[here]Live!
Published Wednesday September 3rd, 2008
In 2007 Geoff's place was an eruption of parties. He was living on a corner in Dieppe's seedy underbelly. It was the perfect location for a party house because there was only one serious noise complaint threat at one house in the vicinity, and luckily that home was filled with Geoff's friends: Upstanding young citizens that also enjoyed punk rock, metal, and general debauchery. All the puzzle pieces were in place, and without noise complaints the police were powerless to stop him. Moss masterminded six killer parties in 2007, each went by the code name "Messfest".
In 2008 the party was over. The lease was up and the renew option was mysteriously missing from the bargaining table. Geoff turned to his friends for help, and although many people had enjoyed Geoff's parties, no one was actually dumb enough to offer their home as a Messfest venue. The situation was serious. Obviously there was no hope of maintaining the established party pace, but would anyone step-up to keep Messfest alive, or would it die completely? Geoff refused to accept its death and proposed a format change, Messfest the house party, would become Messtival the outdoor music festival. Geoff's good friend Leo offered his parents cottage in Canaan Forks, N.B. as the venue, and with that Messfest's shallow plus began to strengthen.
Gong show is how I'd describe Messtival. Two-hundred people, more than a dozen punk rock and metal bands, a substantial amount of alcohol, and mustaches. Honestly I don't fully understand the significance of the moustache, all I can say is that more than a few young men combined a crumb catcher with a t-shirt advertising "Free Moustache Rides". Not a great look. Funny for sure, but also kind of creepy.
One man clearly led the stash dash, he spent his evening wandering through the crowd with an electric razor transforming beards into some of the greasiest ticklers I've seen. I have no idea what his moustache tally was - I'm guessing double digits - but I can tell you his most memorable whisker trim came during the Motorleague set when he waltzed onstage and started hacking away at the front man's beard mid-song.
I tapped out around 5 a.m., at the end of the Motorleague set, with what I'm guessing was the evening's climax. This performance had everything, lippy heckles, spastic dancing, the aforementioned Barber cameo, and a scream along. Yes there was a healthy scream along with as many people onstage as in front of it. It really was a special moment.
I never had the chance to go to a Messfest, but with regards to Messtival, I think I speak for everyone in attendance when I say - Wicked party Geoff, really looking forward to the sequel.
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