Having arrived in Montreal around October 1966, he initially found work with the French-speaking group, Les Sinners, playing a one-off date with them at Paul Sauve Arena before briefly hooking up with Our Generation in December for a lone single.
The last member to join this original lineup was English singer Andrew Keiller (born August 16, 1941 in Bodmin, Cornwall, England), who had previously worked with McKelvey in The Upsetters in late 1965 and before that, recorded a solo album in Johannesburg, which was belatedly released in 1966.
Later that month the band added Geisinger's former colleagues from The Buddy Miles Quartet, singer/songwriter and pianist Bob Parkins (aka Bobo Island) and lead guitarist Walter Rossi.
In late August, the group relocated to Toronto, playing Boris’ Red Gas Room in the city's Yorkville Village on September 2, 1967.
The new line up returned to Toronto in mid-February to perform at Boris’ and continued to play local gigs, including an extended date at the city’s Penny Farthing club from March 4–9, before landing a support slot at The Doors’ show at the CNE Hall on April 20.
Influence then embarked on a brief tour of the US Midwest, supporting Procol Harum at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit from May 17–19 and Steppenwolf at the Electric Theatre in Chicago from May 24–26.