It’s a chilly November night in Hamilton, and the Tim Hortons Field crowd hums with anticipation during the 108th Grey Cup. After a year without football, the Canadian Football League is finally back after a cancelled COVID-19 season.
But that night in 2021 wasn’t just about football. It was the first time I saw the Arkells live.
When the band took the stage, it felt like a homecoming. They meshed together their familiar hits and reminded everyone why live music matters.
I’d listened to them for years, but that show felt different. What stood out for me is their Canadian identity — capturing the feeling of this place better than most bands ever could in their approachable performance that seemed to radiate positivity.
As someone from midtown Toronto who grew up in the public school system, seeing frontman Max Kerman sport his Toronto District School Board hat on social media and talk about his roots makes me feel connected to him and the band.
Kerman has an energy that fills a massive stadium, but he still feels like the kind of guy you could bump into at a Raptors game or at a neighbourhood pub.
The following summer, I went to The Rally, the band’s signature Hamilton concert, which went down as the best live show I’ve ever seen.
The field was packed, and there were white rally towels waving in the air as the band opened with “Years in the Making.” The show felt massive, with a mix of new and longtime fans cheering them on.
I feel like I’ve grown up with their songs.
“Leather Jacket” and “Knocking at the Door” are the anthems everyone knows and loves (myself included), but “11:11” is a classic and “Hand Me Downs” hit different as I get older. “Strong” is a powerful tune bringing themes of resilience, with a chorus of “Stay strong for me, and I’ll stay strong for you.”
Lately, I’ve been jamming to their newest track “What Good?” which has been playing in my earbuds on my crisp walks through the Glebe to campus.
In November 2024, I was lucky enough to see them perform live again in Vancouver. It was a smaller crowd than in Hamilton, but the energy was present.
At the start of the show, Kerman handed a camera into the crowd, asking fans to pass it around and take pictures throughout the night and return it at the end.
He explained they had been doing this across their tour and every night, the camera was always returned to them. It’s a small gesture, but it said a lot about the trust between the band and their fans.
Seeing the Arkells live, it’s easy to notice how much care goes into making the audience experience. Most of their songs are designed for singalongs and moments to link arms.
I’ve also always admired how the band uses their platform for more than just music.
They aren’t afraid to speak up about social issues and celebrate community, showing that having a voice in music can still stand for something.
In the summer of 2025, I went back to The Rally once again. The band sounded tighter than ever, the crowd was loud and the connection between them felt effortless.
A particularly touching moment came when the group played a recording of a voicemail from a fan requesting the song “My Heart’s Always Yours.”
In the message, the fan shared that their child had come out as transgender and explained that the song had become their family’s Arkells anthem. The crowd responded with a wave of supportive cheers.
Walking out of the stadium after The Rally this summer and hopping on the GO Bus back to Toronto, my voice was gone and I couldn’t stop smiling.
Being part of an Arkells show reminded me how live music can truly capture the spirit of Canada.
