A Band In Hope 10 Year Anniversary Tour
The Matches reunited for one final tour in honor of the ten year anniversary of their final album, A Band in Hope. I knew this day would come sooner or later, and it’s such a bittersweet feeling going into this tour knowing it might be the last few shows I’ll ever have with them. This band has meant so much to me for the past 12 years, and especially the past 4 since those first reunion shows and my first time seeing them live.
They played six shows: Philly, NYC, Austin, Chicago, LA, and San Francisco. I had plans to attend all but Austin and Chicago.
The Foundry at the Fillmore—Philadelphia, 6/29/18
The Foundry is upstairs at the Fillmore in Philadelphia, where I took a very impromptu trip to see Coheed two years ago. (Two years?! Really?!) So there are some feels. Especially considering I dragged Anna, my Coheed wife, with me to the show.
We met up with Michelle (who I’ve gotten every single one of my three Matches tattoos with) and her mom, Mandy (who flew from the Bay Area), Whitney (from New York), and Danai (from the Netherlands) at Goose Island next to the venue before heading in.
Most of the boys were out and about in the venue before the show started, so I talked to them and introduced Anna.
Matches drummer [still] Matt Whalen had just gotten engaged to his longtime girlfriend Erin that day. They’ve been together longer than any other member of the band has been with his significant other, but Matt was the last to pop the question.
Me: “Congrats! Finally!”
Matt: “Yeah, that’s what she said…”
Whoops. I am awkward.
We saw [Bleeding Audio director] Chelsea Christer looking for her husband, bassist Justin San Souci, and she told us the green room was so far away it’s like Spinal Tap. I’m assuming she meant the movie Spinal Tap, but I haven’t seen it so I didn’t get the reference. Again, whoops.
Me: “This is my friend Anna. It’s her first Matches show.”
Chelsea: “It won’t be your last.”
Anna: “Oh, are you guys coming back here?”
Chelsea: “…no…”
My theory is that after this tour, they’ll only be playing one-off shows in San Francisco from time to time. But who really knows.
Then we saw frontman Shawn Harris, who told me he met my doppelganger. Apparently she was in line to introduce herself to him and told him she works for Chronicle Books, and he was very confused until he realized it wasn’t me.
“If it was you, you wouldn’t be introducing yourself. You would’ve just walked up and said ‘Hey, I work for your publisher now!'”
I was also very confused until I realized he was talking about someone who was not me.
We also talked about Mt. Eddy opening the San Francisco show and how they held 100 tickets, so Green Day would probably be there. (Mt. Eddy frontman is Jakob Armstrong, Billie Joe Armstrong’s youngest son. THERE’S SOME MORE FEELS FOR YA.)
The Foundry was really small, and the bar took up the whole center part of the room. The air conditioner was circulating much better than it was in the Ivy Room though, so no complaints there.
The bar had a “Salty Eyes” themed drink on the menu special for the night, which I found incredibly cute.
Opening the two Northeast shows were Steady Hands. They were pretty good. Anna seemed to really like them. She caught up with one of the guys after the show and said she’d check ’em out.
Then came my boys. Ugh my heart is so not ready for this final tour. It’ll be over before it hardly starts, and I’m already emotional about it.
Shawn, Jon, and Justin came onstage wearing ski masks to set up. Apparently they were pretending to be their own “stagehands.” Those dorks. But the best part was that Matt was not participating. He’s Still Matt Whalen.
They had a record player onstage with A Band in Hope just chilling, and a random girl came out to start it.
AM Tilts
The proggy bit at the end of this song just KILLS ME.
Their City
MISTAKES ARE WAITING. So happy to be screaming those lyrics.
Wake the Sun
This was their only real commercial song—literally, this song was in a cat food commercial—but it was never one of my favorites. Funny how that works out.
Darkness Rising
“Darkness Rising” has been one of my favorites to see live ever since the first reunion shows at Slim’s back in 2014. But I remember Jon coming out with an acoustic guitar before the whole band joins in, but this time it was full electric. I still loved it. When the whole band just explodes toward the end… Ugh. It’s just so good.
To Build a Mountain
“Darkness Rising” led straight into “To Build a Mountain.”
Shawn: “I hate that this is still relevant 10 years later.”
