The band is currently made up of: Max Kerman (vocals, guitar), Mike DeAngelis (vocals, guitar), Nick Dika (bass), Tim Oxford (drums), and Anthony Carone (vocals, keyboard, guitar)
Originally called Charlemagne, the band changed their name when another band of the same name threatened to sue them. The band is named after Arkell Street in the Westdale neighbourhood of Hamilton, ON, near McMaster University, where they lived and would practice their music. All five original band members attended McMaster where lead singer Max 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.
In 2006, they signed with Dine Alone Records, and have since signed with Universal Records Canada and Last Gang Records.
Arkells' debut album Jackson Square was released 28 October 2008 on Dine Alone Records. In late 2008, Arkells toured Canada as opening act for Matt Mays & El Torpedo.
In April 2010, Arkells won the Juno Award for New Group of the Year, and on May 15, 2010, were picked to open for Them Crooked Vultures at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. They 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.
In 2011, the band wrote and recorded their second album Michigan Left, which was released on October 18 of that year. On 6 October 2011 it was announced that Dan Griffin would be leaving the band to go back to school. He was replaced by Anthony Carone.
In 2012, Arkells won the 2012 Juno Award for Group of the Year.
On May 13, 2014, the band released the 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. The band would go on to with the Juno Award for Group of the Year and the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 2015 Juno Awards. High Noon was also long listed for the Polaris prize in 2015.
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 album on tour in the spring of 2016. The fourth album, Morning Report, was released on August 5, 2016.
At the Juno Awards of 2017, Arkells were nominated for Juno Award for Group of the Year and the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year. They performed their viral hit "Drake's Dad" live on the television broadcast
The Arkells released their fifth studio album, Rally Cry, on October 19, 2018, accompanied by a Canadian tour featuring Lord Huron as the opening act. The tour featured the Arkells' largest arena show at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on February 16, 2019.
On February 25, 2020 the band released the new single and video "Years in the Making". Later that year, on July 30, they released the single "Quitting You", and announced the release of Campfire Chords, a full-length album featuring acoustic versions of earlier songs, on August 20. Each member recorded his part at home during the COVID-19 quarantine and sent it to Carone, who then edited, mixed and produced the pieces into complete songs.
On March 25, 2021 the band released the new single and video "You Can Get It", featuring guest vocals by K.Flay.
Leather Jacket
Arkells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hundreds of stories, before I showed up
And they tell them to me
And pull photos up
And there I'm connected, like a pair of handcuffs
No one seemed affected, that everyone is fucked
But there was a softness a kind of understanding
Those 2am decisions, always shaky landings
And no one ever knew, what could be demanded
Maybe its the cards
The cards that she was handed
You call me up from a pay phone
I said, "hang tight, I can drive you home"
I pulled on up and with a southern accent
I offered you my Dad's leather jacket
I met her at a party
She'd come straight from work
Complained that the regulars, were all a bunch of jerks
She always looked tired
She dazzled as a drunk
She even pulled off
The stupid hair cut
She said "I don't need a sponsor, or the best lover
Just a man that sees me as some fixer-upper
The last few years, man I've been running for cover
Trying to sleep
So I can visit my mother"
You call me up from a pay phone
I said, "hang tight, I can drive you home"
I pulled on up and with a southern accent
I offered you my Dad's leather jacket
When times were tough in the worst years
We never knew how to interfere
And now you're back, and just unpacking
Those bruised up takers, you keep attracting
In September
When he goes off
Like some god damn, alarm clock
And he hits her, like a third shot
Conversations, she just stares off
There's no longer a voice calling
When she goes out
Saying, "I'll be up waiting for you"
You call me up from a pay phone
I said, "hang tight, I can drive you home"
I pulled on up and with a southern accent
I offered you my Dad's leather jacket
When times were tough in the worst years
We never knew how to interfere
And now you're back, and just unpacking
Those bruised up takers, you keep attracting
You call me up from a pay phone And I said, "Who the fuck uses a pay phone?"
In Arkells’s song “Leather Jacket,” the lyrics detail the singer’s experiences with a woman who has lived difficultly. The woman, who appears bruised and battered, has a rough past and has dealt with an abusive spouse. She is a powerful character who, despite all the setbacks, still manages to shine. The lyrics reveal that the singer has been there for the woman in the past, offering reassurance that supports her through difficult times. Through the song, the singer tells the story about how he gave the woman his dad’s leather jacket to wear. The leather jacket is a marker of his care and kindness towards the woman, a symbol of how he is there for her when she is in need.
Throughout the song, the singer shines a light on the woman’s admirable qualities. He describes her as strong and independent, and someone who does not need a lover or a sponsor, but rather a man who sees her as a fixer-upper. The song speaks to the resilience of people who have lived through abusive relationships and how they can come out of it more determined, stronger, and more independent.
The song is a reflection of the idea that simple acts of kindness such as lending a hand or a shoulder to lean on can mean a great deal to those who have had to endure difficult lives. It is a reminder of how sundry folks are connected to each other’s struggles through simple actions of the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey!
Starting of a conversation with someone the singer knows.
Hundreds of stories, before I showed up
And they tell them to me
And pull photos up
And there I'm connected, like a pair of handcuffs
No one seemed affected, that everyone is fucked
But there was a softness a kind of understanding
Those 2am decisions, always shaky landings
And no one ever knew, what could be demanded
Maybe its the cards
The cards that she was handed
The singer wants to know more about a person's past and their difficult things they went through, even before he met them. He describes the somber and understanding atmosphere when stories are shared. He believes that someone's upbringing and circumstance determines their attitudes, and hence, others should be more empathetic towards them.
You call me up from a pay phone
I said, "hang tight, I can drive you home"
I pulled on up and with a southern accent
I offered you my Dad's leather jacket
The singer helps a friend in need and offers support by driving them home and lending his father's leather jacket. It shows the extent to which the singer helps his friend in need.
I met her at a party
She'd come straight from work
Complained that the regulars, were all a bunch of jerks
She always looked tired
She dazzled as a drunk
She even pulled off
The stupid haircut
She said "I don't need a sponsor, or the best lover
Just a man that sees me as some fixer-upper
The last few years, man, I've been running for cover
Trying to sleep
So I can visit my mother"
The singer describes a woman whom he met at a party. She complains about the difficulties she's facing in life and describes the challenges she's been facing. Her words show that she does not need someone to fix her; she just needs someone who supports her unconditionally. The singer also talks about the struggles he has faced with the woman.
When times were tough in the worst years
We never knew how to interfere
And now you're back, and just unpacking
Those bruised up takers, you keep attracting
The singer reflects on the difficult times he and his friend had faced before and how they couldn't interfere in each other's difficult times. Now that his friend is back, he sees her attractions of negative influences and the singer is trying to make sense of it.
In September
When he goes off
Like some god damn, alarm clock
And he hits her, like a third shot
Conversations, she just stares off
There's no longer a voice calling
When she goes out
Saying, "I'll be up waiting for you"
The line is unfolding the story of the woman seen by the singer previously. It shows how she is a victim of an abusive relationship wherein she is hospitalized and no one is calling for her when she goes out.
Writer(s): Tim van Leijden
Contributed by Liliana S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.