Concert Q & A

I was driving to work this morning rocking out to the radio and had several flashback memories of some great concert experiences.  So I decided to share them with you in hopes that you will share some with me!  These are really hard to answer


Most memorable concert moment: It was "The Rising Tour" which occurred shortly after 9/11.  Bruce asked for total silence in the audience, and when he had all 20,000 of us paying full attention he played "Empty Sky".  The whole night was a combination of a good time and sad time mixed together.  Very unique atmosphere.


Least favorable concert:  George Michael.  Not because he wasn't good, but because every female (other than me) in the audience was screaming at the top of their lungs the whole time and I couldn't even hear the music.  I wanted to leave but was there for a friend so I stuck it out.


Who puts on the best show: If you know me at all, you already know my answer :)  Bruce, of course!


Concert I wish I could have seen: The Doors, I was born ten years too late; and Queen.  I don't know how I missed them out of the hundreds of bands I've seen, but I did :(

Best concert I never saw:  Led Zeppelin, I still have my two tickets and have never totally forgiven Jon Van B.

Biggest outdoor concert:  Cal Jam II

Smallest inside venue: The Quiet Woman restaurant in Laguna Beach (about 50 - 75 people), Kenny Loggins dropped by and put on a show for some locals, so fun!

Best seats at a concert:  Front Row at VAN HALEN in '81, omg - talk about amazing, Eddie is one of my top 5 guitarists

Loudest concert:  Ted Nugent, love him or hate him - he's very entertaining


Most mind blowing concert:  Pink Floyd! (i was 17, under the influence of LSD & red wine for the occasion and it truly was an incredible night under the stars, i was fearless back then)


Worst concert experience:  Losing my sister for several hours at an all day concert featuring the Rolling Stones.  I was frantic to find her and finally, right before the Stones came on, there she was.

Most frightening moment at a concert:  Same Stones concert as above.  I was near the front, the crowd rushed and literally lifted me off my feet, I was screaming because I was being crushed and no one cared.  Then this big, strong "angel" came out of nowhere (picture Clarence Clemons), lifted me up and out of the crowd (I was only about 125 lbs back in the day!).  After he put me down and I thanked him I looked back again and he was GONE.

Best concert experience:  Impossible to narrow it down.  I will say I got a thrill when David Bowie smiled at me.

Artist seen the most times: Again, if you know me.....Bruce (23? 24?  lost track)

Most embarrassing concert moment:  Falling asleep at Pat Benatar.  I was bored after sitting through Quarterflash and Night Ranger (no offense to either band).

Funnest concert moment: Had to be during Bruce, but there are so many fun moments in all his concerts, hard to pick just one.

Best "goosebumps" moment:  U2, "Vertigo Tour", when Bono was talking about co-existing and loving our neighbor, and peace, etc. then started playing "One" the young man next to me held my hand for a moment (he was Middle Eastern) and we both had tears in our eyes.

Concert I regret:  Def Lepard, only because it was stupid of me to go with the person I went with - we got there late and had crappy seats.



Best concert of all time:  Michael Jackson.  It was the "Bad" tour and Michael was at  his peak in every way.  I know this sounds corny, but I truly did feel like I was in the presence of someone very special.  The energy of his hardcore fans infused everyone else that was there and the THINGS HE DID on that stage were literally magical (he'd walk up a set of stairs, disappear in a puff of smoke then be back on the opposite side of the stage in a different outfit in a matter of seconds, like 5 seconds or less).  His DANCE MOVES, the way he held the audience captive.  His humility.  It was an experience I'll cherish forever.  RIP MJ.  (again, love him or hate him, he was one of the best, if not the best, entertainers of our time).
http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/2008/05/one-i-missed.html

I'm Going to U2 Tonight!

Will Review Tomorrow.....

U2 Has Set Dates for Rescheduled N. American Tour:

Well its almost a year away...but I'm already looking forward to it.

