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.
Lonesome George
Hollerado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This weary heart don’t hear so good
We sleep all day
So we can love through one more night
Don’t wait
When it’s time for you
To walk brave into the dark
And I’m low in this world for a while
Walk over me
You got no way
You got no way to break my heart
You got no way
You got no way to break my heart
You got no way
You got no way to break my heart
‘Cause it’s mine
And it knows
You are everywhere
Walk over me
Walk over me
The lyrics to Hollerado's song Lonesome George feel like a slow and introspective ballad, with lead singer Menno Versteeg crooning "Talk slow my love, this weary heart don’t hear so good" over a gentle guitar melody. It paints a picture of a relationship that is struggling, with the couple sleeping all day so that they can "love through one more night." The lines "Don’t wait, when it’s time for you to walk brave into the dark, and I’m low in this world for a while" invoke a sense of loneliness and fear of abandonment.
The chorus shifts to a more upbeat and confident tone, with Versteeg proclaiming "You got no way to break my heart, 'cause it’s mine and it knows you are everywhere." It feels like a defense mechanism, a way to convince himself that he is in control and won't let anyone else hurt him. The repetition of "Walk over me" at the end of the song feels like a surrender, an acknowledgement that even though he is trying to protect himself, he still wants to be close to his lover and is willing to be vulnerable with them.
Overall, Lonesome George is a complex and emotional song that explores themes of love, fear, and vulnerability. The lyrics capture the way that relationships can be both beautiful and terrifying, and the conflicting desire to protect oneself while still being open to intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Talk slow my love
Speak slowly and clearly, my love
This weary heart don’t hear so good
My heart is tired and may not fully understand what you say
We sleep all day
We spend our days sleeping
So we can love through one more night
We rest during the day so we have energy to love each other at night
Don’t wait
Don't delay or hesitate
When it’s time for you
When the situation calls for it
To walk brave into the dark
To face a scary or unknown situation with courage
And I’m low in this world for a while
I am feeling down or depressed
Walk over me
Step on me, use me as a way to get past your troubles
You got no way
You have no means or ability
You got no way to break my heart
You cannot hurt me emotionally
‘Cause it’s mine
My heart is mine and under my control
And it knows
My heart is aware of what is happening around me
You are everywhere
You are always present in my thoughts and emotions
Walk over me
Step over me, use me as a stepping stone
Contributed by Camden J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RadioactiveRaisin1
I cried. I love this song. Poor George. I can't imagine facing 30 years alone.
Michelle Turmart
H me wa 50 years alone in his cave before that george was over 100 years old
MiraB
I can't even put into words how absolutely beautiful this song, and the story behind it, is. I'm trying my best not to think too much about it because it definitely has the ability to have me in tears for days. Brilliant song. Bravo.
Jazz_Prodzz🏀
R.I.P Lonesome George and his species, really makes me shed a tear to what we have done to these beautiful species.
:’(
PolecatPlays
You guys always find new ways to impress me, great song with great meaning
HoneysEffect
ahhh, hollerado you touch my heart... It sucks that so many beautiful species of animals are going extinct.... rest in peace George... the song by the way, I love it
Adam Thornton
had a smile on my face this whole song. made something sorta happy about something really saddening... <3 Hollerado <3
JohnnySarcastic
Son of a gun, fellas. This song made me feel feelings. Really well done.
air
Wow, I have a new respect for you Hollerado.
DavidCorporation
There are not enough thumbs in the world to like this video. Great song, very touching