Arkells

Arena rockers Arkells formed in Hamilton, Ontario, in 2004. Since releasing their debut album, Jackson Square (2008), the band has won nine Juno Awards and been nominated 17 times. They currently hold the record for most wins by a band in the Group of the Year category with six. They also won for New Group of the Year in 2010 and for Rock Album of the Year in 2015 and 2019. Their hit songs include “Leather Jacket,” “11:11” and the sports anthem “Knocking at the Door.”

Background and Formation

The members of Arkells met while students at McMaster University in their hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. The original lineup featured Max Kerman (lead vocals/guitar), Mike DeAngelis (guitar), Nick Dika (bass), Tim Oxford (drums) and Dan Griffin (guitar). Griffin left the band in 2011 and was replaced by Anthony Carone (keyboards/guitar).

For its first few live gigs, the band went by the name Charlemagne. But, similar to the E Street Band, they changed it to pay homage to the street where they often hung out and practiced: Arkell Street in Hamilton’s Westdale neighbourhood, near the university.

Jackson Square (2008)

In 2006, the band signed with indie label Dine Alone Records. It released the band’s debut album, Jackson Square, on 28 October 2008. The record was certified gold in Canada. In its review, Exclaim! compared the band to Bruce Springsteen and concluded, “Arkells have managed to master the perfect blend of genres without it sounding like that's what they were trying to do. There just might be a new boss in town.” The band was named New Group of the Year at the 2010 Juno Awards.

Michigan Left (2011)

Recorded at the Tragically Hip’s Bathouse Recording Studio in Bath, Ontario, Arkells’ second album was released via Universal Music Canada on 18 October 2011. The first single was “Whistleblower.” During this time, original band member Dan Griffin left the band to return to school and was replaced by Anthony Carone. Kathleen Edwards lends guest vocals on the song “Agent Zero.” Michigan Left went gold in Canada and won the band its first Juno Award for Group of the Year in 2012.

In August 2012, the band released the single “Ticats are Hummin’.” The Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League adopted it as their official team anthem. All proceeds from the single went to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hamilton.

High Noon (2014)

High Noon, released in 2014, was produced by Tony Hoffer (Beck, M83). The first single, “Come to Light,” is a catchy driving song inspired by Kerman’s love of the storylines in sports culture. The line, “what we do in the darkness, will come to light” is taken from African American baseball player Buck O’Neil, who played during a time of segregation. Another single, “11:11,” was certified platinum in Canada, while “Leather Jacket” was certified double platinum. In 2015, the album won Arkells another pair of Juno Awards: Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year. High Noon was also long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize. The record went platinum in Canada.

Morning Report (2016)

On their fourth studio record, Morning Report, the band began to incorporate more of an R&B sound, with a horn section and backup singers called the Arkettes. The album also went gold in Canada. One critic referred to it as “messy perfection.”

On 7 April 2017, the band released the single “Knocking at the Door.” Kerman has said the song is about “standing up for good, decent human qualities.” He was inspired to write it following the Women’s March on 21 January 2017, the day after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump. Described by CBC News’ Adam Carter as “a bona fide sports anthem,” “Knocking at the Door” went on to feature frequently in NFL, NHL and MLB broadcasts. It went to No. 1 on the Canadian Rock Alternative charts and remained there for 14 weeks. It was later certified platinum in Canada.

Rally Cry (2018)

Arkells’ fifth studio album was released on 19 October 2018 on indie label Last Gang Records. It includes the hit singles “People’s Champ,” “Relentless” and the rock anthem “Years in the Making.” The latter two songs were both certified gold in Canada. Exclaim! gave Rally Cry an 8 out of 10. The tour to promote this record marked the first time the band headlined arenas and stadiums across Canada.

Rally Cry won a pair of Juno Awards: one for the band (Rock Album of the Year) and one for producer Eric Ratz, who took home the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award for “People’s Champ” and “Relentless.” The band also travelled to South Korea, where they performed for the Canadian Olympic Team during the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.

The Rally

The Rally, a hometown concert held at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, took place for the first time on 23 June 2018. Since then, it has become an annual headline show for the band. Beyond the music, the concerts feature collaborations with local small businesses and charity organizations.

On 25 June 2022, Arkells returned to Tim Hortons Field for the third Rally after two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 edition featured Haviah Mighty, K.Flay and Mt. Joy and broke attendance records at the stadium. A dollar from every ticket sold went to Indwell, a Hamilton organization that builds and maintains affordable housing.

Campfire Chords (2020)

This 17-song offering was made during the pandemic and the days of quarantine. The project started with Kerman’s videos teaching fans how to play acoustic versions of some of Arkells’ best-loved songs. The album features acoustic, stripped-down arrangements. Besides these reworkings, the album also included a new song, “Quitting You.”

Blink Once (September 2021)

Recording of this record began before the pandemic and was put on the shelf in favour of Campfire Chords. The theme of resilience weaves throughout the album’s 14 songs. On the band’s blog, they speak about the journey of finding one’s way back from grief and loss to a place of hope. “These songs are about finding comfort in your family, community and music,” they wrote.

On 12 December 2021, Arkells headlined the halftime show at the 108th Grey Cup at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.

Blink Twice (September 2022)

The follow-up to Blink Once was released via Universal and Virgin Records on 23 September 2022. The 10-song album features several guests, including a pair of sister duos (Tegan and Sara; Aly & AJ), Lights, Coeur de pirate, Joel Plaskett, the Cold War Kids and others. These collaborations added new layers to Arkells’ sound. An example is “Reckoning,” an activist song that takes inspiration from bands like Justice and Run the Jewels.

Laundry Pile (2023)

On 17 May 2023, Arkells announced a new 10-song studio record, Laundry Pile, set for release September 21. It was preceded by the Springsteen-esque lead single, “Skin.” According to Kerman, the title track, like the rest of the record, is “a chapter that documents some of the messy parts [of life] that end up teaching you a lot: love, regret, desire, shame, and the longing to get it right.”