This weekend I will be seeing BAD COMPANY with Paul on vocals :)

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May 21 Denver, CO Invesco Field (formerly June 12/10)
May 24 Salt Lake City, UT Rice Eccles Stadium (formerly June 3/10)

June 01 Edmonton, AB Commonwealth Stadium (formerly June 23/10)
June 04 Seattle, WA Qwest Field (formerly June 20/10)
June 07 Oakland, CA McAfee Coliseum (formerly June 20/10)
June 17 Anaheim, CA Angels Stadium (formerly June 6/10)
June 18 Anaheim, CA Angels Stadium (formerly June 7/10)
June 26 East Lansing, MI Spartan Stadium at MSU (formerly June 30/10)
June 29 Miami, FL *Sun Life Stadium
previously Dolphin Stadium (formerly July 9/10)

July 05 Chicago, IL Soldier Field (formerly July 6/10)
July 08 Montreal, QC Hippodrome (formerly July 16/10)
July 09 Montreal, QC Hippodrome (formerly July 17/10)
July 11 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre (formerly July 3/10)
July 14 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field (formerly July 12/10)
July 20 East Rutherford, NJ New Meadowlands Stadium (formerly July 19/10)
July 23 Minneapolis, MN TCF Bank Stadium (formerly June 27/10)

Concert Ticket Prices

(click to enlarge...unfreakin believable isn't it. $8.75?)

I heard an interview on NPR while driving home from work. I thought it was interesting and copied some of it below. For me personally, I have only two concerts planned for this summer: Bad Co. and Rush. (I may be flying to Colorado to see Rush at Red Rocks!)

One part of the interview said something like "It used to be that you could see a concert a month and afford it, now your lucky if you can afford one or two a year" SO TRUE!

The bottom line:

1. Promoters are charging way too much for concert tickets (um, no kidding)
2. Consumers will not pay outrageous prices unless its a MUST SEE band
3. Lots of bands tour every year and lose their appeal because its "no big deal" to see them
4. Consumers have been trained to wait to the last minute to get a better deal on tickets which affects advance sales and sometimes causes a concert to have to cancel.

"Pollstar reports that the average ticket price is actually down from last year — to $60.77. You can still sit on the lawn at most summer shows for less than 40 bucks. But if you want to be anywhere near the stage for Bon Jovi or Ozzy Osbourne, you'll have to spend well over $300 per seat.

'They're Just Greedy'

Longtime industry observer Bob Lefsetz says artists and promoters have finally gone too far.

"They're just greedy," Lefsetz says. "[It] used to be people went to concerts on a regular basis, maybe once a month. Now, going to a concert is like going on vacation. The face value is 250 bucks. Times two, plus parking and food. You're in for 750 bucks — if there's just two of you."

Lefsetz says there's a limit to what consumers will pay, especially for a show they've already seen.Take The Eagles, one of the most dependable touring acts of the past two decades. The band simply may have toured too frequently, and it's been forced to cancel dates this summer. Still, with sales of recordings in decline, Billboard's Peoples says the concert industry is looking to squeeze out every last dollar it can.

"Everybody is trying to do more with ticket prices," Peoples says. "Earn more while on the road, stay out on the road longer. And it's not surprising that it might eventually come back to bite them in the butt."

But veteran talent manager and former label executive Danny Goldberg says high ticket prices aren't the main problem.

"I think it really depends on the artist — how recently they were in the market," he says. "If someone just played last year, it's less sexy or exciting than if they haven't played there for 10 years."

Stars like Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber are doing very good business in 2010, Goldberg says. So is a tour pairing veteran songwriters James Taylor and Carole King.

"The interest in seeing live music is very healthy. If there are some concerts that are overpriced, believe me, next time into the market, the artists and promoters will adjust the prices," Goldberg says.

Lilith Fair's McBride, for one, says concert prices are due for an adjustment.

"I think the consumer has said this summer, 'Too much,' " he says.

And not just by staying home. McBride says fans are more savvy about waiting until the last minute to buy tickets at steep discounts as promoters scramble to fill empty seats.

"They know if they hold out long enough, the chances of getting tickets on a two-for-one promotion will actually happen," McBride says. "So they just hold off. It's like the consumer's been trained to hold off buying tickets until the last minute."

The trouble is, if everyone waits until the last minute, there won't be enough advance ticket sales, and the show will get canceled. That's a lesson many artists, promoters and fans may learn the hard way before the summer is over."