We Are One
Shawn: “I hate this one. I don’t mean I hate this song, but I hate the skill needed to play it…”
Shawn: “When you write a song with six words, you have to fill it with as many proggy riffs as you can. That’s what we did.”
There was a dude near me who was super into it and that was cool, but overall it was a very chill crowd.
The girl from earlier came back onstage to flip the record, but Shawn being Shawn, rather than continue on with A Band in Hope, he jumps into E Von Dahl Killed the Locals instead.
Dog-Eared Page
Audio Blood
The crowd didn’t cooperate super well on the crouch, but we tried. We got enough people in the center to get down, but the front row was kinda slacking, and I think behind us was kinda slacking too.
Girl next to me: “If I go down, I’m not getting back up.”
Anna also said she’s getting too old for this, but she got down regardless.
Chain Me Free
Shawn: “I think I forgot what album we’re playing.”
“What song comes next?”
Point Me Toward the Morning
I think I screamed so loud during this song that I felt like I might puke, which is impressive considering there was a huge amount of space around me and I was not feeling constricted at all. It was purely from screaming lyrics.
From 24C
Ugh I can’t believe I get to see this song live four times I LOVE IT.
Clouds Crash
Everyone sang the “da da da da” part SO LOUD and I loved it.
Jack Slap Cheer
I could be totally off on the timing here, but at some point during the second half of A Band in Hope, someone in the crowd starts yelling “Jack Slap Cheer!”
Shawn: “We’re playing an album front to back, why would we start playing songs from another album in the middle of it? Okay.”
Shawn crowdsurfed. At one point Anna and I were holding him up by his chest and not moving. Jon commented on it after the song:
“That was cool. You were like not moving at all.”
Lol at me and Anna. Whoops. We’re not strong enough to hold him up, come on now.
He also changed the lyrics in the bridge. “This town gets so boring when you’re almost 40.” #dead
Between Halloweens
Jon: “We recorded this like 200 times to try to sound like Queen, so we need all of your voices if you want this to sound like the record.”
“Pronouns are she, we, and you.”
If I Were You
Future Tense
Yankee in a Chip Shop
Proctor Rd.
Everyone was chill between sets because we knew the band was coming back out for an encore, so we could actually hear the music backing and it was a lot longer than it is on the record.
Papercut Skin
Love.
What Katie Said
Anna was happy she actually knew this song.
Salty Eyes
I tried to waltz with Anna, but then Shawn decided to crowdsurf again lol whoops.
He friggin headwalked and grabbed onto the rafters. I’ve never seen him do that before.
Anna: “I understand your tattoo better now.”
I saw Pablo, the band’s tour manager, for like 5 seconds after the show.
Pablo: “I didn’t see you!”
Me: “I was in like the third row!”
He called me baby and gave me a kiss on the cheek. He’s so cute I love him.
I talked to Chelsea again after the show and she asked if Anna was converted. She said yes and that they need to do like a one-off show in NYC every year or something.
Chelsea complained about being 30 and how she was happy there are seats at Gramercy.
As we were saying goodbye, everyone just said “see ya tomorrow” to me and assumed Anna would be there too. She would not be. Boo. She gave them all the (truthful) excuse that it was her boyfriend Peter’s dad’s 93rd birthday and she had to celebrate with them.
I got a picture with Shawn after buying merch. He told me my shirt freaked him out cuz he reads the names to try to figure out what band it is and then’s like “Oh shit, it’s ME!”
Then our whole crew got a picture with him. Lol at that shadow.
Gramercy Theater—New York, 6/30/18
It was a small crew in Philly, but much larger in NYC. On top of the crew from Philly who all made their way here as well, we also had Jordan, Andy, Nina, Catherine, Kayla, Kyle, everybody. All of whom had traveled from various places across the country.
I ran into guitarist Jon Devoto outside the venue with his fiancee Amy, and their friends Doug and Keely, all in New York on vacation from the Bay Area. Doug looked shocked to see me.
Me: “Don’t be surprised.”
Jon: “Yeah, she comes to shows.”
Doug: “Oh yeah, and didn’t you used to live here? Florida and then here?”
Me: “Yeah, Florida to Boston to California, but most of my best friends live here so I’m here way more often than I should be.”
Their group went in the venue early, and Doug also looked surprised that I didn’t follow them, joining the line instead.
