Arkells return to Lee's Palace after 17 years with City Takeover
The Juno-winning band played three Toronto shows in three days, starting at the intimate King West venue where frontman Max Kerman grew up nearby.
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Arkells packed Lee's Palace on Wednesday for their first performance there since 2009, kicking off a three-night "City Takeover" residency that stretched from the intimate 600-capacity room to 16,000 at RBC Amphitheatre on Friday, June 19.
Frontman Max Kerman grew up a seven-minute walk from Lee's Palace in downtown Toronto. Standing onstage in a simple Arkells T-shirt and blue jeans—a contrast to his usual loud, patterned jackets—he told the sweltering crowd that returning felt like coming home. "It's a joy to be back," he said.
The residency, also held in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary, divided each show into two sets: a front-to-back performance of their new album "Between Us"—their 11th studio record, out since mid-April—followed by a deep dig into their catalogue spanning 20 years since forming at McMaster University in Hamilton.
Max Kerman reflected on discovering concerts through NOW Magazine during Arkells' early years, grounding the evening in Toronto's music history. With bassist Nick Dika, guitarist Mike DeAngelis, drummer Tim Oxford, and keyboardist Anthony Carone, the band led the crowd through interactive moments: on "Money," featuring Portugal. The Man, Kerman fanned himself with fake bills and passed them to the audience; on "Desire's Got Some Questions," the crowd mirrored his outstretched-finger gestures; and on "Two Hearts," they formed heart shapes with their arms as the lyric sang of "two hearts exploding."
The second night at History drew 2,500 fans Thursday before the massive RBC Amphitheatre show Friday. The group's album "Between Us" carries a theme of connection—one Kerman said he hoped would resonate across the residency's varied venues and audiences.