Arkells’ Heartfelt Tribute to Buffalo at Town Ballroom

A Night of Music and Connection in Buffalo

Buffalo, New York, has long been a place where the spirit of Canadian rock band Arkells thrives. This connection was once again evident on Saturday night as the band hosted its record release weekend for “Between Us,” their latest album, which launched on Friday morning just hours before their first show at Town Ballroom.

The weekend’s shows marked the beginning of the tour and quickly sold out within minutes of tickets going on sale. The event not only celebrated the new album but also highlighted the deep bond between Arkells and the city. Frontman Max Kerman described Buffalo as the band’s “home away from home” in a previous interview and reiterated this sentiment during the performance.

“I mean, Buffalo is basically a Canadian city,” he said about a third of the way into the performance. His words resonated with the crowd, who showed their love for the band throughout the night.

A Dynamic Setlist and Fan Engagement

The show began with the entire album “Between Us,” followed by 11 songs from the band’s extensive catalog. Arkells also performed a rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” for a fan and delivered a four-song anti-war medley featuring tracks like “American Screams,” “Systematic,” “Whistleblower,” and Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime.” The concert closed with a three-song encore, including “Heart of the City,” “11:11,” and “Knocking at the Door.”

Throughout the set, Arkells incorporated interludes of Bruce Springsteen’s “Blinded By the Light” and Buffalo native Rick James’ “Give It to Me Baby.” Despite the new album being released just hours before the show, the majority of the crowd was familiar with the music, singing along and dancing to the high-energy performances.

A Celebration of Community and Creativity

Arkells made it clear that they value the support of their fans, not just through their music but also through their merchandise and freebies. At the merch stand, there were free ‘playbills’ containing bios and information about the band, crew, and the record. Kerman also took time to shout out the crew by name during the set, showing his appreciation for their hard work.

The band also showcased a special release weekend t-shirt featuring their Buffalo Bills homage logo and details about the concerts. While the Bills received attention, the band also expressed support for the Buffalo Sabres and their recent end to a 14-year playoff drought. Kerman noted that some members from the Sabres organization were in the crowd, though he joked, “Not the team, they all have to rest up for tomorrow.”

A Testament to the Bond Between Band and Fans

Arkells hosting their album release shows in Buffalo is a clear indication of the band’s respect for the city and its fans. In return, Buffalonians demonstrated their enthusiasm by filling the venue both nights, selling out in a short span of time, and showing their support for the new record.

The way the crowd reacted to the new album was so strong that even those unfamiliar with Arkells might not have been able to tell the difference between new and old songs. The band trusted their audience to know the material, and the response proved that trust was well-placed.

Setlist Highlights

Next Summer
What Good?
Ride
Money
Imagine Barcelona
Desire’s Got Some Questions
Universe Talking
Two Hearts
What’s On Your Mind
Rumour
Escape Door
You Can Get It
Past Life
People’s Champ (with Give It to Me Baby interlude)
Reckoning
Skin
Happy Birthday to You
Quitting You
Book Club
Medley
Ballad of Hugo Chavez
Relentless
My Heart’s Always Yours
Leather Jacket
Heart of the City (with Blinded By the Light interlude)
11:11
Knocking at the Door

Adam Duke joined the WIVB digital team in November 2021. He is the creator and host of the weekly arts & entertainment series and podcast ‘Buffalo Jukebox.’ See more of his work here.

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