Arkells surprised the city by returning to where it all began for them in Kingston—Clark Hall Pub.
Before they were known as Arkells, the band performed their first ever show in Kingston at Queen’s very own Clark Hall Pub under the name “Charlemagne” back in 2007. Announcing their Oct. 24 surprise appearance only days before via social media, Arkells marked a full circle moment by performing a pop-up show at Clark. Playing alongside the pub’s recently appointed house band, The Clay Pigeons, doors opened at 4 p.m. The pop-up preceded their scheduled show at Slush Puppie Place later that night, as part of the band’s current tour, Big Feelings.
READ MORE: Arkells plan return to Kingston
Students were excited for the show, many sporting merchandise and even CD’s to be signed—a rare sight nowadays.
The Clay Pigeons primed the crowd for Arkells’ appearance and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to play alongside such experienced musicians. Performing covers like Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing,” and Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” along with some unreleased originals, the band proved they could hold their own beside Canadian music’s heavy hitters.
The Clay Pigeons brought great stage presence, with their seven-strong lineup. The band, made up of St. Lawrence College student Matt Carcao, and Queen’s students Ben Newman, Sci ’26, Mo Kelly, Sci ’26, Josh Wagman, Sci ’26, Jacky Ain, ArtSci ’26, Tyler Rotholz, ArtSci ’26, and David Orbach ArtSci ’26, was excited to be performing alongside Arkells.
“It’s a really cool thing they’re doing for students, and for us, we’re so grateful,” Newman said in an interview with The Journal.
Appreciative to be using The Clay Pigeon’s gear, Arkells played a pared back rendition of “Leather Jacket,” “Relentless,” as well as a cover of Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck Babe” which took the crowd by surprise. Some lucky fans ed the band on stage adding their vocals to the mix. An incredible addition to Arkells’ sound was the company of Northern Soul Horns, whose brass accompaniments took the music up a notch.
Performing this surprise show brought Arkells music right to Queen’s campus, giving many students an opportunity to see the band. The pop-up also helped them to get to know the Kingston crowd a little better. “We try to really get a feel for the community every time we come through town,” frontman, Max Kerman, said in an interview with The Journal.
Giving back to the community in this way is something Arkells cherish. “We’re just trying to have a good time really. A fundamental part of being in a band like ours is we want to enjoy ourselves, and we want to get the community out there,” Kerman said.
“If we can offer a bit of a bright spot in somebody’s day, you know, with secret tickets that we’ve hidden in a scavenger hunt, then great,” he added.
This giving spirit is something The Clay Pigeons employ in their craft as well. “I think that’s super key—giving back to others, you know? Just got to pay it forward as much as we can,” Carcao said in an interview with The Journal. “Them [Arkells] doing that, it’s given us this opportunity, and we owe it to everyone,” Newman added.
Reflecting on their first time playing at Clark, “At the time it felt like a big show, and it was a big show for us,” Kerman said. It seems to remain a place Arkells hold dear, with Kerman calling it a “legendary Canadian venue” while on stage.
The Clay Pigeons cherish the venue as well. “There’s like a lot of history there, which we thought was really cool,” Newman said.
A highlight of the afternoon’s performance was a collaborative performance of Santana and Rob Thomas’s “Smooth,” as Arkells, Northern Soul Horns, and The Clay Pigeons all shared the stage. It was groovy, spontaneous, and fun, encapsulating the infectious energy the musicians all brought to the table.
Arkells performance was a bright light amongst mid and chilly weather. Their generosity was remarkable, with free tickets to the evening’s show being given out to students who wanted them.
It was a full circle moment for the band and an afternoon Queen’s students surely won’t forget.
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