How did the band start?
The collaboration started when Mike asked Hannah to be the photographer for his band Undercard at a music festival in Oregon. He knew she was also a musician, and he offered to help her record a couple of her songs in exchange for media exposure of the weekend. On the way home they took turns driving, and whoever was in the passenger seat had the guitar.
Two musicians, one acoustic guitar, 10 hours on the road together. The only possible outcome was a handful of new songs, partially written, with plans to plug in and rock out together at the next opportunity. Riffs and harmonies written at roadside rest stops demanded a closer look at the possibility of joining forces. After playing a couple of low-key acoustic gigs together, it was clear that this collaboration was worth pursuing.
Mike started playing guitar and writing music in his early teens. He had a $10 Radio Shack microphone which he taped to the handle of his vacuum cleaner, since he couldn’t afford a real mic stand. Fast forward a “few” years to find him using real mic stands now as the front man of his other band ‘Undercard’.
Formed in 2014, ‘Undercard’ has been reaching farther from home each year, and they have a Western states tour planned for Spring 2020.
Hannah had also been writing songs since her early teens, but up until a few years ago only played forgettable acoustic guitar. Her need for a musical outlet changed when she underwent a corrective hip surgery that left her unable to be physically active. She needed to scream at the pain and get loud to overcome it. She and a friend started a band called ‘Vanity, Vanity’ which grew to a four-piece before it fell apart last year. However, it gave her a taste of performing live with other people, and she’s been trying to find people to make music with ever since.
What is the meaning behind the song?
“I can’t see a way out of this cycle of needing someone, then being hurt, then pushing away–only to do it all over again. Staying is painful. Leaving won’t make me free.
But deep down I know there is someone who can keep me from falling even when I can’t hold on. I feel hopeless and I can’t see this hand holding onto me. I look at you and it’s clear you’re not strong enough to keep from falling. But I am able to have hope for you, because I see the strong hand holding on to you even when you let go.”
Can’t Hold On Lyrics
The world is spinning round, spinning round, oh-oh-oh
You cannot hold on anymore
you’re gonna fall
The world is spinning round, spinning round, oh-oh-oh
Hope cannot be found in each other
we’re hollow
There is pain today, and tomorrow there’s heartache
I will push you away, but my heart it will still break
pain today and tomorrow there’s heartache
If you just go alone you might keep your mind safe
You say you’ll hold on, a little long-er just for me
you don’t have the strength for yourself,
I’m just as weak
You know that you can’t hold my hand
It’s trapped in walls
Words would be enough, for my soul, but you want it all
There is pain today, and tomorrow there’s heartache
I will push you away, but my heart it will still break
pain today and tomorrow there’s heartache
If you just go alone you might keep your mind safe
Bridge:
Staying’s in vain, going won’t set you free
If you just have hope when I have none for me
There is pain today, and tomorrow there’s heartache
I will push you away, but my heart it will still break
pain today and tomorrow there’s heartache
If you just go alone you might keep your mind safe
I cannot see up, for myself, I’m faithless
over you I see someone else Unfailing
