In

a while, I will be heading to Sparks to attend a "free" concert at Victorian Square. It features 1960s relics Mitch Ryder, 61, and Gary "U.S." Bonds, 67.

In the old days of Hot August Nights, the musical acts were the big draw; but years later, with some members of vintage acts dead or retired and the bigger names too goddamned greedy to give "free" concerts to the public, these have given way to the cars.

The cars are great, and even with more '60s "muscle cars" than I care to see, there are plenty of classic '40s and '50s cars.

Earlier I went back to the Peppermill casino and blew in more money, this time on autographs from television stars from "yesteryear," including Jon Provost (Lassie), Cindy Williams (Laverne & Shirley), and Ken Osmond and Frank Bank (Leave It to Beaver). I didn't spend that much on autographs, but when I am somewhat short of cash and plan to head to Oregon tomorrow, I squandered a bit.

Frank Bank also was selling autographs of various movie and television performers on behalf of somebody from New York. Those would have been too "big ticket" for me for the time being (for example, there were autographs of Marlon Brando, Johnny Carson, and Jack Nicholson). But he was selling quite a few of them. As for those he was selling of himself and Ken Osmond, the proceeds go to charity. Bank, who was an investment banker after Beaver went off the air, certainly doesn't need the money.

The stars were nice and I had them sign the pictures without personalizing them. Afterwards, I headed over to the Atlantis casino to look at the cars there.

I walked a hell of a lot today. Earlier in the day, I headed downtown to where there were still more vintage cars and snapped quite a few pictures. When I finally feel like getting the pictures processed and have the money to do it, I will upload them on the blog.

I will probably be leaving later in the morning than normal because I want to go to the bank and take about $100 out to make up for the money I blew in today. Tragically, I am going to miss the free Village People concert, which will be held Friday night. They are such a hoot, but I gotta do what I gotta do. They'll probably be back next year.

As you will recall, my oldest sister is turning 70, which depresses the shit out of me, and there is going to be a surprise party at her house.

I can say that here because she doesn't have internet access.

Edit: I returned about a half an hour ago. It's too damned late to start packing, and I need to get off of here so I can go to bed. The concert was GREAT, but I could definitely tell where the fan base was; almost everybody attending were baby boomers. What a shame there weren't more people there, for both Ryder and Bonds were good. Ryder performed for a half an hour as the opening act for Bonds. At one point he swallowed a bug and had to wash it down with a drink of water. But you know the saying, "the show must go on..." and it did. I only wish he'd have performed for longer.

Bonds, best known for his 1960 hit, "New Orleans," is still no slouch, either. At one point he talked about his age and how he might be suffering from "half-Alzheimer's." Later on, he had his backup singers each perform a number, and he introduced each of them as "Laurie Anderson." I really thought he HAD lost it, but come to find out, both women have the same name, and they are his wife* and daughter. They are both very talented.

After the show was over with, the place, and I do mean the entire city of Sparks, seemed to go dead. Bonds signed some autographs, and naturally I spent more goddamned money on a picture and CD. It started raining a bit, so I had him sign my CD instead of the picture so the autograph wouldn't get wet.

Bonds' official site is here. Mitch Ryder's is here.

*--The CD I bought was a live concert recorded in 2000. On it, Bonds said he had been married to her for 37 years, so by now it is around 43 years. She looks good for her age, believe me.