I woke up November 24th (the day before I was to leave on tour out east) and I was sick… very sick. The kind of sick that kept me from eating because the thought of food made me gag. I don’t know if it was the stress from booking twenty-plus shows or the dread of leaving my family behind but something made its way passed my immune defenses and hit me hard. I spent the day in bed with a high fever, soaked in sweat, head pounding. Chelsea very kindly packed my suitcase and got things in order for me.
I woke up the next morning feeling slightly better… not great but I was functional. I dragged myself out of bed, showered, got dressed, and tried to eat. I gave Chels and Skyler a hug and closed the door behind me. It was heartbreaking to leave. I haven’t spent a night away from my son since he was born fourteen months ago. This was going to be a huge sacrifice… and it was. But I pushed through and left for the airport.
When I landed in Halifax, I immediately called Chels and Sky. I already missed them so much. I grabbed my luggage, got in my rental car and drove to Manduh’s house which was where I would be staying that Monday night. Her adorable niece and I became quick buds! (If you look closely at the picture below, you’ll notice a signed photograph of myself that Manduh ordered a couple of years ago).
I played my first Halifax show ever that night at The Carlton which had a wonderful view of the rainy streets. Afterwards, I headed back to Manduh’s place and prepared my bed on her floor – a free place to stay on tour is appreciated no matter what. The next morning, I drove downtown. It was rainy but I was able to make it out to the harbour and it was beautiful. I’d love to return during warmer weather.
Next stop was Moncton. The drive was beautiful. Three hours later, I arrived at Plan B. Marcus, the bartender, welcomed me in. After my set, we went upstairs to the band apartment where he lives and stayed up watching YouTube videos, becoming fast friends. The following morning, I snapped a photo out the kitchen window and left for Saint John but not before thanking Tracy, the bar owner, for being so kind to me.
The drive to Saint John was terrifying. I was originally supposed to play Charlottetown that night but the bridge that leads into PEI was closed due to a storm. Winds were reaching 100km and the rain was relentless. I drove cautiously thinking about how my wife and son want me home in one piece. Thankfully, I made it there safely and was able to play an in-store performance at Backstreet Records the following afternoon.
It was at this show that I met a girl named Alyssa. She is really into the music I make. I had a bit of a rough time the night before because my show was cancelled so I had time to think which is never a good thing. I missed Chels and Sky a lot and I was beginning to feel lonely so having the opportunity to meet someone who was so grateful to listen to me play my songs really lifted my spirits significantly.
After that performance, I walked a few streets over to Magnolia Cafe to perform after local artist Apryll Aileen hit the stage. This girl went out of her way to help me get a deal on a hotel before we even met face to face so she was already good in my books. A man named Jeff was responsible for putting the show together and was a really great dude to chat with. The three of us had a great show which further lightened my mood.
It was now Friday. I decided to play another set at Backstreet Records then I left for Fredericton. I arrived at the University, played in the lounge then played to a packed room at the University bar. It was during this performance that I spotted someone from the corner of my eye. It turned out to be a girl named Katie who has been listening to and supporting my music since the Euphoria’s Depression days! So awesome.
I passed my time the following day at a movie theater then played my last east coast show and it was not a pleasant experience. I then made my way back to Halifax stopping at Plan B to crash for the night. This is where I shared a bed with a random dude from a Nova Scotia band. I was already half-asleep when his band-mates carried him onto the bed. I had a choice to move to the floor or stay where I was… I chose to stay.
Sunday morning had me realizing my cold from the previous week had returned and I was thankful to be going home. It was snowing on my three hour drive to the airport and my flight was delayed. When I finally landed in Toronto, Chelsea surprised me with food and we sat in the airport eating together. I was so happy to see her and excited to go home to my son. Chelsea played such a crucial role in making this tour happen and I’m so grateful for it. I haven’t stopped hugging her and Sky since I got home.
