Day 4 of the tour for me and Tim. We felt the energy as soon as we hit the site, with the soundcheck going on beyond the parking lot, a small line waiting this side of the fence. A sour, some spuds and sandwiches, a walk around. This had to be IT. When we stroll into the venue, we checked out the statue of Jerry and spent the next 40 minutes chatting up some friends from the road. And the lights dropped. Jive II was struck from the top of Tim's "Hasn't seen" list, and then the party began. The whole first set with the extended Look Out Cleveland followed by the sick sick sick Feel It Now, Lead Up and Animal left us both blown away. This was a different band from the night before - rested, rejuvinated, and with a plan of attack that melted faces. Over the course of the day, we'd discussed what we might get, likely an Arrow, maybe an Animal, maybe some Creatures, possibly even an Empress, and if we were really lucky, Arcadia. No way would we get all of them, but hey, we were off and running! Then came part 2. A Creatures opener? After the Silver Rising and Animals of the first set? Was this Halloween or my birthday? I couldn't even tell. All I knew (all I felt then?) was that this was "fiya!" with a trippy Gooseified Tomorrow followed by... Arrow! Hell yeah. Tim and I shared a nod with massive grins, sharing a simple unspoken question: "What even is this show?" Western Sun as a special treat for me, as it's been a big go-to for me in the last year which has brought serious change (and not all good), a musical reminder that we can't ever give up on our wonder and joy, the need to "Go everywhere, feel everything, see everyone you want, yourself/ Nothing’s lost if all you’ve held." And here I was, convinced by my brother that I really should come to this show, surrounded by joy, and light, clutching one of the greatest concerts I've ever been to tight in my ears, my heart, my hands. And then the good vibes just kept going, with Empress. So good. When they left the stage, joy, excitement on their faces, a little banter throughout the evening, they were happy. This was good. How could they possibly top this? By acknowledging the Arcadian beaty of the place. As the closing notes finish off the top of my "Hasn't seen list," I felt an unfettered need to commemorate this brilliant show by getting a poster. Missed it by exactly one person, and part of the after show was spent offering ridiculous amounts for people's posters. Nothing came from it, but that's ok, that lovin' rhythm kept me going.  

"Oh, what a day to be livin'" indeed.