Entire article HERE

Bono Has Spinal Surgery!

U2’s Angel Stadium shows could get postponed  (this is my concert...)

Bono has undergone emergency spinal surgery in Munich after injuring himself during preparation for the next North American leg ofU2’s 360 Tour, according to Reuters and BBC News.

The singer-activist, who just turned 50, is expected to remain at a specialist neurosurgery clinic in Germany for a number of days before flying home to Ireland for further recuperation.

Of course, this casts serious doubts on whether Bono and the band will be ready for its June 6-7 shows at Angel Stadium. Already the June 3 launch in Salt Lake City has been postponed. Were he back in action in time, the Anaheim dates would now kick off the tour — though I wouldn’t bank on that. Even if he were ready to perform again in two weeks, would it really be advisable? Could he possibly be at his strongest again? Postponing seems the smartest move.

After that, U2 is slated to play Denver on June 12, Oakland on June 16 and Seattle on June 20. The British press is also wondering if Bono will be recovered enough to face a headlining appearance at the annual Glastonbury festival on June 25.

U2 manager Paul McGuinness advises fans to monitor U2’s website for the latest updates. “We will make plans to reinstate the dates as soon as possible,” he said of the potential for postponements, adding that it was “unfortunate that we’re inconveniencing fans” and that it was causing disruption to the band’s 400-strong crew.

Photo by Steven Lovekin, Getty Images.

Please get better, Bono!  We (I) love you!

Jungleland

There are some things in life that can't be explained, only experienced.  Hearing this song live is one of those things.

I know every word of this song.  So does most of the audience.  Its not about the lyrics though.  Its about Bruce and the band giving it their all.  You have to be standing there during the sax solo to really feel it.  This video will give you a slight hint.  I know not many people will watch for the full ten minutes...In concert it often lasts up to 20 and we're still bummed when its over.

I like what Melissa Ethridge said in Rolling Stone magazines 100 Greatest Singers Of All Time issue: "When Bruce Springsteen does those wordless wails, like at the end of 'Jungleland,' that's the definition of rock & roll to me. He uses his whole body when he sings, and he puts out this enormous amount of force and emotion and passion."

Here it is from 1975 followed by 2009. If your going to choose one to watch, I recommend 2009, some things get better with age - Bruce and The E Street Band definitely did. But damn - its amazing to see him back in the day. Watch both - I dare you to.

A Year Ago Today.....

For some reason I decided to look and see what I wrote one year ago today.  I was at a Springsteen concert!  It seems impossible, that was only a year ago?

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Pink Floyd, May 7, 1977 - Anaheim Stadium

I had this wild hair earlier and just had to find a video of a concert that I attended.  I first searched for David Bowie in '75 at LA Forum, no luck.  Then I tried a few shows I'd seen at the LA Sports Arena, no luck.  Finally I found one:  and the video is not embeddable!  But here is the link.

The quality is poor but you get the feel for it.  I guess back then somebody had to sneak in a real camera.

As for me, I snuck in a bota bag full of cheap red wine and a few tabs of pink pegasus.  It was historical.

What is one of the most memorable concerts you've been to?
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Which Was the Greatest Performance EVER at MSG?

This is kinda cool, was just sent this info on how people can VOTE for who they think put on the best performance ever at Madison Square Garden:

This JUST ANNOUNCED is the “100 BEST: Vote Down to the Greatest Garden Show of All Time” where you and your readers can vote, interact with other Rock&Roll lovers, and play a role in deciding which Rock Legend put the greatest show on at the World's Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden!

Here's how it works:

Each week, you will get the chance to place your vote and advance your favorite artist/musical group from each decade to the next round of the competition! From rock legends Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin, Elton John to today's top acts John Mayer, Alicia Keys, The White Stripes and tons more from the  '70s, '80s, '90s, and '00s! Stay tuned each week to see what lineup is revealed for the next decade and if your favorite concert made it to the polls! Fans can vote every day, all day leading up to the February finale, in which MSG will reveal the WINNER of the the greatest Garden performance of all time!

