On July 31st, 2015 I woke up at the Hilton in Atlanta, Georgia for the first in a four-night mini tour that would have me see Phish four times in three states.

I had flown in the day before and spent the night out on the town. After quickly breezing through a few trendy bars I ended up at the right place: a small local dive featuring a live blues band. I spent the night shooting pool and washing down the grimy R&B with a constant stream of sweaty Budweiser’s.

For show day it was a subway ride and a shuttle transfer to the amphitheatre on the outskirts of town. Walking through the tree-and-dirt parking lot with a solo cup I soaked in a bit of Shakedown Street and a lot of sun. Inside the venue I was on the floor, crammed in with a thousand others in a sweltering heatbox of jammy rock and roll.

The show started with a Prince Caspian that went mercifully unfinished, and featured a great, groovy midset Ghost. The first set closed with Mike’s>Hydrogen>Weekapaug and soon I was sweating Lim-A-Rita’s.

Second set Bathtub Gin closer pointed out the pool of perspiration that was rising at our ankles with the line, “We all take a bath,” before Character Zero raged things to a close.

The bus/subway combo back to the hotel proved shockingly convenient at the end of the night. Half-starved the only food options to be found in the area was a Hooters and The Hard Rock Cafe. The shorter lineup pointed me to the latter where I unknowingly purchased a $14 Budweiser that came with a ‘free’ souvenir glass.

I would later write to the company to complain and was shocked when the manager of the Atlanta Hard Rock Cafe personally called me at home in Ottawa to discuss the issue. He ended up sending me a $25 gift card.

PS The souvenir glass cracked the third time I washed it.

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