These three drone videos are the edited-down results of everything I shot on the weekend of July 4-6. All videos were shot with the Potensic Atom SE. I brought both the Potensic and the Ruko, but as you can see, it was a very windy weekend and I did not want to risk the Ruko. Next weekend, I will attempt to fly the Ruko again.
Enjoy these magnificent videos, and amazing songs by Deep Purple, Hello Hopeless and the Arkells.
Thanks to Nurse Kat for shooting and sharing this awesome live performance by the Arkells!
Max Kerman – Vocals
Mike DeAngelis – Guitar
Nick Dika – Bass
Tim Oxford – Drums
Anthony Carrone – Keyboards
RECORD STORE TALES #1174: Big Feelings & Why I’m Upset With the Arkells
I bought my first Arkells album High Noon back in 2017, but I really fell hard for the band in 2023. The Canadian pop rock quintet hadn’t put out any songs I disliked, but in 2023 a combination of personal drama and a need for Canadian tunes led me to dive into the band all the way. It was May, and in less than a year I had acquired all the albums. That is a short period of time to absorb so much new music, but I did, and I loved virtually all of it. There are actually few bands I love as much as the Arkells, and only a handful that I fell for so quickly.
I love their lyrics, from everyman tales of not being able to pay the rent, to social discourse and critique. Singer Max Kerman was a Poli-Sci major, and also has his finger on the pulse of the youth. This results in some pretty cool lyrics. As for the band, their musicianship is top notch. Drummer Tim Oxford is in my top Canadian drummers of all time, and you know that’s an elite list. I’m also a big fan of bassist Nick Dika, who always has deep tones and fabulous bass melodies.
Shortly after I went all-in, the band released a new album called Laundry Pile, an acoustic affair with melancholy feelings. A bit of a slow burner, but a brilliant album. This was followed by the 2024 all-covers LP, Disco Loadout. I enthusiastically went bonkers for it, and got it on CD and signed vinyl. Their eclectic set of tunes, from Abba to Whitney interpreted by the rock band, satisfied deeply. They threw in a couple rock tunes by Springsteen and Hall & Oates, and I just liked the whole album. Could I fall in love any more with the Arkells?
Full stop to the summer of 2024. So soon after the Disco Loadout album, Arkells announced the release of a new single called “Big Feelings”. “It came together quickly,” said the band. “It started with a bold drum loop that Tim made, and was quickly arranged when the band assembled for a session in February.”
A few weeks after Aaron and I visited Sonic Boom records in Toronto, the Arkells announced an appearance at the store. They brought with them 150 copies of “Big Feelings” on 180g clear vinyl, hand cut by Red Spade Records in Calgary, Alberta.
150 copies were all that were made. And they sold out that day. No copies have ever shown up on Discogs.
And this is why I’m upset with the Arkells. I had just been to Sonic Boom a few weeks earlier, and there was no way I could make it down for that store release. Trying to get there early enough to get one of the 150 copies…being in a crowd like that…no, no thanks.
I guess you could say, “Why are you upset, Mike? It’s on you that you didn’t go.”
Sure, that’s true. However, I think I’m on record for despising these kinds of releases that I’ll never get my hands on physically. Maybe I’m not mad at the band; maybe I’m mad at the practice. However it is the band that I have taken it out on. “Big Feelings” remains the only Arkells song I don’t have, because I refused to buy it on iTunes. I haven’t even put a “like” on the music video. Oh sure, I’ll probably give in eventually. It just really bugs me that a band of Arkells’ stature, with thousands of fans who value physical media, would only release 150 copies in such an exclusive way. Some might see that as indi-cool. I don’t. Arkells aren’t some garage band. They have fans, and I feel a real disservice by this release.
Call me a curmudgeon, but that’s how I feel.
POLARIS COVER SESSIONS No. 2 (2016 coloured 10″ EP, CBC Music)
Collecting Arkells odds & ends on physical formats is an expensive prospect. This cool 10″ EP features the Hamilton band, along with Nova Scotia’s Joel Plaskett and Toronto’s Zaki Ibrahim. The three artists cover Canadian songs on this EP, from artists both famed and obscure. It is a beautiful transparent blue EP, with a basic cover design. The names of the featured artists are on the front, with the names of the artsists covered on the back. The tracklist and credits are inside, on a coloured insert. More on that in a minute.