Click here for more details about the VOTEDOWN:   http://msg.com/100best/

 

Click here to check out the competition and place your vote for the best Garden show of the '70s: http://msg.com/photos/100-best-madison-square-garden-shows-the-1970s/

 

This week's vote is for the greatest Garden show of the '70s! Polls for the '70s decade, Round 1 End on Sunday, November 8th so get as many votes in as you can NOW!

U2 adds dates for more US tour !!

Sweet, I guess I was meant to see them closer to home in June vs. last night at the Rose Bowl.  Just hope Bono's voice holds out, it was cracking...



U2 360° TOUR 2010 North American Dates

6-June Anaheim, CA
On sale soon

12-June Denver, CO
On sale Nov. 6

16-June Oakland, CA
Presale opens Oct. 27th
On sale Nov. 2

20-June Seattle, WA
On sale soon

23-June Edmonton, AB
Presale opens Oct. 27th
On sale Nov. 2

30-June East Lansing, MI
On sale soon

03-July Toronto, ON
Presale opens Oct 27th
On sale Nov. 2

06-July Chicago, IL
On sale soon

09-July Miami, FL
On sale soon

12-July Philadelphia, PA
On sale soon

16-July Montreal, QC
On sale soon

19-July New York
On sale soon

The next best thing to being there...

....watching U2 on YouTube live.

U2 Tickets for sale - Face Value for THIS SUNDAY @ Rose Bowl

Unfortunately I am selling my U2 tickets because I just don't have the desire to go.  If you or anyone you know wants these, let me know ASAP.

I am selling these at face value plus the convenience fee ($23.00 each) the Fast Delivery fee (2.50 each) and the processing fee (4.00 each). I have the invoice if you want to see it. The total for two tickets is $555.50

GREAT SEATS!
Section 7-L, Row 5, Seats 13 & 14

Paypal only. Will email you tickets after purchase.

Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, Queensryche, Chickenfoot

I'll tell ya what's a real bummer - when one of your favorite bands is opening for a popular band and tickets sell out before you get a chance to buy one. Of course this is great for Davy, but it sucks for me.

They are playing near me the day before and after my birthday and both shows are sold out except for bad seats in the bleachers in the back. Ugh.

On the other hand, I can go see Robert Cray that same weekend very close to where I live. I just need some good LIVE guitar to sustain me. General admission plus you have to buy dinner if you want good seats...sounds perfect. My friends around here keep asking what I want to do to celebrate, but going to see music like this with people that don't appreciate or enjoy it is awful, I rather go alone!

U2 360 Tour

Well the tour has been underway for almost a month now, slowly making their way across Europe and heading towards .... me! I can't wait for Oct. 25th. This monstrosity of a stage will be interesting to see in person.

Davy Knowles

Back in May I wrote that I had my fingers crossed about the possibility of seeing Davy Knowles this summer and guess what - I did!  Now to try to find the words to describe one of the best shows I've ever seen.  I think if my favorite guitarist of all time heard him play, Stevie Ray would agree with me that

Davy Knowles is a legend in the making

If you check out my sidebar you'll see that I first heard his prodigious talent back in August '08 and was immediately aware that I was listening to a superb musician.  Tonight I experienced it firsthand and it blew me away.  Listening to a CD is one thing but seeing it, hearing it and feeling it live in person brings it to a different dimension.  You must make it a priority to check him out for yourself.

Tonight Davy's talent and passion radiated from him along with his evident joy in performing for an appreciative audience.  You could tell he was genjuinely pleased, maybe even a bit taken aback,  by our powerful reaction.  After the show he took the time to sign autograph's and meet people and he had quite a line of fans.


Joe (Rock and Roll Guru) had interviewed Davy earlier in the day and confirmed that he is the authentically nice person he seems to be.  I serioulsy doubt that fame will rob him of that as it does to some musicians.

Joe and Drew

To top off a great night, Joe introduced Drew and I to Davy so I got to shake his hand and say hello.  I admit, it was a thrill.  The kid is adorable and sweet in addition to being a kick ass guitarist.  I also had the pleasure of meeting his manager and hopefully will stay connected with him to keep all of you up to date on when and where to catch Davy and Back Door Slam. 

