Wow, just when I thought nothing could surpass the focused intensity of the BGCA run, this Alpharetta show takes Summer '18 tour to a whole new level. There is some exemplary playing here that demonstrate how Phish, a whole nine years strong into 3.0 with a historically epic Baker's Dozen stand under their belt, can still bring the heat and exceed expectations. It seems every year this band is still reminding us that they have not retreated to a boring nostalgia act with nowhere else to take us. 8/5/18 is a very special show of that kind that has everything we love about Phish: a totally unique and surprising setlist, classic Phish antics and teases, some powerhouse Type 1 and Type 2 jams, and a profound feeling of fresh, inspired playing and FLOW. Given their quite extensive body of work at this point, many shows these days are grab bags of Phish classics, bustouts, and extended jamming—but then there are those more rare gems of shows that take us on a remarkable journey, where each song is a stepping stone to greater "show-construction" fulfillment and musical enlightenment. Old standards become revitalized in terms of how they are placed and executed, and the basic elements of the Phish experience are transmuted into solid gold. Night three of the extra hot Alpharetta run—a Sunday show, no less—encapsulates why Phish remains one of the top jam band acts of our time.