“It was everything I thought it would be and more,” says the leader of the summer shows at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage.
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Arkells leader Max Kerman must have imagined the moment in his head at least a dozen times. Ever since the Hamilton rockers were forced off the road 18 months ago, the vocalist had wondered what it would be like once the Juno winners were able to sing again in front of a live audience.
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Kerman made that dream come true in August when the quintet, which includes guitarist Mike DeAngelis, keyboardist Anthony Carone, bassist Nick Dika and drummer Tim Oxford, played a three-night adventure at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage.
“It was everything I had thought it would be and more, to be honest,” says Kerman. “The whole weekend was very special. Looking back, I can’t believe it happened. But we are so grateful that we were able to sneak into a show this summer. “
Following the recent release of their sixth studio album, Blink once, the band hopes to recreate the magic when they head to Canada next February, with dates in Vancouver (February 2), Calgary (February 4) and Edmonton (February 5).
“I think there is a lot of pent-up energy for a rock ‘n’ roll show, because no one has been to one in a couple of years.”
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The band will also spread across Ontario, with shows planned for Ottawa (February 10), Kingston (February 11), London (February 12), Barrie (February 17), Kitchener (February 18) and Oshawa (February 19). February).
“We are very excited to play these songs live,” he says of the tracks that span the gamut between stomping hymns (Years in the making) and pop with gospel overtones (One thing i know), with hip-hop flourishes (Swing Swing Swing) added to the mixture.
“When we were doing Blink onceWe were trying to make it an amazing listening experience for their headphones, but we always think about how certain songs are going to fall when we play them live, ”says Kerman.
Looking ahead to those shows, on a nice Friday afternoon, Kerman talked more about Blink once, why No Frills was the perfect place for the band to shoot a recent music video and what’s on their Toronto Maple Leafs playlist.
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You started the pre-pandemic album. How did the ideas of what you wanted come about? Blink once to change in the last 17 months?
“Some of the songs are about dealing with loss and pain and trying to make sense of the world. After going through a pandemic, those ideas mean more. It is interesting to see where a song begins and where it ends.
“The songs we were talking about when we entered the album, mean much more now that we have lived through this pandemic.”
It’s hard to believe this is the Arkells’ sixth album. Now that you are here, have you lost all your musical inhibitions?
“In the history of our band, we have been rewarded when we made big changes. I think being an artist is about being bold. So for us, I prefer to pursue all ambitions rather than being conservative and being overly concerned with what people think. I want to be inspired by everything and anything and look for something new. “
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Sometimes I like to ask artists when they knew they made it. Can you remember what that was?
“I would say the moment it really started and I felt like we were into something special was one of our first tours and we were playing Thunder Bay. It was around 2009. There are maybe 200 people in the room, and they are all singing. John Lennon. I remember thinking, ‘Thunder Bay is a long way from home and I don’t know any of these people personally.’ I think we’ve been chasing a version of that feeling ever since. “
Whose idea was it to shoot the One thing i know video on No frills?
“That was the grocery store I went to with my mom on Saturdays. I am very familiar with Dufferin Mall and on the weekends we would do the weekly shopping. I love No Frills and Dufferin Mall. “
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Do you still shop there?
“Oh yeah. I love No Frills.”
Saw the Arkells released a playlist to go along with Amazon All or nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs. What’s on your Leafs playlist?
“Hype jams that cheer me up. There’s some Kanye (West) there, Arcade Fire, some Killers, Motown, a little bit of everything. It’s music that makes you feel good and gets you going. We also have some clues there: Knocking on the door, You can get it, Relentless, ruthless and Eyes on the prize. “
I know they are friends with Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse. How do you expect their season to go?
“We are heading to the playoffs. I think we are going to have a superior performance because that is what we do. “
What about the Leafs?
“I don’t want to curse him, so I’m not going to say anything.”
What are the five albums you can’t live without?
“Rubber core by the beatles, University dropout by Kanye West, the first Killers album, Hot fuss, Ben Folds Five’s Whatever and always amenand bright eyes I’m wide awake, it’s morning.“
What is an ideal Sunday for you?
“Read the newspaper over coffee. Maybe go play basketball. Go for brunch. See my family. Enjoy a Jays game.
“So maybe a late night movie.”
Blink once It is now available. For more information on Arkells’ upcoming tour, visit arkellsmusic.com/live
Reference-torontosun.com