Get this - he is going on tour with and opening for CHICKENFOOT this Fall.  I know there are some serious Chickenfoot fans that read here.  Let me know what you think of Davy and BDS, I'll be shocked if you don't walk away impressed.

I will never forget this show.  I will never forget the woman who sat next to me who enjoyed the show as much as I did (hello!  I didn't get your name! the pics I took didn't turn out too great).  Lastly,  I will never forget how meeting Davy was a reminder of meeting SVR - both guitar greats.

On a personal note...I fly home to California tomorrow, but next year, I am headed back to Milwaukee for Summerfest.  If you've never been you're missing out!

My first time at SUMMERFEST!

Summerfest is incredible. Its the BIGGEST rock and roll show ANYWHERE and I can imagine spending an entire week there. Too tired to describe it but check out their website to get a feel for it....

Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE these two women! Just got back from another great performance by two of the queens of rock and roll (imo there are very few women that can claim that title, it belongs to Janis, Chrissie and the Wilson sisters).

Not only was it a great show, but I got to sit between two guys who are passionate about music, Drew (my honey and the reason that I am here in Wisconsin) and Joe, the fantabulously groovy rock and roll writer and blogger extraordinaire.

It was great to meet Joe (aka Rock and Roll Guru). He is exactly the same in person as he is on his blog - full of life, fun, interesting and a down to earth great guy.

Ann and Nancy kicked ass as usual. Those two only get better with age. I love them! Ann's voice is exceptional. She's managed to keep her voice strong all these years. Not a single note was less than perfect. And Nancy is so fun to watch....she plays with her own style and sense of fun. I hope they keep rockin for years to come.

They did one of their new songs during the encore. It hasn't been released yet and I can't remember the name of it, but they dedicated it to "Michael" and I assumed they were referring to Michael Jackson. To read a very moving story about Stevie Wonder's performance and tribute to Michael last night at Summerfest, see Joe's post here.

Tomorrow night its back for more great music, we will be seeing Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam. In fact, I may even get to meet Davy, should I tell him I chose his band as the number one new band of 2008? Can not wait to hear him play/sing.

Summerfest - Heart - Rock and Roll Guru

I'm excited that I will be experiencing Summerfest tomorrow night!  I'll be hearing one of my favorite bands of all time, Heart, AND meeting one of my favorite bloggers of all time, Rock and Roll Guru!  It should be a grand time.

Summer Concert Plans??

I love getting Dave White's email every Friday, its always full of good info. This week he highlighted a few classic rock bands that will be touring this summer.

Do you have summer concert plans? So far I have "wants" but have not purchased tickets. I do, however, have my tickets to U2 for October :)

Took this right from Dave, so stop by his site and tell him he' doing a great job over there at About.com :)

AC/DC

Photo by Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

AC/DC will spend the month of June touring Europe, followed by 16 North American dates (July 28-September 9) then a few months' rest before playing a half dozen dates "at home" in Australia in early 2010. The set list will be a mixture of classics and new material from the 2008 Black Ice album.

More InfoRead Review

Aerosmith and ZZ Top

Aerosmith photo by Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

Aerosmith's North American tour runs from mid-June through mid-September with 41 arena gigs scheduled. The tour was originally planned to support a new album, which has been delayed by various band members' health issues. In the absence of new material, the band is looking to liven things up by performing some of their earliest albums in their entirety. It'll be North meets South as the Boston-based rockers are joined on the tour by fellow veteran arena rockers ZZ Top, self-styled "little ol' band from Texas."

More InfoRead Review

Clapton & Winwood

Photo by Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images

During the month of June, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood will work their way from east coast to west, with a 14-date reprise of their sellout three-night stand at Madison Square Garden in 2008. The May 19 release of a two-disc (CD/DVD) set recorded during the MSG performances sets the mood. Watch video of "After Midnight" from the new release, Live From Madison Square Garden.

More InfoRead Review

Def Leppard - Poison - Cheap Trick

Def Leppard photo by Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Def Leppard, Poison, and Cheap Trick will set out together for a late June through early September tour of 40 cities. This will be Leppard's fifth straight U.S. summer tour, and vocalist Joe Elliot hints that it may be the last one for a while. "I seriously do think that it's time for us to not do it next year," Elliot said, "because I'm a firm believer in you don't want to do it too much — people start taking you for granted."

