Grateful Dead

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Last show of the Atlanta run was the best -- and a highlight of the entire Spring tour. Both set-openers were hot out of the box. Pacing was a strong suit throughout. The first set segue from "Hell" to "Sugaree," "We Can Run," and "Masterpiece" was top-drawer, with "Row" a brief respite before an explosive "Picasso." The second set never even stopped for air. "Estimated/Scarlet" rocked, and the transition to "Crazy," a real surprise, completed a solid threesome. "Playin" weaved into a spooky drum segment, misting into "Home" before closing out in by-now typical fashion. Perhaps recognizing the end of a fine tour, the guys "Bid [us] Goodnight" in style, a thoughtful gesture.

Man, oh man, is this a hot show. Special thanks to David for posting the opening trio for us to enjoy. The Estimated to open the second set is a monster.

My buddy and I plus the taper guy who stayed with us who lost his buddies the second show arrived at the same lot we parked the day before. Hung out for a few then went into the concert.This night we sat directly behind the stage with a perfect view of the walk way where the band members walked up to the stage and into their little personal huts before taking the stage. Jerry walked up wearing a hat and carrying a briefcase. Everyone else casually walked up to their own little huts. We also had a perfect view of the drummers when playing the big drums and beam. This night capped off another picture perfect show to follow up the picture perfect run. Every song a highlight. When the band finished and were heading down the walk way, we got Brents attention and said hi and that he played awesome. He said thanks, waved back and continued walking. Little did we know beyond our wildest imaginations that that would be one of the last times we'd ever see Brent. He seemed to be in a good mood. After we got back to the car, we ran into our new taper buddy who finally found his friends again and thanked us for helping a brother out. We traded addresses and traded tapes of the last show and never heard from him again.

I remember the crowdedness of this run...no way to get to the bathroom during intermission. I remember moving along in the crowd and a guy came pushing through the crowd saying he was sick...he looked back at me and gave me a funny wink. I belted out, "we're all sick." Everyone cracked up laughing. This show was really dark for me...Many people were a lot higher than at any other show I had witnessed...too high IMO. I saw one guy in particular who really needed to go to a hospital and his friends were just laughing it off...at that moment I felt a really dark shudder in the force. This is the point where I, introspectively began questioning the whole "hippie" notion of love...kind of like a great idea ruined by people...people's lack of accountability to one another. Ironically, this was the exact moment that a lovely spirit entered my life and on to another life lesson I was to learn.

We had no tickets to this show, left school and drove about eight hours to Hotlanta! Two of us got tickets and two didn't! I was the one without a ticket. After the show had started, the police were going around telling everyone to leave. I told this officer my sob story about skipping class and driving eight hours and not getting in. He took me and my friend and two other people down some escalator behind the venue, lead us down some long hallway and opened the doors---we were on the floor right by the stage!!! Awesome night, great show, good times! We found our friends in the beer line right before Tennessee Jed:)

At the Omni, if you went down the escalator into the MARTA train station and hung a right, there was an old iron gate that was sometimes left open. If you went through the gate, it lead you to the load in area at the back of the venue. I went in that way a couple of times but it was always during the middle of the day, so I couldn't hide in there until show time. Anyway, if you make it past the very lax security guard that was never paying attention, you could walk down this hallway that took you right to the back corner of the floor. As you can probably tell, I miss the old Omni. At least they cant implode our memories.

After leaving a Dead show at the Omni the year before upon stepping on to that escalator the rubber hand rail came lose and rolled off as we watched in tripping confusion/horror. Naturally everyone thought that we had done it and we had to run from the cops.

Won't be long now......THE OMNI comin' down for countdown to corporate influence.....next, on the horizon,, talk of the "PHILIPS ARENA". Another one bites the dust, at the feet of "....house that Corporate Sponsorship" built. But, will it be PHILIPS, Coca-Cola, Who knows,,,,,guy with the biggest sack of bucks is gonna' win the Roses!.....from one who knows. We'll see.....But, had lotsa fun, have lotsa friends at OMNI. Been damn good to me, personally and professionally