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.
Abigail
Arkells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What Zach was thinking
She watched his eyes
Stare at his empty, uneasy hand
He started sinking
In his chair, she knew Zach cared
But Didn't know he was afraid
Of what tomorrow held
If he stayed
CHORUS
And Abby wondered aloud
Where did all the good plans go
What do you feel
I know you know
Elevator music plays, in the food court in a mall
It was covering the empty sound of no conversation at all
And back to work, she said to Zach
My break's almost done
Oh Abigail I only wish you knew where I was coming from
CHORUS
And Abby wanted to know
Where did all the good plans go?
What do you feel
I know you know
Then he turned and said,
I'll go home instead, Abigail, you're not making sense
My love, what have we become?
My love, what have we become?
Where did all the good plans go?
What do you feel
I know you know
The lyrics to Arkells's song Abigail depict a conversation between the two titular characters, Abigail and Zach, where Abigail notices that Zach is feeling uneasy and worried about what tomorrow holds. She observes him staring at his empty hand and sinking in his chair, and although she knows he cares, she realizes he's afraid. The music in the background is elevator music playing softly, covering the silence of their conversation.
Abigail wonders where all the good plans have gone and asks Zach how he feels about it all. Zach allows his frustration to show and tells Abigail that he doesn’t understand what she means and that he will go home instead. He questions what they have become and the uncertainty of their future. The lyrics leave the listeners to wonder what happened between Abigail and Zach, but it is clear that their plans did not come to fruition, and their relationship is struggling.
The song is a reflection of the frustrations and uncertainties that come with relationships and the need to confront them. It encourages listeners to communicate their feelings and not let unresolved issues fester. Overall, Abigail is a poignant and relatable song that beautifully captures the complexity of human emotions and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Abigail, knew too well
Abigail was aware of what was going on
What Zach was thinking
She understood Zach's thoughts
She watched his eyes
She paid attention to his eyes
Stare at his empty, uneasy hand
Zach looked at his hand nervously
He started sinking
He began to feel worse
In his chair, she knew Zach cared
Abigail noticed Zach cared about something
But Didn't know he was afraid
She didn't realize Zach was scared
Of what tomorrow held
Zach was fearful of what the future would bring
Well he'd feel better
Zach would be happier
If he stayed
If Zach stayed, he would be more comfortable
And Abby wondered aloud
Abigail expressed her thoughts out loud
Where did all the good plans go
Abigail questioned where the good plans had gone
What do you feel
She wanted to know Zach's emotions
I know you know
Abigail understood that Zach was aware of his feelings
Elevator music plays, in the food court in a mall
There was background music playing in the mall's food court
It was covering the empty sound of no conversation at all
The music was masking the silence
And back to work, she said to Zach
Abigail told Zach it was time to go back to work
My break's almost done
Her break was almost over
Oh Abigail I only wish you knew where I was coming from
Zach wanted Abigail to understand his perspective
And Abby wanted to know
Abigail was curious
Where did all the good plans go?
She wondered where the good plans disappeared
Then he turned and said,
Zach turned his attention to the conversation
I'll go home instead, Abigail, you're not making sense
Zach decided to leave because he couldn't understand Abigail
My love, what have we become?
Zach was questioning their relationship
Where did all the good plans go?
He questioned where the good plans went
What do you feel
Zach wanted to know Abigail's feelings
I know you know
He knew Abigail was aware of her emotions
Contributed by Maria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Christopher Blanchette
Amazing live! <3 only band that can somehow work teenage dream into this song :) and make it sound unreal!
jade deleon
I saw them last night in concert with LIGHTS they were amazingly good love them !
Ryan Bridge
I may or may not have named my daughter after this one :). Great track.
Abyss
This song is about a guy whose older girlfriend went to university (McMaster) and he kept visiting her but realized that their long-distance relationship wasn't working. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the Arkells said that in concert. Anyways, the same thing just happened to me because I go to Mac and my high school bf broke up with me yesterday. I've never been able to relate to a song like this before! I really miss him and wish he would've fought for our love the way I was prepared to.
Papadupulous
@reedjohnson9 They are incredibly amazing live. And don't worry, they're pretty much brand new. With any luck they'll get their fair share of fame. Which is quite a lot. They have the potential to go far.
Natalie Pelletier
These guys opened up for tragically hip on friday! It was ama-zinggggg,,,
N Whit
Does anyone know how they get that guitar sound in the chorus? I can't get enough of it!
Blabadale
I found this song yesterday. My name is Abbygail as well (different spelling). But every time I listen to this song I think of my best friend (his name is not zach though). I know he knows how he feels, but he just doesn't tell me. I so want to be more than friends with him but I feel like I'm the one that can't get it to work. This song means a lot to me right now.
Abigail Balderas
I love this song mainly because my boyfriend introduced me to it :) <3
Taja J
God, I .love. this band.