Here is a breakdown of the tracks.
ARKELLS – “I’m Not Afraid”
Mississauga’s Owen Pallett has a career going back over two decades, previously under the name Final Fantasy. They play violin and other instruments. Here’ the Arkells cover of a tune called “I’m Not Afraid”, a powerful tune taking full advantage of their instrumental prowess. Augmented by a sax section, the song opens with a synthesizer drone, and then a pulsing bassline over it. It starts off tense and sparse, and takes a little while to launch as the arrangement slowly builds. It explodes 90 seconds in, with singer Max Kerman breaking into a falsetto on the chorus. The sax-soaked tune really flies at this point, propelled by drummer Tim Oxford, the engine of the Arkells. The best word to describe this song is simple – it really cooks.
JOEL PLASKETT – “Bittersweet Memories”
Calgary’s Leslie Feist is better known on the world stage simply as Feist. Joel Plaskett chose “Bittersweet Memories” to cover. Plaskett plays everything but the Rhodes keys (by Erin Costelo). Like Kerman before, he breaks into falsetto at times, but this gentle ballad has a steady beat and a vintage 70s easy listening vibe. It’s an excellent song, with lyrics that paint a picture. Here’s the main thing: Feist really knows how to write a song, and Joel’s no slouch on everything he plays!
ZAKI IBRAHIM – “Show Me the Place”
The final artist to get the cover treatment is the legendary Leonard Cohen. Zaki Ibrahim chose a song of recent vintage, “Show Me the Place” from 2012’s Old Ideas. There’s a very low-key and soulful arrangement featuring piano, synth, drum programs and cello. Though all of this forms a cloudy-yet-vivid atmosphere, it is Ibrahim’s vocals that really make it shine. Her layered vocals on the chorus sound are stirring and foreboding. It’s an incredible vocal performance in totality, featuring both restraint and expression. This is easily an EP highlight.
Here’s the amusing thing about this EP. There is obvious care put into both the music and the detailed sleeve notes, but they got the track listing wrong. They switched the Arkells and Plaskett tracks. In reality, Arkells are on side A, and Plaskett and Ibrahim are on side B. The sleeve notes are repeated on both sides of the insert, French and English, and both are wrong. It makes sense for the Arkells track to occupy an entire side by itself, since it is the longest at 5:19. Funny how these mistakes get made. The actual label on the record is correct.
A very enjoyable EP, with tracks that should be cherished by fans of all three artists.
4/5 stars
…and more to come
RECORD STORE TALES #1131: Foxes & Fireworks
Five New Things This Weekend at the Lake
After 52 years, it’s not always easy coming up with new experiences to have at the lake. Sometimes it’s a fortuitous mixture of planning and luck. I am always conscious that every second at the lake counts. Unfortunately, my energy isn’t what it was. I don’t remember having so many naps back in those days. I just remember going, and going, and going! Gosh, when Peter Cavan used to come up to the cottage for a weekend, we’d go from one activity to another without taking a break. We’d go from badminton to throwing around a football, to playing a video game to making a stir fry for dinner. Then we’d be in the car to buy some fireworks. We like it easier these days.
New thing #1: Road tunes
Our weekend began on Thursday evening for the first spin of Arkells’ new album Disco Loadout Volume One on the road. It was a singalong success from start to finish, but it only took us as far as Listowel. For the rest of the trip, we played the Moody Blues Long Distance Voyager. Another success. It is always a pleasure to try new tunes for the road. I am happy to report that both albums did very well, and voices were raised.
We settled in quickly for a quiet weekend. Well, quiet for the moment. I inaugurated the weekend with some Deep Purple on the porch. This was done to celebrate Rock Daydream Nation’s excellent Deep Purple Stormbringer episode, which I was a part of. The episode was well received and I had a blast doing it. Of course, Friday night was Grab A Stack of Rock which I always love doing from the lake. There’s only one issue with doing anything on the porch involving a computer.
