Arkells pull off their greatest show with grace, style
About 24,000 fans attend Hamilton band’s ‘rally’ at Tim Hortons Field
The Arkells reign supreme.
Defying a horrendous forecast calling for thunderstorms, the Arkells pulled off the biggest show ever staged by a Hamilton rock band.
And they did it with grace, style and an indomitable rock-’n’-roll work ethic that had the estimated 24,000 fans at Tim Hortons Field dancing in the aisles, on the seats and in between the hash marks.
The expected rain never came and the band played for more than two hours Saturday night, breaking the 11 p.m. city curfew by 15 minutes so they could squeeze in a cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” before closing with a love song delivered to their hometown fans — “My Heart’s Always Yours.”
“Hamilton from the bottom of our
hearts, thank you so much for being with us tonight,” lead singer Max Kerman told the crowd before performing the band’s gridiron anthem “The Ticats are Hummin.”
“This is more than we could ever have imagined. This is truly breathtaking.”
The Arkells dubbed the show The Rally, giving it an Oskee Wee Wee feel. Every attendee was presented with a yellow “rally towel” and the sight of more than 20,000 of them twirling above the crowd will linger for a long time.
It was a show for the fans. Kerman, bassist Nick Dika and guitarist Mike DeAngelis began the day by leading a bicycle parade of about 50 of them from Gore Park to the concert site. For those without bicycles, the Arkells arranged free transportation on HSR buses to and from the stadium.
“We’re the Arkells and we’re going to do our best for you tonight,” Kerman announced before tearing into “Knocking at the Door,” the group’s biggest hit and making it clear the audience was in for a special show. The band brought on a four-piece horn section and three backing vocalists — “the Arkettes” — to prove it.
The opening acts, including up-and-coming Hamilton band Ellevator, all put on strong performances, especially edgy California alt-rockers Cold War Kids and Bishop Briggs.
But the Arkells were on an entirely different level.
After 12 years of constant touring, the Arkells have evolved into a well-oiled machine, driven by the rhythm section of Dika and drummer Tim Oxford and just the right amount flourish from DeAngelis’ guitar.
Kerman is now one of the best frontmen in rock, not just in Canada, but anywhere.
A wild combination of risktaking spontaneity and skilful control, Kerman made full use of a 40-foot catwalk, a well as wading through the crowd from the eastside mezzanine while singing “Drake’s Dad.”
It was a particularly big night for keyboard player Anthony Carone. On Friday morning, his wife Scarlet gave birth to their first child, Oscar James Carone.
“Needless to say, this is the biggest week of Anthony Carone’s life,” Kerman told the audience before Carone unleashed a fiery “Great Balls of Fire” piano solo.
The band brought new life to old songs like “Pulling Punches” and “The Ballad of Hugo Chávez,” while mixing politics (“People’s Champ,” “Fake Money”) with power-pop balladry (“And Then Some,” “11:11”).
The Arkells have more to come. A new album is in the mixing stage, due for a fall release. They’ve conquered Canada, now it’s time for the rest of the world.
• The fans weren’t the only big winners at The Rally. The Arkells donated a dollar from each ticket sold and proceeds from a 50/50 draw to Refuge Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health, a nonprofit group specializing in new immigrant and refugee health.
The centre has served some 4,000 clients since opening its doors in December 2011, and subsists on a budget of less than $230,000 per year.
“This is what Hamilton is all about,” said centre executive director Terri Bedminster. “It’s a great community.”