Dave Mac Donald started playing guitar in 1963 with help from Roy Gould at the Beta Upsilon chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon, Univeristy of Maine, Orono. In the spring of 1964 Sarge Means ran for campus mayor and asked Dave and Rod Brown to play on the back of an open flat bed. They had serious misgivings, but Sarge assured them that truck would be constantly moving so they could play one song continuously without fear of exposing their limited ability. So they played ‘Wipe Out’ – over and over – but suddenly realized all motion had stopped and looked up. To their horror, the flat bed had stopped and there were more than 60 kids dancing in the street! Someone yelled “keep playing, they love it!” and so the “Go Nads” were formed. They played one dance which ended when they ran out of the 4 songs they had quickly learned and had played them for the 3rd time. (Wipe Out, Louie, Louie, Torture, Torquay). They jammed together until the semester ended.
In 1965, after graduation, Dave had help from two talented guitarists: Gary Lowatchie of the “Capris” and Peter Giftos of the “Cumberlands”.
From 1967 through 1971, Dave played at parties with drummer Harold ‘Red’ Bruns and various singers, as “The Nads”.
In late 1968 and early 1969, Dave played with The “Twilighters”, a pop / country group, at the Valley Street Eagles Club and at other local dance halls with Reggie Garrison. Reggie played keyboards and sang with Gary’s group “The Capris”, not the same as the 1950’s doo wop groups on record labels: Gotham (God Only Knows), Old Town & Planet (There’s A Moon Out Tonight), Sabre (My Promise To You), Tender (Endless Love), Fable (This Is Goodbye), Lifetime (Oh, My Darling). With the addition of a few rock and roll songs and a more enthusiastic audience, the Twilighter’s drummer thought we were so good that, without asking the band, he went to the manager and demanded a raise. In response, the manager fired us.
In late 1972 & early 1973, Keith Gaudette, formerly with the Whitehall group “Rush” and the group “Pegasus”, played keyboards and sang, with Dave on guitar at a few parties.
During the summer of 1973, a cellar band was loosely formed when Dave met Barry Atwood. Barry was a guitarist, pianist and singer previously with Vic Pinansky’s Colby College band “Love Equation” from 1967 through 1969. Hover over Tidalwaves above & select Band Evolutions. “Love Equation” opened for Janis Joplin at Colby in 1969.
Red Bruns played drums a few times and after leaving, was followed briefly by Sandy Mac Donald and then in 1976 by singer, drummer Jim Lavelle.
In 1980, Barry suggested they take their cellar band out on the lawn and play to the beach crowd on July 4th. Barry introduced the band as The Tidal Waves. Their repertoire was sparse but Barry talked with a John Lennon accent and produced long humoristic intros before each song. They played Pipeline. Dave sang Louie Louie, Woolly Bully and Satisfaction. Barry sang Get off My Cloud, King Bee, Tell Me, Wake Me Shake Me and several Buddy Holly songs. Jim sang Kansas City, Memphis, House of the Rising Sun, Honky-tonk Women, Daddy’s Home and Summertime.
In 1981, bassist, guitarist and singer Charlie Osgood joined, staying until 2009, when he left due to severe back problems.
In 1982 vocalist, drummer, keyboardist and bass player Debbie Heald, formerly drummer and vocalist for the Melrose, Ma group “Family Affair”, (for photo see Band Evolutions) joined and stayed until 2012. By the end of 1984, the name “The Tidal Waves” finally stuck.
During the early 1980’s, several guest musicians played with the group – such as singer, guitarist Keats French and guitarists Tony Blanchard, Dave Babbs, Jim Katsiaficas, Chris Burns, and Kevin McCutcheon.
In 1983, Jim Lavelle continued singing but left the skins to be replaced by drummer, vocalist Keith Gorman. Keith stayed with the group for 22 years but was forced to give up drumming due to wrist problems. He continued singing occasionally through 2008.
By 1984, Barry had moved away but joined the group for a final appearance at the 1984 July Concert.
In 1988 guitarist Bill Muller joined for 2 years. The same year, The Tidal Waves produced a cassette tape engineered by Harry King and recorded at Eddie Boucher’s EAB Studios in Lewiston, Maine.
In 1990 singer, pianist Abby DiStasio Hutchins joined the group for 4 years and continued performing occasionally for 16 years.
In 1992 singer, pianist, guitarist, bassist and harmonica player Chris Tanguay joined and stayed through 2012, engineering the final recording sessions.
In 1993 studio technician, singer, guitarist Darren MacDonald joined for 9 years. He continues to help with website development.
In 1997, Dave suggested they change their name to “The Tidalwaves”, since a group with the name Tidal Waves had existed in New Hampshire during the 1960’s. Only Dave seemed psyched for the name change. At the time, no one was aware of the Michigan garage band, the New Jersey party band or the South African reggae group all with the same name, until they appeared on you tube or google searches. See Other Tidal Wave Bands under Tidalwaves above.
In 2002 drummer Isaac Misiuk joined for 4 years and Keith started splitting drumming duties with both Isaac and Debbie.
Also in 2002 saxophonist, singer, pianist Jessica Libby joined and stayed until 2012.
In 2003 singer, pianist, xylophonist and drummer Haley Osgood joined and stayed through 2009.
In 2006 Debbie and Haley took over all the drumming duties.
In 2008 Mike Beaudoin, recording engineer, helped set up a recording studio.
In 2010 Darren created the website and a Facebook page. Dave started using the name he’d suggested years earlier, “The Tidalwaves”.
In 2011, 2012, the group finished work on a recording of “Trouble Again”.
In 2012, Darren and Dave designed Tsunami Records and released the songs recorded in 1988 as videos on you tube. With the release of these songs, the band stopped recording. There are a total of 79 videos on YouTube.
In 2019, Tom MacDonald, a guitarist and drummer, helped Dave improve the new website and feather some videos from beach concerts so they could be added to YouTube.
Every summer, around July 4th, from 1980 through 2009, the Tidalwaves put on open air concerts for the public at Higgins Beach, Scarborough, Maine. The group performed 2 or 3 sets of 10 to 12 songs each on the lawn at 5 Vesper St. Starting in 1983, video recordings were made most years.
Over the years, various members of the Tidalwaves have played with Paul Tanguay, pianist and vocalist for “The Strayers”. The Strayers recorded Call Me Mr. Lonesome b/w Why Do You Really Care? on Colt 45 in the late 1950’s. The record was only released locally in the DC area. Some of the other members of the Strayers were: Jackie Wallaber, vocals, Jim Swisher on drums and Alan Springer on sax.