The Beginning, The End, and The Party

It's the first Friday of September. Eyes red from tears, and mind sore from lack of sleep, I wake to hear the distinct sound of my father, Hugh MacDonald's dry cough. He passes, not noticing me in the crowd. I pull off the undershirt that I used to cover my eyes from the bright florescent lights in the Charlottetown airport and wave it in the air to get his attention. He turns and notices my groggy presence. It's 10:30am and I arrived at 9:15. I feel unready to wake from this, my first deep sleep of the night. "Let's go home."

Sometimes it's the most exciting times in life that are the worst, because every time we get something new, we have to leave something behind, even if only for a while. This was the day that I had to leave Morgan Saulnier in Newfoundland, studying her craft, so I could go on the road. I had left her many times before, and maybe it was the long summer together or the lack of sleep, but this one hit me hard. I spent all day wallowing in self-pity until I received a call.

"Dave, when are we leaving?"
"I don't know Al, Sunday I think, what are you doing tonight?"
"I'm having a party, and you better come."

Allister is my youngest brother, in spite of being older than me. He is also currently working for us as a sound man, roadie, and philosopher. He thrives on sincerity and cautiously offers us advice from the perspective of the crowd. The show always has to not only feel, but also be authentic, or he is not a fan. Allister and his room mates Kyle and Nick MacMillan also have ideas of what it means to have a good party, so I knew not to miss.

The party lived up to my expectations. It was a costume party, and I was Lance Armstrong. There was a ventriloquist, his dummy, a bee, and a dogs breakfast (featuring gym pants with a thigh placed zipper). There was live improv music in the basement, really high calibre stuff. Throughout the night I got to play with Rob and Colin, our bass and guitar players, Eric Coffin, the bass player for Stride, Matthew Chaisson, guitarist and drummer, Cody MacLeod, guitarist, Josh Montgomery, Bassist, and Miles Kinnee, Guitarist with the Cashmere Disciples. Prior to taking a turn on the drums, I heard a really killer energetic jam featuring Alex Docherty on the Drums. Alex also provided what was probably the party’s greatest asset, a bar in the kitchen. You gave Alex your booze and he whipped up delightful drinks and shooters. His use of mint leaves and citrus beverages was welcome. Each drink refreshed the senses.

At 9:30am I found myself awake in my car, covered with an array of clothing and posters that had been lying around my car. Refreshed and alert from a night of partying, I was back on my feet and in the right head space for a dangerously exciting tour.


Allister MacDonald on guitar and Alex Docherty on drums.

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