More InfoRead Review

Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson

Bob Dylan photo by Dave Hogan / Getty Images

What could be more America's Heartland than Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson performing at (wait for it ...) minor league baseball parks. Dylan and Nelson did similar small town tours in 2004 and 2005. Between July 2 and August 15 the trio will play 22 ballpark concerts, some in cities as large as Louisville, Kentucky and Durham, North Carolina but mostly in places like Round Rock, Texas and Sevierville, Tennessee.

More InfoRead Review

Fleetwood Mac

Photo by Kevin Winter / Getty Images

We now join the Fleetwood Mac tour, already in progress (and continuing through June 17.) There's no new album to promote, so the set list is strictly the Mac's classics. Reversing the usual order, there's talk that the tour may be followed by a new album. Says guitarist/vocalist Lindsey Buckingham to London's VIP News, "I think maybe there was ... a sense that we would make a better album if we went out and hung out together first on the road ... maybe even sowing some seeds musically that would get us more prepared to go in the studio rather than just going in cold."

More Info

Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kid Rock, photo by Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images

For the second summer in a row, the Kid and Skynyrd will be tour buds. This time around, however, rather than sharing the stage, they'll each do full sets. It'll be a busy summer, with 24 dates between early July and early August.

More InfoRead Review

Metallica

Metallica photo by Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

Metallica will actually spend most of the summer on the European leg of their world tour, but from September through December will play 30 North American dates. The band are including classics, new material and rarities (their own, and some covers) -- an eclectic mix attributable to what drummer Lars Ulrich describes to Rolling Stone this way: "On this tour, for some reason, we've got this wild hair up our ass."

More InfoRead Review

Styx, REO Speedwagon, .38 Special

Styx photo courtesy i.e. marketing

Styx, REO Speedwagon and .38 Special are tripling up for a 30-date tour which began May 13 in Albuquerque and ends in St. Louis on July 11. The best part? Ticket prices that will be as low as $13.50, as part of what Styx's Tommy Shaw calls "our own personal rock ‘n’ roll stimulus package."

More Info

Dang, I missed a great show!

According to his official site, Bruce's show last night was the best of the tour so far. I noticed by comparing the set list he wrote down to what he actually played that he switched it up a lot, his band is awesome they are constantly on their toes, aware that The Boss could change plans with only a moments notice.


Here is what he wrote down on the set list (click to enlarge):

Here is what they actually played:


Badlands
Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Outlaw Pete
Out In The Street
Working on A Dream
Seeds
Johnny 99
The Ghost Of Tom Joad
I'm Going Down
Raise Your Hand
Spirit In The Night
Waiting On A Sunny Day
Promised Land
The Wrestler
Racing In The Streets
Kingdom Of Days
Lonesome Day
The Rising
Born To Run

Hard Times
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Land Of Hope And Dreams
American Land
Rosalita

NOTE:   Last year when we saw him in LA Tom Morello showed up to play Ghost of Tom Joad with Bruce.  It was one of the top five great Springsteen concert memories I have.  If you've ever seen Morello's guitar style - its very unique.  I was mesmerized.  My sister wasn't that impressed.  Well Tom showed up again last night so I don't think he'll be there again tonight....but I can hope!

Springsteen Rumors and Cheap Seats for Sale for 4/15!

Bruce will be in LA on 4/15 & 16 for shows, then there's a huge gap in his schedule till his next show on 4/21. Rumor has it that:

1. He make make a surprise appearance at Coachella!!!


2. He WILL make a surprise appearance at The Danny Federici Memorial Fund Show at The Troubador on the 19th. Its sold out or I'd be there....its a SMALL venue, tickets are $15 and you know, Know, KNOW that Bruce will show up!

In other news....I got BETTER seats for this weeks show at LOWER price than I paid for the other ones!!!!

So...I am selling my pair for 4/15 (this Wed!) CHEAP, may even give them away at the last minute. Spread the word if you know anyone who may want them!