As another hallmark of my increasing age, my back hurts plenty after a day of rocking out and a night of live streaming from the porch. Writing? Extremely difficult. The deck chairs are very comfortable there, but only for leaning back. For working with a keyboard and a screen, they are not so practical. Not to mention, we just have these small glass deck tables to put my laptop on. I’ve used a number of laptop stands, but none offered the height, position and stability that I needed to easy my aching back. There must be a solution. Enter: Amazon.
New thing #2: Amazon calling
I heard through the grapevine that Amazon were now delivering to the cottage, though sometimes they have problems finding the addresses. Some of these places are not on GPS. However, let’s give it a shot. I picked a new desk that I thought would work on my front porch, and had it delivered straight to the cottage.
Much to my surprise, it worked! The delivery truck backed into the driveway at 3:00 in the afternoon, and I went outside to find a cardboard box on the deck, waiting for me!
The game has changed. With Amazon now offering next-day delivery to the cottage, imagine what things I will waste my money on when I’m bored! When we were kids staving off boredom, we were limited to whatever toys and cassette tapes the local stores had to offer. Not anymore!
Now, time to set up the desk!
New thing #3: I have a desk on the front deck now
The desk was easy enough to assemble, though the included tools were no match for my dad’s ratcheting screwdriver. It would have taken me an hour or more if I used the wimpy little screwdriver that came in the box. Soon, I had my desk set up, and adjusted for maximum comfort. The game has been changed.
I could spent all day typing now. It was like I had my own little porch nook, surrounded by coffee, lego, potato chips and CDs.
With this new desk, I should be able to do more writing and more video editing than ever before. If I want to! That’s the key to remember. The cottage is for relaxing. I must remember to do what feels right, instead of pressuring myself to “produce”. That said, it was great broadcasting Grab A Stack of Rock with such comfort.
I did want to produce a video short this weekend, and that was semi-successful.
New thing #4: Slow-motion fireworks
My mom and dad left us some Roman candles from the May 24 long weekend. Though not as practical as fountains, they would do for my attempt to get some slow motion video of fireworks.
The first one didn’t give me any footage. The problem is the firework is mostly pauses between bursts of colour. It’s hard to hit record at the exact right time to capture anything, and even at super slow-mo, it’s hard to get more than five seconds of footage. Next time we’ll try a fountain, but for this experiment, I was able to get two videos up on Youtube.
I love it when a plan comes together!
The last new thing that happened was complete serendipity.
On the Saturday night, Jen and I went down to the beach after finishing our delicious ribeye steak dinner. It was after sunset, but the glow of the sun lingers for hours, and you don’t need a flashlight at the beach during twilight. I got up to have a pee in the bushes, and after doing my business, I sang a little song and turned around. That’s what I saw him.
The fox was heading straight towards me. He had a gait unlike a dog. He was unmistakable. With absolutely no fear of humans, he walked with intent right past both of us, and on down the beach.
New thing #5: I finally captured the fox on camera
I’ve been trying for four years now, and I finally got him. The pictures don’t do him justice, but you’re never expecting the fox until he’s right there in front of you. I named this one Eric Caravello.
We didn’t even get into the Lego, the steaks, the fish fry! That will eventually make it into the cottage video.
A wonderful weekend of firsts. Maybe the next weekend will just be old favourites!
RECORD STORE TALES #1126: Mail Shenanigans
& Look at the Arkells’ Disco Loadout signed clear splatter vinyl
with Peter Kerr/Rock Daydream Nation
Supplementals:
It has been a hell of a week. There’s an untold story here; one that I have elected not to tell. Let’s just say I’m out a lot of money, and other setbacks have caused me to take a step back from social media for a few days. Just too much going on for me to deal with in a calm and cool manner. Better to retreat into the shadows a bit.
As always, the Show Must Go On, and so I was determined to do my best on Friday May 17’s Arkells special on Grab A Stack of Rock. It was the first show I’d done without a co-host (just a special guest) in a long while. I felt unprepared despite a whole week of listening. Things came together at the last minute, and all I needed was the new Arkells album, Disco Loadout Volume One, for the show to go right. I planned to spend the afternoon listening to the CD and hoped to open up the autographed clear splatter vinyl live on the show.