A few of us were wearing all white with red accessories in honor of the album’s theme, and Jordan brought us white flags. I was afraid I would stab myself with mine lol whoops.
Gramercy had themed drinks for the show as well.
Steady Hands opened the show again. They’re really good, but didn’t grab my attention unfortunately. Honestly I was probably just too excited for the Matches to pay them much attention, but they were good.
This time the band had a couple, Joel and Elyse, onstage to start the album on the record player.
Side A: AM Tilts—We Are One
We waved our white flags when the band first walked out onstage, but I tried to hand mine off to Jordan during “Their City” cuz I started worrying about stabbing myself. He wasn’t paying attention so I gave it to Kayla instead. At least I won’t die on a flag stick tonight, so that’s good.
When the couple came back out to flip the record, the guy pulls out a ring box, and I don’t think the band even expected that. She cried and gave him a double thumbs up. Such a surprise and SO CUTE, that’s my #goals right there.
Shawn: “Joel and Elyse, congratulations. They’re getting married, everyone! You guys can take your time flipping that record, it’s fine. If you guys hadn’t figured it out, they weren’t our actual backing tracks. I think we have an appropriate song to play you though here.”
Didi (My Doe, pt. 2)
This is when the crowd got REAL NUTS and I spent the remainder of the show trying not to die.
I guess there were some wild people in the front near Whitney during “AM Tilts” even or something ridiculous, so I was getting shoved around quite a bit the whole show. It was DEFINITELY a rougher crowd than Philly, but that was to be expected.
Jack Slap Cheer
It was requested again, and Shawn crowdsurfed again, that crazy dude.
Side B: Point Me Toward the Morning—Proctor Rd.
They did the Queen thing again during “Between Halloweens,” which I love.
Salty Eyes
He didn’t quite headwalk this time, but he did crowdsurf again. I was too busy trying not to die to get emotional, which I guess is a good thing.
Shawn: “Let’s play some more from Decomposer. Take a vote, ‘Papercut Skin’ or ‘Little Maggots’?”
Little Maggots
This was my vote since they didn’t play it in Philly. Love this song so much.
Sick Little Suicide
Strangely fitting that I got headbutted immediately when this song started. If there’s a sick little suicide in all that we do, I guess I decided mosh pits are for me.
I always forget how much Gramercy sucks. It just gets worse and worse every show I see there honestly.
I tried to get water at the bar after the show, but they said their cups had already been taken, so I could go downstairs for water. But then when I tried to go downstairs, a security dude was blocking the stairs and yelling that we had to either get in line for merch or leave. Is that even legal to keep me from water after a show?! The hell?!
So we had to socialize in line for merch, which is insanely stupid.
He was also yelling at us that it was merch only, no meet and greet, while the band is standing RIGHT THERE. He gave Jon a hard time for not having a pass… but he’s in the band. The band literally told us from the stage to come downstairs to talk to them. This is beyond dumb.
So I stood in line to get a hug from Shawn. Thanks, Gramercy.
Eventually we went outside to hang.
Chelsea let us watch the first five minutes of (the rough cut of) Bleeding Audio, and I’m in it on the barricade of my first ever Matches show. SO MANY TEARS I’m gonna ugly cry when this movie is done oh my god.
Jordan and Chelsea were upset I wasn’t gonna be at the Chicago show, but they joked about taping a picture of my face to the barricade. I loved the idea, but I don’t think anyone actually followed through with it.
Troubadour—Los Angeles, 7/20/18
I went straight to the venue when I hopped off the bus in LA around 4 just to check it out before wandering off nearby to find food. Got out of the uber and immediately said:
“Oh there are people here! OH I KNOW THESE PEOPLE.”
The perks of getting to a venue early often include seeing the band load in. Pablo had brought his son Maxwell, who shook my hand and introduced himself as the tour manager. SO CUTE. Justin and Chelsea were also there hanging out while Jon (and his roommate Jackson) parked the van.
I offered to help load in…kinda.
“I’ll help carry anything you can trust me to not drop.”
I’m such a great roadie.
Maxwell, on the other hand, was carrying EVERYTHING to the point of Jon and Pablo had to tell him to stop helping. I honestly just thought it was so friggin cute how much he wanted to help, though.
Eventually I stopped bugging them and walked off to find food. I came back around 6, thinking there’d be a line two hours before doors. Nope.
