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.
Wonder Velocity Charlie and Me
Hollerado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had a dream we were standing in a grand ovation
And computers played along in a play about creation
I was born in a house but I lived in this world
And for now it’s the best place we got
And for now it’s the best home we got
(Verse)
Levitation is made out of jet fuel and patience
And words can serve, can create frustration
Of love by the heard and the hope full of nations
But the nation is a patient, the creation is station
The patient location, our creation will change you
Will change you, we’ll change you
Now becoming grateful
I can’t get the rest, but what should I do?
The lyrics to Hollerado's song Wonder Velocity Charlie And Me are a reflection on the mysteries of the universe and our place within it. The first verse speaks to a dream the singer had, where they were amidst an elaborate production about creation, complete with computers and a grand ovation. This dream could be interpreted as a manifestation of the singer's desire to understand the complexities of the universe and the role of humanity within it.
The second verse delves deeper into this desire for understanding, referencing concepts like gravitation and levitation, and how they relate to our existence. The line "words can serve, can create frustration" speaks to the limitations of language and our inability to fully articulate the mysteries of the universe. Despite this frustration, the singer holds onto hope for the potential of humanity to create positive change ("the hope full of nations").
Overall, this song seems to convey a sense of wonder and awe towards the universe, while acknowledging the limitations of our understanding. It encourages the listener to embrace their curiosity and strive towards greater knowledge and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream we were standing in a grand ovation
I dreamt of a glorious celebration of our existence
And computers played along in a play about creation
Technology was a part of this theatrical representation of our origins
I was born in a house but I lived in this world
Although my origin was humble, my life has been part of something greater than myself
And for now it’s the best place we got
We may not have a perfect world, but it's the best one we currently have
And elation about space can locate gravitation
Our fascination with the cosmos can reveal the forces that make the universe function
Levitation is made out of jet fuel and patience
Sometimes achieving the impossible requires a combination of resources and persistence
And words can serve, can create frustration
Language has the power to inspire and irritate
Of love by the heard and the hope full of nations
People may be moved by messages of love and the promise of a brighter future for all nations
But the nation is a patient, the creation is station
The development of society takes time and requires patience - we are all in this process together
The patient location, our creation will change you
If we remain steadfast in our collective efforts to improve our world, positive change can happen
Will change you, we’ll change you
We are all capable of being agents of change, for ourselves and for others
Now becoming grateful
By recognizing the world's imperfections, we can develop a deeper appreciation for the good things in our lives
I can’t get the rest, but what should I do?
Although there may be parts of the world and its workings that elude us, it is important to keep asking questions and seeking understanding
Contributed by Grayson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Chapolinho316
You can’t just listen to this track by itself…. It goes directly with ‘’Don’t Think’’ which is the second track off the album. You literally can’t separate the two. On the CD, when this one ends and ‘’Don’t Think’’ immediately hits, IT’S AMAZING!
@shelbypreston7237
omfg
@malevolentindulgence7455
wth is this