The thing about going live is that it’s a double-edged sword. The plus is you get the rush of live viewer feedback, and that sparks the show to be so much more exciting. The negative is that when things go wrong, there’s nothing you can do about it. That’s live for you.
My record was supposed to arrive on May 15. It didn’t. May 16 came and went. Surely, it would be in my mailbox by May 17, the release date. It had to be.
I arrived home from work early on Friday. I raced with my heart pounding to the mailbox. “It’ll be in there,” I reasoned to myself. “Why wouldn’t it be? It has to be.”
It wasn’t.
Furious, I went right to my computer and called up the tracking.
“Good news!” said Canada Post. “Your parcel was delivered to your locked condo mailbox on May 16!”
Umm, no it wasn’t! I picked up the phone. I searched for a phone number. Do you know how hard it is to call Canada Post on the phone and get a human being on the phone? I was completely unsuccessful.
I went ’round and ’round on phone menus for half an hour. I called my local post office, only to go to voicemail after an agonisingly long wait. I swore up and down, and let out a primal yell that would have frightened the upstairs neighbour, had he been home.
I called Encore Records, and fortunately they had CD copies of the album in stock. I ran downtown, grabbed the album from them (and a few other discs as well). I was greeted there by old pal Chris, and I want to thank Encore for saving the day. Once home, I immediately played the album once-and-a-half times, and began my show prep. (I also picked up three other discs – a 4 CD Faster Pussycast set, the new Beatles single “Now and Then“, and the new Ace Frehley 10,000 Volts.)
I wouldn’t be able to open the signed splatter vinyl live on the show, but I filed a report with Canada Post. It was all I could do. There were no other options available. Showing a CD copy wouldn’t be as exciting, but at least I had it in hand and could read the credits while listening.
The show went incredibly well; far better than I expected. This was due to special guest Nurse Kat and her enthusiasm, and to some excellent notes from D’Arcy Briggs. I’m really happy and proud of the show we did together. I’d never attempted to do a show on a new album, on the day of release before. We were treading new ground in multiple ways, and while it almost didn’t work, it ended up being one of the best shows to date. The passion for the music came through.
Two days later, there was a knock on the door. A tall gentleman from down the hall had a parcel for me. It had been delivered to his unit.
How this happened, I’ll never understand but someone at Canada Post wrote the number “103” on the parcel. Even though my correct unit number was written clearly on the parcel where the address was, this scribbled “103” put my parcel in the tall man’s mailbox. Fortunately he is one of the good ones, and not all of them are. Just this week, an upstairs neighbour had an expensive Amazon parcel opened and stolen. It’s not a good feeling to have mail thieves in our building, but I have been victim twice before. I’m glad this wasn’t the third time.
Even though I didn’t get to unbox it live, Peter Kerr from Rock Daydream Nation was kind enough to join me for a quick look at a beautiful record. It looks as great as it sounds.
And so the week of stress comes to a happy ending. The other bit of good news is that the social media hiatus was a good idea. I went on a writing bender like never before. Expect loads of reviews this spring and summer.
Thank you to the guy down the hall, to Peter Kerr, to D’Arcy Briggs, and to Nurse Kat for turning this potential disaster story into one of triumph!
ARKELLS – Disco Loadout Volume 1 (2024 Universal)
Five albums in five years. Album #10! First covers album. The Arkells show no signs of slowing down!
Hamilton Ontario’s Arkells are the kind of band that clearly love music. You get this feeling from certain bands, such as Foo Fighters, or Weezer: that the members just love playing music, and sometimes want to bust out a favourite song for fun. Many of the songs here are tracks that the band have played live. Disco Loadout exudes fun from every groove (or 1’s and 0’s if you listen digitally), and yes, it does include some disco (Abba)! 11 tracks: the perfect length. Genres range from modern pop (Robyn, Harry Styles) to classic rock (Bruce Springsteen, Hall & Oates, Huey Lewis & the News) and pop (Whitney Houston, The Jackson 5).
Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” has a chugging “Eye of the Tiger” kind of riff, paired with a rich horn section. Drummer Tim Oxford opts for a big beat on this one, with his usual swing. Singer Max Kerman pours it all in, and delivers big hooks on the chorus. Check out that bassline by Nick Dika, a thrumming pulse that gets the blood pumping. “Dancing On My Own” gets the album off to a fast paced start, upbeat and celebratory.
Keyboardist Anthony Carone takes the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” to the right place from the start, but it’s those big thick horns that really nail the authenticity factor. This is not a song for the meek to cover. The Arkells have had a soulful side that really came to the fore starting with Morning Report. This track allows them to really let it out. Without a bump, Hall & Oates’ “You Make My Dreams Come True” continue the blue-eyed soul vibe. A favourite song of any Toronto Maples Leafs fan, this song is sure to be a popular one in Canada. The Arkells do a wonderful version, and though it’s hard to top Darryl Hall’s vocals, Max does an admirable job.
Harry Styles’ “As It Was” has a keyboard line similar to “Take On Me” by A-Ha. It has a nice retro vibe and a taut bassline by Nick Dika. I like when they change the lyric “Harry, you’re no good alone,” to “Maxie, you’re no good alone.” It has a beat and you can dance to it, but it’s not as classic as the other tracks on this album.
Guitarist Mike DeAngelis gets to sing co-lead vocals on Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer”, and it’s a delight. His voice is more similar to Peter’s, so when his lines kick in, it really adds to the authenticity (there’s that word again). Speaking of authenticity, “Sledgehammer” lays on the horn section heavy once again. This is a really fun cover. Anthony Carone has the right 80s keyboard tons, and Oxford plays it for the beat, but not without throwing in some cool rhythmic tricks. The saxophones are nice and thick, and you could swear it was 1986 all over again.
The first of two ABBA covers is a re-recording of “Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)”. An earlier version was on 2022’s Apple Music Home Session. In both versions, Nick Dika shows an expert level knack for danceable but powerful bass. Meanwhile, Tim Oxford is absolutely killing it on the drums, nailing both the groove and a hard-hitting power. This song is a showcase for the upper echelon rhythm section of the Arkells. There’s even a bass solo.
Speaking of bass, it’s prominent on Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5”. Dolly is having a moment again, so the timing is right to cover a Parton hit. It’s just pure fun, and not too serious. The horns are back to thicken things up with sass and melody. Lyrically, the song actually fits in well with some of the Arkells’ earlier hits like “Oh, The Boss Is Coming!” as a protest over the big guys in the expensive suits. Stay tuned for a great sax solo, followed by a rowdy trumpet solo, and completed by a trombone showcase! As if that wasn’t enough, Tim Oxford gets a drum solo, before Max orders that they go “New Orleans”! What a trip!
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston might be the most unlikely song on this album, but of course no pressure. The Arkells have it covered. Once again the bass is up front in the mix, really allowing the groove to come through.
Album highlight: “Dancing In The Dark” by Bruce Springsteen. The Arkells have gone with a Springsteen sound before (“Nowhere to Go” featuring Jake Clemons) so they clearly know what they’re doing. This song drives harder than Bruce’s version, while retaining all the hooks. Some may think Max Kerman is ill-suited to sing a song by a guy with a raspy voice like Bruce Springsteen, but no issue. Awesome track, and hopefully a future live staple.
Huey Lewis’ “The Power of Love” is a definitive 80s anthem. Of course, the Arkells are all over it. Anthony Carone’s keyboards are particularly noticeable, while the rest of the guys just sit back and let it groove. Mike DeAngelis has a fun guitar solo, and the reliable horns deliver those familiar hooks that you remember so well. Every base is covered. A perfect version.
The album closes, as it should, on the last ABBA cover, “Dancing Queen”! What can one say about “Dancing Queen”? It is one of the world’s most perfect songs, but also, be wary: to cover a song this familiar and this classic is to frolic on thin ice. Yet the Arkells, with the combination of ace rhythm section, the essential keyboards, and horns, manage to pull it off. Max Kerman’s delivery is pure love and enjoyment of singing a classic song.