I could hear the band soundchecking. I was barely there five minutes when they came outside. Apparently someone had taken the keys to the van off the stage and moved it without asking them first??? What???
And then I’m being yelled at by security that if I don’t walk down to the end of the street, he wouldn’t let me in the venue when doors opened. WHAT???
I’m not even trying to get in line just yet (THERE IS NO LINE YET) but I like hanging out near the band, even if they’re busy and I’m probably just in the way. So I didn’t walk to the end of the street, I left entirely.
Eventually I come back and join the “line,” which is a whole two people long. Doors are in less than two hours now. Where is everyone?
Before too long, more people I know start showing up, like Peter from the Decomposer tour, and Elyse, who I lived with in Berkeley for a whole two months. Then one of Jon’s friends Brandon, who moved to LA a while ago. He told me I should stagedive. Spoilers: the crowd kept dropping people who tried so I did not attempt it.
The stage in the Troubadour is a weird height/shape. I took a spot in the middle corner ish thing on Jon’s side.
I told Elyse I thought I saw somewhere that tonight’s opening band, Knifes, is former Matches guitar-tech (and triangle player extraordinaire) Ben Young’s band, but I looked on their facebook for confirmation and couldn’t find any members listed, so I wasn’t sure if I had made that up or not.
Knifes
I WAS RIGHT.
Ben: “If you’ve ever seen the Matches before, you might recognize me. I was their guitar tech.”
Me: Idk I don’t recognize you without the triangle (kinda kidding)
Ben: “Should Triangle Man make an appearance? I don’t have a triangle, but I’ll figure it out if you want me to. Is there a Match around that can approve a Triangle Man appearance?”
Ben: “They broke up at a good time so I could work for bigger bands.”
Ben and the drummer worked for Linkin Park and talked about it being the anniversary of Chester’s death. It was really sad, but they dedicated a cover song to him. (Who were they covering? I have no idea. He didn’t say, and apparently he only covers obscure songs. YAY!)
They also work for Fall Out Boy. I got a Fall Out Boy drumstick and Elyse got a Linkin Park one.
Anyway, Knifes. Their music was kinda heavy, and really good. I was about it.
Ben: “That song was amazing. So is the next one.”
The Matches
The boys put the album on the record player themselves this time.
After, of course, their “stagehands” set up for them. They’re so under appreciated.
It was relatively calm during the first few songs where I was in the front row.
The end of “AM Tilts” is so proggy I LOVE IT.
I got a little emotional during “Wake the Sun” which is weird because it’s not even one of my favorite songs. I was just thinking about how this might be one of the last few times I’d ever see it live, and that felt…not great.
Shawn told a story about how a few weeks prior, someone asked him what his secret was that made him sound so good on track four of this album (“Darkness Rising”).
“The secret is I let Jon sing lead vocals.”
After “We Are One” when it was time to “flip the album,” Shawn starts playing “Sick Little Suicide” and I am SO CONFUSED. I haven’t seen them not close with this song since it was actually in the middle of the album they were playing front to back in 2014. I had yelled out “Jack Slap Cheer” and “Audio Blood,” and the crowd’s being pretty chill, but here’s Shawn starting and stopping “Sick Little Suicide” like:
“Is this the next song? Should I play it? You guys want me to?”
The crowd went NUTS for this one obviously. At one point Peter is behind me in the pit and we grabbed each other’s hands and screamed the words in each other’s faces.
I’m assuming this was also the song an annoying girl shoved her way to the front next to me. Annoying as in, she kept laying down on the stage and kicking her legs in the air. Umm why? She also attempted to stagedive and got dropped pretty immediately, which was when I decided I was not going to do that tonight.
After that, they did play “Jack Slap Cheer” and “Audio Blood” so I got my requests.
Shawn changed the lyrics of “Jack Slap Cheer” and stagedove, yet again. I fully expected it this time. And everyone got down for “Audio Blood” and it was beautiful.
I recorded all of “From 24C” finally. Shawn talked about writing it from that seat on a plane and how he got that seat AGAIN on the way to the show.
There was the same little banter about trying to sound like Queen during “Between Halloweens.”
After the album finished, Shawn told us to crouch down like in “Audio Blood” again and be quiet until they came back onstage, so we did. It was strange, but we were obedient. It was naptime I guess.
