The last time Ottawa born, Toronto based indie rock band Hollerado were in Lethbridge, it was part of their ‘Meet The Mayor’s Tour’ and they welcomed Mayor Rajko Dodic on stage with them to play a couple songs with them.
“ Meeting your mayor was great. He’s a great guitarist and was really nice,” said Hollerado vocalist Menno Versteeg, adding he’d love to play with the mayor again.
“So 
yeah, let’s put out the invitation to him. If he’s around, we’d welcome him to join us again,” he enthused.
When they return to Lethbridge, June 20 to play Bo Diddly’s, it will just be part of a laid back ‘festival tour.’ in support of their latest CD “ White Paint” which they released in February.
“ It’s just a mini-tour. We’re playing Sled Island in Calgary and the Winnipeg Jazz Festival, so we thought seeing as we’re flying out west anyway, we might as well play Lethbridge,” said Versteeg, enjoying the music at the NorthbyNortheast Festival in Toronto.
“This is the first year I’ve seen it as just a fan. We’re usually playing it, ” he said.
The band, also including guitarist Nixon Boyd, drummer Jake Boyd and bassist Dean Baxter, enjoy playing festivals — even a jazz festival, which might seem like strange choice for an indie rock band.
“ The Winnipeg jazz festival will be a lot of fun,” Versteeg said.
“ But jazz and blues festivals aren’t really jazz and blues festivals anymore. It‘s usually a lot of fun to see a lot of bands. You get to see old friends and hang out with them. It’s like summer camp,” he continued.
He said people are responding positively to the new CD.
“Response has been great, but there’ s no overnight success. It’s a slow process,” he said.
They have already begun working on the followup, though none of the new songs are close to being ready.
“We’re still working on touring White Paint and playing it live,” he said.
Versteeg had a few personal issues to deal with on top of working on the CD — his Toronto apartment burned down in April, though luckily nobody was hurt.
“ Me and my wife are used to living out of backpacks. It was a pain in the ass, but we‘re dealing with it,” he said adding the Toronto music community came out to help them with donations.
In the meantime, the band is excited about getting back on the road.
“ It’s just the four of us in a van. We don't have a crew, so it’s really fun and it’s a bonding experience,” he said.
Hollerado and Jesse and the Dandelions begin their show at 9 p.m, June 20 at Bo Diddly’s.
Tickets are$20 in advance.
— By Richard Amery, L.A Beat Editor
