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Arkells in Concert
Arkells hail from Hamilton, Ontario, the midsize industrial city located about an hour west of the bustling metropolis of Toronto. And from day one, they've flaunted their hometown pride en route to becoming one of Canada's most popular rock bands.
The quintet named themselves after the west-end Hamilton street where they lived as students attending McMaster University, and their 2008 debut album, ‘Jackson Square,' paid tribute to the namesake shopping mall located in the heart of the city. But most importantly, the Arkells actually sounded like Hamilton, embodying the city's gritty, working-class spirit in proletarian anthems — like "Oh, the Boss Is Coming!" — that betrayed the deep influence of fellow Ontario indie-rock rabble-rousers the Constantines.
After winning the Juno Award for New Group of the Year in 2010, the Arkells began to shed their steeltown skin and indie aesthetic. Max Kerman's impassioned vocals drove the soulful pop strut of "Leather Jacket" and the effervescent "Come to Light" (an open-freeway anthem in the mold of Don Henley's 1980s classic "Boys of Summer").
With 2016's ‘Morning Report,' they started taking notes from contemporary pop and hip-hop, resulting in the cheeky, gospelized R&B of "Drake's Dad" (whose video featured a cameo from Mr. Dennis Graham himself) and the brash, brass-knuckled single "Knocking at the Door" (The band's live setup has likewise expanded, incorporating a horn section and a chorus of female backing singers they dub the Arkettes).
But even as the Arkells racked up multiple Juno Awards and ascended to the ranks of bona fide arena rockers in Canada, they've never forgotten their Hamilton roots. They've supplied local Canadian Football League team the Ticats with their theme song, they continue to take an active role in endorsing local progressive politicians and urban transit initiatives, and Kerman and bassist Nick Dika have even opened their own sports bar downtown.
In June of 2018, the Arkells thanked their hometown by headlining their biggest concert to date, bringing more than 20,000 fans out to Hamilton's Tim Hortons Field for a gathering they dubbed The Rally. That sense of triumph has carried over to the subsequent album ‘Rally Cry,' whose gold-plated fusion of Springsteen-sized grandeur and modern-R&B groove shows that one of Canada's most beloved rock bands is ready to take on the world.
I’ve never seen a band quite like the Arkells and I’ve been to a lot of shows. They are fan friendly. They always give 1000%. You can tell they absolutely love what they do. Their show in HAMONT was phenomenal and a night I’ll never forget. If they aren’t an iconic band in 30 years, I’ll be v surprised.
Honestly there are no words. This show was amazing - from the venue to the accessibility to the food and drink and merch to the washrooms and the transportation. The attention to detail around this show was not unnoticed. And of course, the Arkells killed it;)
Unreal event put on by Hamilton’s finest. If you haven’t seen these guys yet you’re doing it wrong.
Honestly, this was the best concert I've ever been to. I love these guys. Such an amazing night!
Absolutely incredible show. Fourth time seeing them in two years, so much energy on and off stage.
GREAT TIME GREAT BAND This is my 4th time seeing them.
Went with a big group of friends and we all loved it
Highly recommend. Energetic,fun, passionate, engaging band.
It was a great show. 2 Bands and 2 different types of music. Very entertaining, had the crowd singing and dancing
Amazing show. Great dudes. Love them. Drove 6 hours to see them. Totally worth it.
The venue A&R Music Bar is one I've been to without a show going on, so this was my first show there. Promo west hadn't put an opening act on the ticket until maybe 3 days prior, but that's besides the point. I found out about Personal Public a day before the show, found a YouTube video and just so happened to be their last set song, "Home", it was a great performance. The Arkells were filled with energy, played some of their new stuff, some of their older stuff but overall were mind blowing good and their interaction with the audience was something I've never seen. Their post show meet and greet was more than I've seen a lot of bands do.
Frank Turner, The Sleeping Souls, and the Arkells put on an amazingly energetic and positive show. Love them both! Also the venue Metropolis was wicked, such a great use of space.
The night was electric. Dreamers opened up a fantastic show with high energy. Arkells brought down the night with a great show. Lots of great songs interludes and had the crowd bouncing. Closed with an all bands final song. Fantastic! I will be finding them again in the US tour this spring.
Arkells are one of the best bands I've ever seen live!
Seen these guys 5 times now, and each time was great. They keep the crowd into it, and they have not let me down yet! Go see 'em if you can. Definately worth the price of admission.
Rdgldgrn turned in a short but high energy set that had the lucky few dancing to their eclectic sound. Y'all need to keep your eyes and ears open this band sould go alot further than their next turn on The Warp Tour.
The Arkells were energetic, entertaining, and sounded great. Their passion for their music is obvious, and they seemed to enjoy energy from the crowd. The 2nd opening band - The Sweet Thing - however, almost stole the show. They were THAT good. The lead singer's persona on stage was over the top (good!) and the drummer and the rest of the band musically almost outplayed the Arkells! The harmonics in the beginning were stellar. Overall - great show!
The Arkells are truly excellent musicians and it showed. They put on a great concert and got the crowd right into the show. Wouldn't ever hesitate to see them again.
