Best show of the year so far.

The venue was Great .. seating couldn't be better . The opening act was a wonderful surprise Palmer , from Emerson Lake & Palmer .. what a great drummer. The sound system was awesome , very nice to be seating outside . Have more concerts like this ... Dave Mason would be wonderful here ..

I've been to many concerts, and of them all, Procol Harum stands out for always Wowing the crowd! They provide a throughly enjoyable and entertaining experience. The different instruments augment each other perfectly. The sound sensation leaaves you fully satisfied. A truly warm, enjoyable combination of energy and artwork. Fully recommended for any audience regardless of their musical tastes!

Played all of our favorites. Still sounds amazing. what a great night.

The amazing Gary Brooker is still in great voice. he clearly has fun with the latest bunch of musicians throwing them curves with the set list and pulling the audiences leg with his famous dry humor . the space is extrodinary the theater is beautifully restored i might suggest some soft art on some of the exposed brick on the left side of the theater it seemed we were sitting in a bass node (a situation where an echo and the sound from the speaker meet and double ) but then it was Procol Harum and like it said on the back of the first album "play this record loud!"

Great show as usual ! Carl Palmer was the lead-in act, but only played a 30 minute set (albeit a great one !!!). Brooker was spot-on all night (not bad for an old guy), but I DID see him turning the pages ("watch the book/ the page is turning/ how the tale unfolds...).

Well, the new venue "The Space" is very nice at the newly renovated movie theater in Westbury New York. However, something seems a bit off with the clarity of the sound and or mixing. Perhaps its how the sound system is mounted on each side of the stage, in a vertical manner. That being said, the band itsself was again amazing. Mixing bluesy rockers with their very unique distinctive signature tunes like, HOMBERG, GRAND HOTEL AND SALTY DOG, to name just a few. There is a reason this band has been able to tour for over 47 years. THEY ARE GREAT! Gary Brookers voice was outstanding, the Guitarist WHITEHORN terrifc as always and the rest of the members up to the task of delivering these classic gems. Not only is Procol Harum one of the best progressive bands, but one of the best bands period. What a treat, and in my buddies own words who was with me, a true HONOR to see them live! Shine On Procol Harum!

As usual they were great! Another quality performance. Great song selection. Don't have to be a hard core fan to appreciate what they are doing on stage. The music is of high quality.

Show starts slow then captivates after intermission. Close your eyes and listen to Gary Brooker singing Whiter Shade of Pale and you are right back in the Summer of Love.

Gary was in excellent voice and his banter w/ the crowd & the band between songs was very amusing. The band was tight and did not miss a beat all night. Geoff Whitehorn was stellar, playing his new PRS guitar. Matt Pegg (bass) & Josh Phillips (Hammond B3) hit all the right notes & Geoff Dunn on drums is not BJ Wilson (no one is!), but he hit all the fills and accents and rounded out the sound beautifully. The show consisted of two hour long sets, with a brief intermission, and covered selections from WSOP, Shine on Brightly, A Salty Dog, Home, Grand Hotel, Exotic Birds & Fruits and others, as well as some humorous improvs. "Conquistador" was a rousing encore. The Birchmere is an historic, intimate venue and the seating & sight lines, as well as the sound mix was near perfect. It is a crying shame that Procol Harum does not seem to be on the radar for inclusion into the R&R HOF, but their omission is a glaring oversight. Their induction might be the only chance that Gary Brooker, Robin Trower, Matthew Fisher & Chris Copping will ever appear on the same stage together again. Procoholics can always hope.

As a long time Procol Harum fan, I couldn't have asked for much more at the Birchmere. Gary and the boys sounded great, played all the songs I wanted to hear, and most of all, were VERY engaging with the crowd. These guys were clearly having a good time, and the crowd eagerly responded. Highlights were A Salty Dog, a rocking VIP Room, Pandora's Box, Bringing Home The Bacon, a mesmerizing Barnyard Story, and of course, AWSOP and the encore, Conquistador. Just a great night of entertainment from one of rock's all time underrated bands.

The band was great. Gary was in fine voice and he tickled the ivories with dexterity. The audience was with them on every note and they gave the boys the standing ovations they deserved. A wonderful evening was had by all.

