Arkells Rally Cry Tour Rallys Fans in Ottawa

February 20th, 2019 by Matthew Perry | Published in Concerts

Arkells at Canadian Tire Centre (2019) by Matthew Perry

Arkells at Canadian Tire Centre (2019) Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

Opening the show was LA based indie folk band Lord Huron, fronted by Ben Schneider, with 4 albums released to date, they were no stranger to performing.

Getting the thousands of fans warmed up on a bitterly cold February evening at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa was an easy feat that they completed without a hitch, having the fans on their feet singing along, before welcoming the Arkells to the stage.

Lord Huron at Canadian Tire Centre (2019) by Matthew Perry

Lord Huron at Canadian Tire Centre (2019) Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

Hamilton Ontario’s very own Arkells hit the stage with the crowd out of their seats and on their feet for the hit song ‘Relentless’ and then quickly rolling into their first #1 hit on the Canadian charts ‘Leather Jacket’. Frontman Max Kerman was very vocal and interactive with the crowd, also explaining some “rules” the band likes to enforce on the crowd to ensure everyone has a great time.

Arkells at Canadian Tire Centre (2019) Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

Their exhillerating energy never stopped the entire night from the time they hit the stage to the final note, Kerman at one point left the rest of the band on stage, and eventually reappeared at the back of Canadian Tire Center crowd where he continued playing and slowly made his way back through the crowd to the stage.

Arkells at Canadian Tire Centre (2019) Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

As the night came to what the crowd thought was a close, the band left the stage after what was already a packed 2 hours of hits and crowd favoruites, only to appear again within a short timeframe of calling back for an encore. They shocked everyone further with an amazing cover of Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen’, before closing the night out with another hit ‘My Heart’s Always Yours’. Then the inescapable arena lights came on to officially end the evening.

Arkells at Canadian Tire Centre (2019) Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

Arkells had the crowds undivided attention all evening, the energy was electrifying and contagious. Definitely a band that will only get better with each album release and tour date to come.