The band promised, on its second encore, to make a return trip, which was roundly welcomed. Intimate stop on the current tour, appreciated the new songs, but warmly cheered the oldies, from the obvious 'Conquistador' and 'Whiter Shade of Pale' that came toward the end of the 90-minute set, to 'Shine On Brightly,' 'A Salty Dog' and the more obscure 'Homburg' and 'Bringing Home the Bacon.' It was clear that the band most enjoyed playing the new material, but being away from these songs for so long helped them bring fresh inspiration to it.

The mostly-older crowd that half-filled the club, the most His is a voice as distinct and soulful as that of contemporary Steve Winwood and it has not aged much over the years. One recent tune, 'The King of Hearts,' quotes a line - 'wandered through my playing cards' - from the band's best-known song, 'A Whiter Shade of Pale.' But it is the presence of Brooker, and his grand voice, that lends authenticity to Procol Harum, whatever its incarnation. Indeed, many of the new songs can stand proudly with the 20-year-old classics.

Lyricist Reid never toured with the band in the first place, but his unusually literate words always made him a member of equal stature in the band. Guitarist Tim Renwick, - who performed on tours with Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton and Mike & the Mechanics - was stepping in hastily in the Trower role. In between were three hired hands meant to reproduce the sound of the original band on the oldies, two of whom also played on the album - Mark Brzezicki, previously with Big Country, and bassist Dave Bronze. Therefore, the quintet purporting to be Procol Harum at Toad's Place in New Haven Friday night featured just two original members - Fisher, leaning on the organ keyboards on one end of the stage, and a remarkably aged Brooker playing electric piano and singing on the opposite end of the stage.

Original procol harum members