I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: April 22, 2025] Menno Versteeg

Menno Versteeg is a Canadian musician who fronted the awesomely-named (but I’ve never heard or heard of) Hollerado.  I wasn’t aware of him until this show, and I’m not sure how “big” he is in Canada.

Menno was very funny–a lighthearted storyteller (even if the stories were kind of dark).  Sadly, we walked in during the first song (WCL can be a real pain to get to), but we didn’t miss much.

It was him and his acoustic guitar playing songs from Why We Run, his debut solo album–although he has released music under the name Mav Carlo as well.

His songs were about a rough life as a youth in Canada

We would to drink enough whatever there was
To kill a clydesdale every night
But we’d do enough drugs and punching,
To bring that same horse back to life  [from Videostore]

There was a country vibe, but like most of Canadian country music, there wasn’t that awful twang in the vocals.

I particularly enjoyed the two dog songs.  The 4o some second I Got a Dog which is (entirely):

My mother is dyslexic
Sometimes her letters switch around
She failed grade 10 like a good artist does
And passed those ğood ġenes down
She faints plowers, like she saints pun-sets
Haints her Peart when She bolds a hush
And she assured me I would rind my dog
When I wasn’t in a fush

And then Bad Dog was a funny song story about a real bad dog–but Menno loves him still.

Menno’s way with words was really charming.  Like Fish Out of Water

A big mouth kid moves to a small town
Makes for a real messy opening verse
I was eight years old when I got my nose first busted
Up all over my shirt

Chnage a Tire was a fun, more bouncy song that has a practical component:

Just like my father showed me
Change a tire with my own bare hands
One! Check the back
Is there a jack and spare?
Two! If the wheels move
Stuff some cans to keep em there.
Three! Loosen the lug nuts
Crank that car up off the ground
Four! Take one off, put one on
Then ease that thing back down
Five – make sure it’s tight enough
Six!- Give it a kick
Seven- get back on the road
Then get the hell out of there quick

It seemed like he was nervous, but he’s been doing this for 20+ years, so  I don’t think he was.  Unless it’s just unnerving being a solo singer after years of being head of a band.  Whether nervous or not, he was charming and funny and I enjoyed his set a lot.  His album is a little more mellow/country than I’d like, but as a live performer, he was great.

1. Videostore ¥
2. Don’t Look Away ¥
3. I Got a Dog ¥
4. Bad Dog ¥
5. Fish Out of Water ¥
6. Change a Tire ¥
7. A Light on in You ¥

¥ Why We Run (2024)