The Arkells were one of the bands I was really looking forward to checking out during the Olympics. The band was just nominated for a Juno award for best new group. (If you're not familiar with the Junos, they're like the Grammies, but for Canadians.) Busy little beavers, the Arkells played 4 different shows during the Olympics. I saw them the Friday night they were opening for the Sam Roberts Band at the Surrey Celebration Site.
Full of energy and smiles, the band didn't disappoint. The Arkells are a fun band to see live. A rock band with quirky songs and great stage presence. I think they played pretty much every song on their album "Jackson Square". If you're not familiar with these guys, I definitely suggest you check them out. It's a fun listen. They're one of those bands that grow on you the more you listen to their music. It's good right off the bat, but after a few more listens, you really realize how great they are. Yeah, the songs have fun names like "Oh, the Boss is Coming!"and "No Champagne Socialist", but isn't that just another reason to like them?
Lead vocalist Max Kerman definitely seemed to be enjoying the interaction with the audience during the show. He's one of those guys that adds some fun banter to between songs. I don't know about you, but I tend to like that. For me, it makes for a closer experience between the band and the audience. Kerman shared some fun anecdotes about the songs. Did you know that the album is named after the Jackson Square Mall in their hometown of Hamilton, Ontario? A couple of the songs also draw inspiration from said mall.
Reaching the end of "John Lennon", the Arkells led the audience in a chorus from the Beatles "With a Little Help From My Friends". How fun! During Sam Roberts's set, he brought the Arkells back on stage to help with his song, "Brother Down". (More on that in an upcoming post.) I didn't really want the show to end. It was so much fun.
Never heard the Arkells, but want to? Check out this nifty video for "Oh, The Boss is Coming!":
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