Shawn: “We never played the Troubadour when we were touring ten years ago, so that means when we play again in another ten years it’ll be at the Hollywood Bowl, right?”
They were apparently supposed to play “What Katie Said,” but they did not. I THINK they traded it out for “Didi” instead, but I honestly don’t remember for sure.
I do remember they played “Papercut Skin” though. And there was an appearance from…(drumroll please) BEER BOTTLE MAN. He said he didn’t have his triangle, so he made do with what he had readily available.
I died. I could not. It was the funniest thing. I adore these boys SO MUCH.
Then “Scratched Out,” with some of the crowd meowing. Not everyone, but enough.
I got a little emotional again during “Salty Eyes.” Shawn crowdsurfed again, of course.
That was supposed to be the end of the show. The band said their goodbyes and walked offstage.
But the Troubadour didn’t start playing house music soon enough. And all of us in the crowd started chanting “One more song!” SO LOUD that Chelsea had to go backstage and tell Justin to put his pants back on, they had another encore to play.
Shawn: “This is the first real encore in history.”
They played “Dog-Eared Page,” admitting they didn’t even know what else they could play besides that song.
Then it was goodbye for real.
I saw Brent Walsh of I the Mighty after the show. He’s recording in LA this week, so I asked him about it. All I got from him is that his new solo EP is only six songs long, he has no idea when or how he’s going to release it, and mostly because he has no idea when or how he’s going to release the new I the Mighty songs they recorded a little while ago either. We know nothing because they know nothing.
I also saw Rob, who I’ve known from years of Matches shows. We caught up a bit. He’s a sweetie.
Ben gave me a copy of Knifes’ CD, and Justin made a joke about “American Girl” being an obscure Tom Petty cover he should play.
Chelsea has been recording virtual reality footage of “Salty Eyes” at every show. I watched the VR video from Chicago with Ben and it was AWESOME. I think her plan is to submit that for festivals when she finishes Bleeding Audio. Fucking stoked, man.
There’s a bar attached to the venue, so they didn’t kick us out immediately. I hung around til about 1am and then went straight to the airport to head home. Yayyyyy.
I guess I slammed my hip into the stage at one point because I had a HUGE bruise and it HURT. I really noticed it at the airport when I could not get comfortable AT ALL. Sitting, standing, laying, whatever. It just hurt.
Did you really go to a show if you don’t leave with some kind of injury?
The Fillmore—San Francisco, 7/21/18
Me: “I’m doing something stupid. As usual.”
Justin V: “Just do it with conviction and I’m sure it will be awesome, no doubt.”
Me: stuffs bra with pillowcases with conviction
This was the last show of the tour, and possibly the last show ever, so I had to do something crazy. So I bought two packs of 72 white balloons and stuck white pillowcases to use as flags in my bra to whip out when the time was right. I loved the idea of the white flags in New York, but the sticks in the pit freaked me out, and for good reason. A pillowcase could be seen while crowdstanding, and wouldn’t stab me to death when the pit gets going. Sounds like a winning plan to me.
I had an extra ticket to the show, so I brought my Idiot friend Marnie, because she’s a fan of the opening band, Mt. Eddy.
As we were walking to the Fillmore, a girl behind me yells, “You’re going to the Matches show, right?”
Me: “Yeah, why?”
Her: “I’ve got a jacket that doesn’t fit anymore I wanna give you. Find me later!”
I was super confused, mostly because I had never seen this girl before, and the Fillmore is huge, so I didn’t think she’d be able to find me later to give it to me, and I’m sure there would be other people my size around too she could’ve given it to. But she did find me later, and she told me she’d seen me on social media and decided she was bringing it to the show for me.
Her name’s Kyra, and it turns out I had met her before.
I didn’t cry during the show, but I did tear up reading her messages the next morning. This was one of the kindest acts I’ve ever experienced and I could not even believe it. I’ve met some of the greatest people through this band, and I will definitely not forget Kyra now.
Anyway, back to the show.
So the merch line was about a literal mile long, and Alanna and Sean were both stuck in it when I made it into the venue.
Mt. Eddy
I the Mighty has been my favorite Matches opener, but I did not know them at the time they opened. Mt. Eddy, however, I was a fan of long before this show lineup was announced. So really, that kinda makes Mt. Eddy my favorite Matches opener.
