I remember that, after the madness of cops (not copps) beating up on innocent deadheads in the insanity of George the First's "Drug War" in the Northeastern U.S., that the scene was so kind in Canada. Instead of the loudspeakers blaring out nasty warnings near the gate (as had happened in previous venues), the gate announcements had a friendly "Welcome to Copps Coliseum..." message and tone.

A friendly policeman was observed, while pouring out a Deadhead's hapless beer, to smile and lament "it's such a waste of a good beer." When another Deadhead pointed out that he was pouring it over his cop shoes by accident, he had a good laugh.

An elderly woman at the nearby enclosed farmer's market inquired of my friends and I, "Are you here for the festival?" Yes, we said. It was such a friendly reception after the chaos of the earlier tour.

And that was all outside the show. The show itself absolutely blew me away.
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Whup on the boxcar, beat on the bell
Nothin' else shakin' so you might just as well...

This was an unforgetable 2nd set. The energy, the pure power that the band created was just... remarkable.

I was desperate for a Roses. I had been looking for one for quite some time & finally got one. What can I say I'm just a sucker for a slow jerry. I didn't realize that it was the last one.

Hey Squeaky, did u find mike hunt??

For these shows, I stayed at the hotel that was attached to the arena. The show ends,we leave and take the elevator upstairs to our hotel room floor. We're munching ice from the ice machine, and a WHACKED OUT Brent comes staggering down the hall. Eyes bulging, literally swaying and staggering. Seemed like he left the stage, went to his room to get high, and then headed out. We bullshitted with him for about two minutes, and off he staggered into the elevator. Pretty wild.