Engineered by Harem Scarem’s Harry Hess, this album sounds absolutely fantastic, with highs and lows coming through loud and clear. Hopes are high that a Volume Two will eventually follow!
4.5/5 stars
…and more to come
Thank you once again Nurse Kat for coming on Grab A Stack of Rock to talk about a band we both love: Hamilton Ontario’s Arkells. It isn’t her first time, as last year we did a show focusing largely on her 13 concert experiences (now 20). Check out Nurse Kat’s first show by clicking here!
This time, we did a deep dive. We went album by album, from Jackson Square to today: the brand new release, Disco Loadout Volume One. If I do say so myself, I think this is the most comprehensive Arkells deep dive you will find.
My friend D’Arcy Briggs was unable to attend the show, but he provided ample notes and we presented his views on each album in the form of short videos. Additionally, we ran excerpts with commentary of three Arkells music videos: “Oh, the Boss is Coming”, “All Roads”, and “Past Life”, which allow us to view the evolution of the band.
Show highlights:
That’s right. The Mad Metal Man himself, who also ordered Disco Loadout, made a brief cameo at the end of our show, and we love him for it. I missed my Mad Metal Man.
Thank yous:
Next week is a re-run of Top Five Bald Artists. Speaking of which, I may look a little different this week. Spot the change!
My notes:
Jackson Square – 2008
Michigan Left – 2011
High Noon – 2014
Morning Report – 2016
Rally Cry – 2018 – sudden change in cover art style, more political than personal lyrics
Campfire Chords – 2020
Blink Once – 2021
Blink Twice – 2022
Laundry Pile – 2023
Disco Loadout Vol. 1 – 2024
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 60: Disco Loadout! The Arkells Discography Ranked!
Please welcome back superfan Nurse Kat, returning to discuss the Arkells one more time! Last time she was on, she talked about seeing the band 13 times in an 18 month span. Now, a year later, I wonder how many more times she’s caught the band live?
The occasion? Today’s release of the new covers album Disco Loadout Vol. 1, featuring songs by Hall & Oates, Peter Gabriel, Abba, Bruce Springsteen and Whitney Houston among others! The Arkells have always had a knack for covers, and today they put their money where their mouths are with their first full-on covers album. Our copy is pre-ordered and we hope to have it in hand to show tonight.
Kat and I will be talking favourite songs, from album to album, and then I will attempt to rank all 10. A daunting task; I will not be relying on my written reviews for this job. I will listen to them all with fresh ears and try to figure out a ranking. We will even be running clips from our favourite videos.
Tune in tonight for the epic of Arkells appreciation!
Friday May 17 at 8:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 5:00 P.M. Pacific. Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!
The Arkells are not slowing down! With last year’s surprise release of the unplanned acoustic album Laundry Pile, not to mention the two Blink albums, the band are back in 2024 with their first full covers album! Of note, this album includes Abba’s “Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)”, previously only available on an iTunes EP. This is its first physical release.
Tracklist
01) Dancing On My Own
02) I Want You Back
03) You Make My Dreams
04) As It Was
05) Sledgehammer
06) Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
07) 9 to 5
08) I Wanna Dance With Somebody
09) Dancing in the Dark
10) The Power Of Love
11) Dancing Queen
WHY DISCO LOADOUT?
A disco loadout is a term in our industry that describes a very humbling act. Many bands have experienced this, and we certainly have. Sometimes when you’re on tour you might pull up to a venue to find there is a later show happening the same night. The promoter, looking at his spreadsheet, has decided that it makes financial sense to book two separate shows on the same night. Your band is playing the early show, and when you are finished, you must load your gear down the stairs and out the door while a lineup of people waits to get into the venue for the next show. The later show is usually a cover band, performing songs that everyone knows and likes.
We have been humbled by this in the past and instead of living with the embarrassment, we have performed and recorded those songs for you. We’re taking the term back.
Disco Loadout Vol 1. Songs Arkells like to play when we need to party like it’s a late show.
mikeladano.com 