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.
Pure Emotion
Hollerado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pure emotion is signing up for service
Just to get some revenge on the world
Pure emotion don’t make your hand in flatteries
Only as fresh with the nurse
Now don’t you make me make me make me
They caught a feeling just to sell it along
So I try not to forget
Pure emotion
I take
(Verse)
Who did you love and like the empire day
I went for shifts at Cologne
Ain’t it too hot? It’s like a kingdom honey
I wait for the walls to come down
I want a chance to say I told you so
That bare emotion take a day and hold
(Chorus x2)
I try not to forget
Pure emotion
Is not safe in your hands
Pure emotion
Is not safe in your hands
Pure emotion
Is not safe in your hands
In Hollerado's song "Pure Emotion," the band explores the theme of raw emotion and the danger of allowing it to control one's actions. The lyrics in the first verse describe someone signing up for military service to exact vengeance on the world, highlighting the power of anger and the desire for retribution. However, the lyrics caution that pure emotion should not be used to manipulate others through false flattery, as it is not genuine.
In the second verse, the lyrics allude to the collapse of empires and the idea that power structures are not stable. The singer expresses a desire for the walls to come down, perhaps to release the pent-up emotions that are trapped behind them. The chorus repeats the message that pure emotion is not safe in one's hands, emphasizing that emotions can be destructive if not controlled.
Overall, "Pure Emotion" is a warning against allowing emotions to rule one's actions and decisions. It urges listeners to be mindful of their emotions and to remember that pure emotion, while powerful and undeniable, can also be dangerous if not handled with care.
Line by Line Meaning
Pure emotion is signing up for service
Experiencing strong feelings can lead one to make impulsive decisions like joining the military.
Just to get some revenge on the world
People may join the military for a sense of revenge and empowerment.
Pure emotion don’t make your hand in flatteries
Sincere feelings should not lead someone to insincere actions, such as false compliments.
Only as fresh with the nurse
Genuine emotions can be shared with medical professionals to receive proper care and attention.
They caught a feeling just to sell it along
Society has a tendency to exploit and sell human emotions for profit.
So I try not to forget
The singer is actively attempting to hold onto their genuine emotions and not let them be influenced or manipulated by society.
Who did you love and like the empire day
People may feel nostalgic for the days of past empires and romantic relationships that existed during that time.
I went for shifts at Cologne
The singer references working in Cologne, Germany, possibly highlighting the mundanity and forced routine of everyday life.
Ain’t it too hot? It’s like a kingdom honey
The singer questions the oppressive nature of contemporary society, comparing it to the intensity of a kingdom.
I wait for the walls to come down
The singer is waiting for an opportunity to break free from societal constructs and limitations.
That bare emotion take a day and hold
The singer suggests that raw, authentic emotions should be treasured and guarded with intention.
I try not to forget
The singer reiterates their intention to hold onto genuine emotions despite societal pressures.
Pure emotion
The singer emphasizes the importance and authenticity of genuine emotions.
Is not safe in your hands
The singer warns that societal exploitation of human emotions is dangerous and detrimental to genuine emotional experiences.
Pure emotion
The singer reiterates the importance and authenticity of genuine emotions.
Is not safe in your hands
The singer repeats his warning that societal exploitation of human emotions is dangerous and detrimental to genuine emotional experiences.
Contributed by Aubrey A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.