Great show, great delivery, great crowd. Brooker is a unique entertainer, mixing it up with the fans and the band. Glad setlist was longer than some other sites. Had no quarrels with how Whitehorn, Pegg, Phillips and Dunn presented today's Procol Harum.

Procol Harum was excellent with their HITS, awesome

Having attended several Procol Harum shows from '70 onward it is remarkable how Gary Brooker's vocals have withstood the passage of time. While the band features no other original members, Geoff Whitehorn on guitar is a highlight. Since he has performed with PH since the early '90's then aside from Brooker he is the longest recruit. One complaint is that whether it's the fault of Geoff Dunn (who has the unenviable task of filling the drum chair for the irreplaceable BJ Wilson) or intentionally fashioned by the entire band; it does seem that most of the material is played at a slower tempo. But hearing that voice along with Gary's between song banter makes it worth the ticket price. And knowing many of these legendary performers are closing in on 70.... As a venue, The Space is a nice restored movie theater with good sound, although a bit stingy with their air conditioning this particular evening.

I am going the next time they come to town. This was my first Procol Harum show and it won't be my last. Out of this world!

Since hearing Whiter Shade of Pale in 1967, I have been a huge fan of this classic group. Although there have been changes in personnel since the beginning, Gary Brooker remains "The Commander", and the band is as tight as ever. Gary's voice seems to get better with age. Don't miss a chance to see this band. I never do!

This is a great place! Procol Harum Still can rock.

It was a great show. Gary Brooker can still bring it. The Orpheum Theatre is a great place to see a concert.

Gary Brooker's voice was crystal clear and ebulliant and his keyboard chops were bitingly good. Gary's dry British sense of humor was delightfull as he asked people to put their "shouted out" song requests in the lobby suggestion box, and the band would play it next time they are in town. This band was powerful, tight and elegant and the sound mix was just right for the beautiful Orpheum Theatre venue. The combined effect was most enjoyable. All of the supporting players were virtuosos in their own right and played together flawlessly. Procol Harum' s unique and diversified music and lyrics never sounded better. I hope PH comes back again soon. I put a song request in the suggestion box. LOL

Procol Harum was alive and well in Los Angeles on Nov, 14th. As a fan since the sixties, I had not since the band since 1975. It was wonderful and inspiring. This music is very special. Gary Brooker was in fine form and the band was pitch perfect in every way.They played a lot of the old classics and even some newer material which was very good.An emotional evening for me to see my old faves, one i will not forget, Hope to be there next time.

Great expierence to see such a great talent as Gary Booker and his band in a glorious venue like the Orpheium Theater. I've been a fan since the 60's and will always prefer music of that era as opposed to the non-music of today. Long live Gary who has a wonderfully warm sense of compassion and humor. Hope to see him again soon, since song requests were left in the suggestion box!

This band plays some absolute rock and roll classics as well as new material that are classical, blues and rock inspired. The theatre is a beautifully restored venue that created a comfortable, convenient; and intimate setting. The sound system could have used a little adjustment as the back up singers were a little too distant. All in all, great band and a good show.

I'm 54 and this was my 3rd Procol Harum concert. I was spoiled and got to see them back in the day when they played with the LA Philharmonic orchestra at the Hollywood bowl on their "Salty Dog" tour. That was amazing. This venue was fantastic. The old Orphelm theater in downtown LA which is set up like an old Opra house. Fantastic acustics and I was nearly directly infront of them about 19 rows back on the floor. Sound level was good except perhaps the organ player was just a tad too loud towards the end of the show and the lead guitar was way too low for the first 3 songs, but perfect after that. To get ultra nit picky I'd say the drummer volume was just a tad too low overall. Still it was very close to perfect for the most part. The set: Lots of stuff I was unfamilure with, but some fantastic new songs and songs from 2003 that I was unaware of. Old favorites included Simple Sister, Whisky Train (first time I ever heard it live), Salty Dog, The Grand Hotel, Whiter Shade of Pale. All great. Entertainment value: It came off as them just starting to come together as a band. Often discussing what key they'd be playing in and reminding each other of what song was next. Even had one miss start where the lead vocalist forgot to start playing the piano. He played it off and joked about it and several other subjects inbetween songs and he was very entertaining and gave the crowd a real feeling of closeness and comradery. Lead vocal: Much to my shock, he has the exact same range as he always had. Sounded exactly the same as he did in the 70s. His voice never cracked even on the high notes of Simple Sister. Lead guitar: For the first 3 songs I thought he was just some hack playing in the back round. After that he was outstanding with several incredible leads some of which took my breath away. I think there was an amp problem with him for those first 3 songs. Bass player: Most talented player in the group. Don't know where they dug him up, but he was fricken amazing. Drummer: Had a fantastic solo. Suffered from his volume being a little understated imho. Played great though. Lead vocal piano playing: Good, not great. Suffered from the lack of Grand Piano I was used to seeing him play. Playing one of those bar room eletronic pianos and the sound suffered a bit from it. Still very good though. Organ player: Volume was too loud on some of the songs. Probably the least talented of the group, but did well for the most part. I gave it 4 stars because of the eletronic piano, average organ player and volume combinations of each intrument many of the songs as noted above.

