CMW 2008: Hollerado
Tuesday March 04, 2008 @ 11:00 AM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff

Hollerado

Hometown: Montreal, QC via Manotick, ON
Official Website: www.hollerado.com
Members:
Menno Versteeg (vocals/guitars)
Nixon Boyd (vocals/guitars)
Dean Baxter (bass)
Jake Boyd (drums)

Montreal by way of Manotick party-hearty rockers Hollerado are looking to save themselves money as well as the need to brown bag your lunch. In what started as a frugal way to package their demo CDs, the group began packing the discs in plastic sandwich bags, naturally calling them Demo In A Bag. They're up to their fifth bagged demo series, which has now found its way onto iTunes. They also recently released their first video, "Americanarama," starring Kids In The Hall member Dave Foley. Not bad for a band that treats their albums like celery sticks. Menno Versteeg, bestow us with your wisdom…

So, you're about to play the big industry event that is Canadian Music Week. What's the most shameless thing you've ever done to promote your band?
Menno Versteeg: This is kind of a big secret, but when we're broke on tour, by necessity, we go to malls and we stand outside the Hot Topics with a Discman and we get kids and their moms to listen. That's how we started selling Demo In A Bag. It's pretty shameless. You feel like a total loser standing in the mall, but it works.

What's the hardest part about being an up-and-coming band?
There's really nothing hard about it; it's the best feeling in the world. Ask me what the hardest part about my shitty day job wearing a sign board walking down the street is? The hardest part about that is 12 year-olds throwing rocks at you. Loading gear, yeah it sucks, but you can't complain. If anyone complains about that, they deserve a kick in the mouth.

How important is it for your band members to circulate and flirt with the audience before or after the show?
It's just fun hanging out and talking to people. I like it. Don't they have a word for it, when you're at CMW and it's like your job to talk to people?

Have you ever stolen from someone else's rider? If so, who was it and what did you take?
Yes. As soon as the headliner goes on stage, they better keep a guard on their beer fridge. The last show, we ate most of Priestess' vegetables. We noticed as you go up the ranks you start with just water, or nothing, then you get beer and water, and then bags of chips... and beer... and water. The highest we've ever been was opening for Andrew W.K. We got Jack Daniels, beer, chips, water and towels! We went up to Priestess' dressing room and they had fruits, vegetables and deli meats. We realized that's the next step. They had twice as much beer and twice as much whiskey. We couldn't get into Andrew W.K.'s dressing room but we imagine it's something even better.

Have you ever been graded before according to ChartAttack.com's Rock 'n' Roll Report Cards?
We did; graded at NXNE. They said we had bad haircuts. Maybe if the report card person is at the show for CMW, I can bring some scissors and say, "Hey fucker, cut my hair on stage, and then it's your fault if you give us a bad mark because of our haircuts." That's an open invitation to whoever's reviewing CMW to bring scissors.

How did the grade make you feel? Does the idea of being graded bring back bad memories of being in elementary school or high school?
It definitely brought back memories. This is rock 'n' roll — what's up with the report card? I guess it's cool. I mean, that's what reviews are, just that they don't usually give you a letter grade. It's neat that they broke it down like that.

Have you done anything new or interesting this week?
Right now, it's my first time producing a band, The Rough Sea. This week in particular... no. I'm sure I have, I just can't think of it.

Hollerado play the Horseshoe Tavern on Friday, March 7 at 8:40 p.m. as part of the annual Chart/Horseshoe/Canadian Music Week showcase.

—Erik Leijon