There was a really good crowd there for them. There was lots of jumping/dancing/moshing in the middle of the pit.
They played some newer songs that I wasn’t familiar with, but their real fans in the middle seemed to know them. But I really really love their album Chroma.
I just love Mt. Eddy. Jakob Armstrong has such a voice, I’m constantly impressed. Although it was a little strange to hear him singing about alcohol when he’ll always been Billie Joe’s youngest son and I can’t help but still picture him as tiny kid.
Zombie
Menial
I Luv Robert Smith
Lovely
The Matches
I started in the front near Marnie and all my Matches ladies, Nina, Michelle, Victoria, Mandy, and Julia. (I’m probably forgetting people, it was a decent sized group.) But I knew I wouldn’t stay there too long.
We blew up balloons for when they came onstage. People were throwing them early, but overall it went really well and they stayed up for most of the show.
The band flipped the record themselves again.
Side A: AM Tilts—We Are One
Shawn made the same joke about Jon singing lead on “Darkness Rising” again.
Jack Slap Cheer
At this point it would be weird if they didn’t break from the record. I made my way into the pit while Shawn was crowdsurfing, and found Emily and Sean and Justin F (as opposed to Justin V, who was probably still toward the back of the venue). Sean gave me a huge hug as soon as he saw me.
“It’s not a Matches show without Lindsay!”
This really is where I belong. I love these people.
Dog-Eared Page
Audio Blood
The crouch was perfect. This is the Bay, after all. It’s our tradition.
Side B: Point Me Toward the Morning—Proctor Rd.
I told Sean I wanted to crowdstand during “Point Me Toward the Morning,” not surf. He picked me up a teeny bit before I intended him to (he was really excited, I was not about to ruin that) and I pulled a pillowcase flag out of my bra.
I didn’t see the band’s reaction, but I was told they were smiling and I did good. But all I could see was the angry security dude telling me to get down. Whoops.
Justin V showed up in the pit sometime after that.
Sick Little Suicide
I saw Robert and he picked me up to crowdsurf.
Band: “There’s a sick little suicide in all that we do…”
Me, flailing around: “This is it! This is how I die! I decided this one’s for me!”
It was a less than great surf. I was getting my hair pulled, and dropped, and just overall it wasn’t great, but oh well.
Little Maggots
Scratched Out
One of the greatest moments of the show: the band walking offstage mid-song for a breather while the crowd continued meowing. AMAZING.
But part of me thought this was just how the show was ending. With us meowing, and the band not saying goodbye.
Me: “THEY LEFT US HERE TO DIE AND MEOW.”
They came back and finished the song, though. It was…weirdly beautiful.
Salty Eyes
Shawn actually walked around in the crowd for part of this song, and gave hugs. I didn’t get one though, so boo.
I started getting very emotional. Is this the end? This can’t be the end. IS IT THE END?!
It was supposedly the end. The band said their goodbyes and walked offstage, but like in LA, we all screamed for another encore.
Superman
Shawn: “‘Superman’ or ‘Chain Me Free’? Just because I said both of them doesn’t mean we have to play two now.”
Jon: “Let’s play the one we haven’t played since 2014.”
Shawn: “This is the biggest stage that I’m gonna figure a song out on.”
I got VERY emotional during this song. The best part was Shawn singing the original words, not the ones that were actually recorded for E Von Dahl Killed the Locals. It was so good though.
Chain Me Free
Ugh my heart.
Apparently Shawn and Jon drew those pictures of each other, which just makes it so much funnier to me.
I found Alanna and Luther and Melissa and Jason and Kayla and a bunch of other people after the show.
And I found Chelsea right before exiting the venue and asked about the band’s future plans.
Me: “This isn’t really the end, is it?”
Chelsea: “They’re contractually obligated to do some things when the film comes out, but there’s nothing on the calendar…”
Me: “Oh so they just haven’t planned it yet.”
Chelsea: “It’s not on the calendar…”
YES THAT SOUNDS PROMISING
So maybe this isn’t the end? My prediction was one-off shows in San Francisco from now on, but maybe not? I’m choosing to be hopeful. Be IN hope, don’t abandon it. I feel like that joke doesn’t actually work all that well, but ya know. It was supposed to be just one show in 2014, and I’ve now seen them 16 times since. We’re happy, they’re happy, I can’t truly believe this is the end. Anything could happen.
