During the early years of the band, many demos were recorded and ripped to CDs which were often distributed for free. The demos were titled “Demo in a Bag” and the name references the fact that the CDs were “distributed” in plastic bags with homemade confetti.
In 2009, they self-released their debut album Record in a Bag in 2009 as a free download on their website. The name of their debut references their string of demos. Later that year, the band entered and won a “battle of the bands” contest in Ottawa, Ontario which was hosted by a local radio station. With the $250,000 prize money, the band reissued their self-released debut and formed Royal Mountain Records. Royal Mountain Records has since helped launch the career of other Toronto, Ontario artists such as PUP and Alvvays.
In 2011, the band was nominated for the Best New Group Award at the Canadian music awards show the 2011 Juno Awards, but lost out to Said the Whale
On February 26, 2013, the band released their second LP, White Paint. The pre-order sales of this album lead to the ambitious 111 Songs project which was eventually released in 2015. At the time, Hollerado stated "as part of the deal we would write them a custom song. The idea was the person would send us their name and where they were from and two facts about themselves, and a few months later we would send them a song we wrote for them”. The band sold over 100 of these packages before they realized the tremendous amount of work all these original songs would be. “111 Songs” actually resulted in two years of work on the songs and many of the songs were used in the band's third full-length album Born Yesterday which was released in 2017.
In early 2019, Hollerado announced the group would be disbanding following one last album and tour. Retaliation Vacation was released later that year and the band embarked on a final tour titled The One Last Time Tour. The band played their final shows on December 11th-13th at the Danforth Music Hall with a final performance at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on December 14, 2019.
Since the disbandment, frontman Menno Versteeg (vocals, guitar) has joined the Canadian supergroup Anyway Gang and released some music under the moniker Mav Karlo. Jake Boyd (drums) is part of the newly formed supergroup Girlfriend Material. Nixon Boyd (guitar) is an additional guitarist/tour guitarist in “Anyway Gang” and is credited as as a producer/composer on many albums/songs from bands signed under Royal Mountain Records.
Born Yesterday
Hollerado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kicked in by a wild love
And it drained
The colour out of my blood
I'd smell her sweat
On every man that I'd see
And I'd wake up sick from drugging myself to sleep
But you make me feel
Like I've never been broken
Never been broken.
You make me feel
Like I was born yesterday
Like I've never been broken
Never been broken.
I was jagged glass
Deep underwater
Till I washed up
Soft on your shore
Your healing eyes
Shine like??
And I am the first human to look upwards in the night
You make me feel
Like I was born yesterday
Like I've never been broken
Never been broken.
You make me feel
Like I was born yesterday
Like I've never been broken
Never been broken.
Oh don't let go
I won't let go
So don't let go
You make me feel
Like I was born yesterday
Like I've never been broken
Never been broken.
You make me feel
Like I was born yesterday
Like I've never been broken
Never been broken.
You make me go "Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah".
You make me go "Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah".
You make me go "Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah".
You make me go "Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah".
The lyrics of Hollerado's "Born Yesterday" speak to the transformative power of love. The song's narrator describes a painful past experience with love that left him feeling defeated and broken. He contrasts this with the present moment where he has found someone who makes him feel as though he is being reborn. The first few lines describe the aftermath of a wild and passionate love affair that seems to have left the singer hollowed out. He describes how the intensity of the experience has drained the color from his blood, leaving him feeling listless and sick. He also suggests that the experience has made it difficult for him to trust others.
The second verse introduces the idea of this newfound love being like a healing balm. The singer compares his earlier self to "jagged glass," imagery that reinforces the idea that he was broken and unsteady. In contrast, he suggests that his love for this new person has helped him to wash up "soft on your shore" and find a sense of stability. He describes their eyes as "healing," suggesting that his partner's gaze has the power to bring him back to life. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes this feeling of rejuvenation and rebirth. Through the entirety of the song, the singer is pleading not to let go, to stay in this feeling of new beginnings that his love has brought him.
Line by Line Meaning
I had my head
I was previously in a confused and negative state of mind
Kicked in by a wild love
Caused by an intense, passionate love
And it drained
It exhausted me both physically and emotionally
The colour out of my blood
It made me feel lifeless and without energy
I'd smell her sweat
I was haunted by memories of the person who broke me
On every man that I'd see
I projected my hurt and emotions onto others
And I'd wake up sick from drugging myself to sleep
I tried to self-medicate to cope with the pain
But you make me feel
Now I am experiencing a positive and healing relationship
Like I was born yesterday
I feel like a new person, unburdened by past hurt
Like I've never been broken
This new relationship has healed my past wounds
I was jagged glass
I was sharp and fragmented from past hurt
Deep underwater
I was struggling to stay afloat and survive
Till I washed up
Until I found the connection and support I needed
Soft on your shore
With someone that helps me feel safe and nurtured
Your healing eyes
This person has the power to heal me with their love and presence
Shine like??
Radiate warmth and positivity, making me feel secure
And I am the first human to look upwards in the night
Now I am seeing the world in a new and positive light
Oh don't let go
I want to maintain this positive connection and relationship
I won't let go
I am committed to making this work and maintaining this positive change
So don't let go
I want to feel secure and supported by this person
You make me go "Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah"
This person makes me feel ecstatic and overjoyed
Writer(s): Dean Baxter, Jake Boyd, Menno Versteeg, Nick Boyd
Contributed by Nicholas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Scott Rollans
Great to hear you guys are still having a blast. Touring involves a lot of effort and sacrifice, and your fans appreciate everything you put into your music. Can't wait to hear the full album. Oh, and a shout-out to Factor for supporting great Canuck indie music.
Dries Van Gasse
I saw you guys supporting Sum 41 in Tilburg last week (10/03), I'm so glad I bought the album! Do what you guys are good at: Playing, enjoying yourself and entertaining us!
Chris Jarman
The best shredding song ever. Had this on heavy rotation everywhere from Tremblant to Whistler this season. Never gets old.
Capital S
hollerado can do no wrong! I love this song so much! that pop punk vibe and the up beat nature of the song just has me hooked, favorite band!
James McLeod
White paint ✓
Naked solo ✓
Goat ✓
Eyeball thing from Pan's Labyrinth ✓
12/10 perfect score
Aaron Holder
I wasn't sure if that was the actual reference! glad somebody else caught it too
kyle shillitto
Love this song, and band.
Capital S
I saw them for he first time opening for Billy talent in Ottawa and I've been hooked ever since!
Elliott Saw
saw you in rock city Nottingham. Great sound! Songs on repeat.
Boredhuman99
Saw them last night at rock city
One of the best supporting acts I've seen