Awsome show... Awsome band. Don't miss these guys next time around !

Nice venue the Orpheum Theatre. Easy access, parking. Very comfy. Terrific show. Started exactly at 7:30 and went 'till 10:00pm with a short intermission in the middle. All the great songs Simple Sister, Conquistador, a Salty Dog, and the finale A Whiter Shade of Pale. Gary Brooker sounded great singing, and was fairly comical between tunes. He directed us to submit song requests into the small box in the lobby and that they'd plan them next time they're in town. He then went on to play a "request" from the last time they were here 15 years ago! Here's a tidbit, they're current organist wrote the theme song for the TV show Dancing with the Stars. Overall lovely event for a Sunday evening.

If you get the opportunity, don't miss this concert! We've been fans for many years.

Procol Harum lit up the stage of Vaudevillian Orpheum Theatre on Sunday Night just like a lighthouse lantern in a dense fog. The sleepy audience in one of the most inconvenient Venues in L.A. was stone cold silent for the first 2 -3 songs and then woke up to Procol's most guitar driven riff on "Simple Sister". Matt Pegg on bass, Josh Phillips on Hammond and Geoff Dunn on Drums were still warming up as Whitehorn played perfect riffs and Brooker sang with throaty precision. The second half of the show featured Brooker's antidotes and jokes about albums, songs and audience requests from "past shows'. Then after a quieter rendition of "Grand Hotel" which featured solos from the band members, the real Procol Harum was reborn. A "Salty Dog", "TV Caesar" and finally "Conquistador" started paying big dividends for loyal Procol Harum fans. A blues song from a 90's album, Whisky Train, brought new diversions to the previous set. Finally the "money shot" came from a haunting nostalgic performance of "Whiter Shade of Pale" which included a bonus chorus at the end of the song. The audience was abuzz and the performers bowed as they exited the stage.

This concert exceeded my high expectations. Mr. Broker had the same vocal sound that made him famous in the sixties and seventies. The band was equally good. I discovered that the Trower guitar wasn't missed at all.

I was amazed that this legendary English band even played here...so it was great to see and hear them after almost 2 decades. They played a great set and singer Gary Brooker was in fine form, singing stronger than ever. Geoff Whitehorn's guitar playing was outstanding as well...my only regret is that they only played for barely 90 minutes and usually play 2 or more hours at their other tour dates Since there was no opening act they could easily have done 2 sets.

Procol harum was excellent. i guess my gripe is not with the band, but with the venue. the lady next to my wife and i, would not stop talking, through the entire concert and the chairs were waaay too close together. just the luck of the draw, really. Also, we are not gamblers or smokers and it seems like promoters like to have bands play at casinos, but personally, i think casinos are smoky smelling, money traps. over priced drinks and food, many people looking like zombies sitting in from of a mechanical device that is designed to keep you pushing a button for hours like a rat that can't get to the cheese. that said, procol harum was polished, played at outstanding set of songs, ending with everyones favorite, "Whiter shade of Pale". They had the audiance on their feet at least 6 times during the night and Gary Brooker was in excellent voice. If the band would have been at a different venue, i could have marked 5 stars

Procol Harum proved themselves to be world class as a performing band. Gary Brooker's voice was perfect and all members played flawlessly. This beautiful and unique music is a treasure. They need to guest on SNL and raise the musical bar for a wider audiance.