Hello Operator dialling into success with Duff

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This article was published 05/01/2006 (7469 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO — Hello Operator thought somebody had their lines crossed when they were asked to open up for superstar Hilary Duff’s cross-Canada tour.

The 19-city gig, which brings the band to Winnipeg’s MTS Centre on Jan. 15, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reach a huge audience for the new wave-leaning indie band.

Formed in early 2003, the Toronto-based outfit hadn’t even finished recording its first-ever album when they got the contract to open Duff’s hot-ticket Still Most Wanted tour.

“Our management called us. They said ‘The Hilary Duff tour doesn’t have an opening slot. Do you guys want us to pitch you?’ ” said frontman Mike Condo, who grew up in Woodbridge, Ont., just north of Toronto.

Hello Operator came to the attention of Coalition Entertainment, the management company that represents Our Lady Peace, via Condo’s brother Dom, a local music producer who’s worked with Joydrop and Winnipeg’s Waking Eyes.

Last summer, Coalition Entertainment arranged for the band to open two gigs for Simple Plan.

“Those shows went over very well for us. That may have helped us get (the job opening for Duff),” said Condo, who’s joined in the group by Craig Mailman on bass, Evan Huson on synthesizer, Lee Campbell on drums and Justin Bunn on guitar.

Hello Operator (which used to be known as Go! but had to change their name for legal reasons), is part of the 1980s craze that seems to have hijacked the airwaves of late. Members, who are in their early 20s, cite the Cars, David Bowie, the Cure and Gary Newman as major influences.

“I’m happy because I really, really liked ’80s music,” says Condo.”It’s the fun element. It makes people happy and want to dance and have a good time.”

He’s confident the band’s music will be able to stand out amid the multitude of bands borrowing from the same synth-driven era.

“We’re able to do it a little different. Not too many bands sound like the early new wave of (Elvis) Costello and the Cars,” said Condo. “This is our contribution to the whole new, retro revival.”

The band is trying to follow the indie formula which has worked wonders for Canuck groups like Montreal’s Arcade Fire and Victoria’s Hot Hot Heat.

“We’re trying to do as much as we can on our own and stay away from the whole major game,” said Condo. “We believe that if we can build it up ourselves to a certain level we’ll have more power as a unit.”

To that end they’ve posted four songs on the powerful Myspace.com networking website, frequented by trendy teens and young adults.

For now, the band is concentrating on warming up the Duff audience. They’ve practised a 30-minute set which will include the band’s four songs and a cover of the Beatles hit I Saw Her Standing There.

But they also realize the tour is just a launching pad.

“It’ll be important for us to come back and finish the record after the tour,” said drummer Campbell, who hails from Moncton, N.B.

“Playing for so many people, it’s an opportunity not a lot of people get. You got to be smart about it.”

Mailman hails from Antigonish, N.S, while Huson is from London, Ont., and Bunn’s hometown is Toronto.

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