East Pointers decide to continue after death of band member

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Tim Chaisson and Jake Charron have determined to proceed because the East Pointers following the demise of bandmate Koady Chaisson this previous January.

The surviving members are easing ahead slowly, selecting to launch a seven-track EP on Sept. 30, that includes music they recorded with Koady.

SaltWire Community sat down with Tim and Jake on Sept. 16 to speak about what has been a tragic and troublesome 12 months, the brand new songs and the choice to proceed as a band.

“I believe it’s simply one thing we knew we needed to do immediately,’’ Jake mentioned, referring to the beforehand unreleased materials. “Koady had these songs; we had all these songs that we had recorded with Koady earlier than he handed. There may be nonetheless a few of the story to be informed, nonetheless some songs to be launched. I believe it was shortly a precedence to get the songs out to the world.’’

Jake mentioned Koady was excited concerning the new materials, so it solely felt like a pure first step within the band’s evolution right into a world with out him.

Tim and Jake discovered a observe of Koady’s that they chose because the album’s first tune.

“It’s simply him taking part in the tenor guitar on an instrumental observe referred to as Home of Goals, which is definitely the title of the entire EP,’’ mentioned Tim Chaisson, who’s Koady’s first cousin.

Tim and Jake aren’t able to make any selections on dwell gigs.

“We’re kind of specializing in the recordings, for now,’’ Jake mentioned. “(However), we’re positively not going to cease. The East Pointers will dwell on to some extent. We’re simply kind of navigating that path slowly.’’

The band has had jammed with members of Vishtèn the previous few months.

“We reached out a few months in the past after Pastelle (LeBlanc) had handed away,’’ Tim mentioned, referring to one of many members of Vishtèn who died this 12 months. “We actually wanted to get collectively and play some music for all of us. It was a part of the therapeutic course of, and it was a lot enjoyable.’’

“There may be nonetheless a few of the story to be informed, nonetheless some songs to be launched.’’

Jake Charron

Tim added that jamming with Vishtèn and releasing the brand new songs have all been little steps in a journey for the band this 12 months.

Tim and Jake have been additionally arduous at work on the Harvest Dwelling Pageant, which was speculated to have taken place Sept. 23-24 on the Rollo Bay Fiddle Grounds. The East Pointers launched the occasion in 2020 when the band’s tour was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Plans have been underway for an excellent bigger occasion in 2021 when COVID-19 pressured its cancellation.

“Placing this (new) music out and dealing on the pageant (in 2022) has stored our spirits excessive,’’ Tim mentioned within the interview Sept. 16.

Nevertheless, in an e-mail to SaltWire Community on Sept. 21, Tim mentioned he and Jake made the disappointing resolution to cancel the pageant with hurricane Fiona anticipated to affect P.E.I. on the weekend.

“We put our hearts and souls into this over the past 12 months and have been actually hoping for a particular weekend with all of you … however what’s extra essential is that everybody stays secure this weekend,’’ learn an announcement from the band on the pageant web site.

Dave Stewart is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He might be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @DveStewart