Pop rock band Hollerado is on a mission to find out what mayors are doing in cities across Canada- and to play some music while they’re at it.
After becoming frustrated with some of the actions of Toronto’s mayor, Rob Ford, the Ontario-based band decided to do a tour where they would meet the mayors of each city along the way.
“We were sitting around chatting about the mayor of Toronto and how he’s done some things recently that we don’t really agree with and how he’s becoming someone who we don’t really respect anymore,” said guitarist Nixon Boyd. “We wondered if there were people behind the politicians in other cities who we might learn more about being a mayor from.”
What started out as a joke on Twitter has become a 22-stop tour, crossing five provinces. The four members of Hollerado, Menno Versteeg (vocals, guitar), Dean Baxter (bass), Jake Boyd (drums) and Nixon Boyd stopped at Joe’s Garage in Lethbridge on Sept. 19 to have a talk with Mayor Rajko Dodic.
“When they first sent the email to the office, I wasn’t sure how to take it. But it took me about two seconds to say, ‘Well, this should be interesting, what the heck,’” said Dodic.
Hollerado had a few questions for the mayor, both funny and serious. When asked what challenges he faces as mayor of Lethbridge, Dodic said, “First you have to decide what success looks like to you, whether it’s making sure the roads are paved, if you have enough public transit – and then you budget for it.”
Dodic also got on stage for the first time in 30 years to play two songs with Hollerado – a blues jam and a cover of Neil Young’s Keep on Rocking in the Free World.
“If I had one complaint it would be that they gave me absolutely no time to practise and they gave me a Fender Telecaster which I generally don’t play at all. However, it was fun,” said Dodic. “Jeff Carlson was here from city council and he thoroughly enjoyed himself.”
Boyd said meeting Dodic and playing with him on stage was a highlight of the tour so far.
“He blew us away with his skills. He made me kind of nervous on stage. I was worried that I would fumble in his wake because he plays a mean guitar.”
Joining Hollerado on tour are Toronto bands Young Rival and Wildlife. All three bands had the crowd dancing and Boyd said they enjoyed the energy in the room.
“The audience was playing along and it was kind of a kooky set for us. I felt like we kept interrupting ourselves with the weird ideas we were getting, but it was a lot of fun. It’s totally different every night.”
Hollerado’s Meet the Mayor tour will wrap up on Nov. 24 in St. Catharine’s, Ont.
Photo:
Canadian pop rock band, Hollerado plays at Joe’s Garage with Mayor Rajko Dodic Sept.19 for their "Meet the Mayor" tour. A successful tour so far, comprising of 22 stops and five provinces.