Arkells

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Arkells
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Arkells in early 2014
Background information
Origin Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Genres Alternative rock
Years active 2006 (2006)–present
Labels Universal Music Canada, Dine Alone
Website arkellsmusic.com
Members Max Kerman
Mike DeAngelis
Nick Dika
Tim Oxford
Anthony Carone
Past members Dan Griffin

Arkells are a Canadian rock band, formed in Hamilton, Ontario. In 2006, they signed with Dine Alone Records,[1] and have since signed with Universal Records Canada.[2] They work with a variety of record labels around the rest of the world for their various recordings. They are managed by Last Gang.

File:Arkells Live in Buffalo 2013.jpeg
Arkells performing live in Buffalo, New York, during the summer of 2013

Band history

Arkells are an alternative rock band originally from Hamilton, Ontario. The band is named after Arkell Street near McMaster University where they lived and would practice their music. All five original band members attended McMaster where Kerman graduated with an honours BA in Political Science. Kerman met guitarist Mike DeAngelis at a McMaster Welcome Week event where the two discovered they had an identical taste in music. [3] In late 2008, Arkells toured Canada as opening act for Matt Mays & El Torpedo.[4] Later that year, on November 22, they performed the halftime show at the Vanier Cup in their hometown.[5] In early 2009 they toured with Waking Eyes across Canada.[6] Arkells were featured on Aux.tv's Alt Sessions where they performed their full EP.[7]

On October 22, 2009, Arkells won a favourite new artist CASBY Award (short for Canadian Artists Selected by You) from Toronto radio station 102.1 The Edge at a ceremony and concert at Toronto's Kool Haus.[8] The band also performed at the event.[8]

The band has continued raising their profile and experiencing success in 2010. On April 18, 2010, Arkells won the Juno Award for New Group of the Year,[9] and on May 15, 2010, were hand-picked to open for Them Crooked Vultures at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

They also made headlines while playing a set at Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto after the 2010 Much Music Video Awards, when rapper Shad and pop singer Kesha joined them onstage to freestyle and sing along during a cover of Ms. Jackson by Outkast.[10] "Whistleblower" has also been used as the Intro Music to the 2011-2012 Calgary Hitmen hockey team and featured in EA Sports NHL 13 video game.

In 2011 the band wrote and recorded their second album Michigan Left, which was released on October 18 of that year. The first single, "Whistleblower", was released to iTunes on July 5, 2011. The band also released a second song, "Kiss Cam", on July 12. "Whistleblower" will be released as a 7" single, and "Kiss Cam" will serve as the single's B-side.[11]

File:The Arkells.jpg
Arkells performing at the Burlington Sound of Music Festival, June 2010

On 6 October 2011 it was announced that Dan Griffin would be leaving the band to go back to school.[12] He was replaced by Anthony Carone [12]

In 2012 Arkells won the 2012 Juno Award for Group of the Year.[13] The band has become known for performing spontaneous Motown cover sets, most recently at an Osheaga after party in Montreal, and while stranded in St. John's Newfoundland. In September 2012, the band played Jian Ghomeshi's "1982" book launch in Toronto. The band has also started a tradition of sending fans signed postcards and free downloads at Christmas.[14]

On April 7, 2014, Arkells released the first track, "Never Thought That This Would Happen" from their third album, which was produced by Tony Hoffer (Beck,The Kooks, M83). One month later, on May 13, the band released the album's first single "Come to Light", and confirmed the title of the record would be "High Noon". The record was released on Dine Alone/Universal Records, August 5, 2014.[15]

Arkells have become known for their extensive touring schedule. This has included American touring with Lights, Tokyo Police Club, The Postelles, X Ambassadors, and Lydia; European touring with Billy Talent, Augustines, British Sea Power, and Anti-Flag as well as Canadian touring with Metric, the Tragically Hip, Hollerado, Sam Roberts and numerous other Canadian bands.

At the Juno Awards of 2015, Arkells won the Juno Award for Group of the Year and the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year. High Noon was also long listed for the Polaris prize in 2015. [16]

On October 23, 2015 the band released a new EP, “Study Music”’ which they self-produced and released on Universal Music Canada/Dine Alone Records. Arkells began teasing new material from their forthcoming LP, Morning Report, on tour in the spring of 2016. Morning Report is scheduled for release on Aug 5, 2016 (c/o Universal Music Canada/Last Gang Records). The first single, Private School, debuted on May 6 2016. The video features cameos from Lights, Dave Monks of Tokyo Police Club and Steve Jocz (formerly of Sum 41), who also directed the video.

Band members

Past members

Discography

Albums

Release Date Title Label
2007 Deadlines - EP Self-release
2008 Deadlines - EP (Digital Re-issue) Dine Alone Records
October 28, 2008 Jackson Square Dine Alone Records
October 18, 2011 Michigan Left Universal Music Canada[17]
August 5, 2014 High Noon Universal Music Canada / Dine Alone Records
October 25, 2015 Study Music - EP Universal Music Canada / Dine Alone Records
August 5, 2016 Morning Report Universal Music Canada / Last Gang Records

Singles

Year Song Chart
Positions[18]
Album
CAN
[19]
CAN
Alt

[20][21][22]
CAN
Rock

[23][24][25]
2008 "Oh, the Boss is Coming!" 4 10 Jackson Square
2009 "Ballad of Hugo Chávez" 12 16
"Pullin' Punches" 14 24
2010 "John Lennon" 42 31
2011 "Whistleblower" 5 5 Michigan Left
"Michigan Left" 7 18
2012 "On Paper" 15 20
"Ticats are Hummin’" non-album single
2014 "Come to Light" 81 2 9 High Noon
"Never Thought That This Would Happen"
"Leather Jacket" 88 1 9
2016 "Private School" 8 17 Morning Report

References

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  3. http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/article/arkells-proud-to-be-a-hamilton-band/
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  6. Harper, Kate. "Arkells and Waking Eyes Head West", Chart Attack, 2009-01-19. Retrieved on 2009-01-31.
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  8. 8.0 8.1 [1] Archived November 2, 2009 at the Wayback Machine
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  10. [2] Archived June 25, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  11. [3] Archived March 25, 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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  16. http://polarismusicprize.ca/blog/2015-polaris-music-prize-long-list/
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External links