SPILL LIVE REVIEW: ARKELLS w/ ERNESTO BARAHONA @ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION NO. 1 BRANCH, CALGARY (AB)

ARKELLS w/ ERNESTO BARAHONA

@ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION NO. 1 BRANCH, CALGARY (AB)

MAY 22, 2026

Beloved Canadian rockers Arkells have been touring to promote their fantastic new album, Between Us. Although they could have easily played at large venues, Arkells opted to do something different this time around. They have been playing at small local venues in Canadian cities, resulting in more intimate shows. On the second night of their Between Us City Takeover in Calgary, Arkells gave the packed audience at the Royal Canadian Legion No. 1 a night to remember.

Trombone DJ Ernesto Barahona kicked off the night with some classic sing-along songs like Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” and some fun party anthems like The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.” Barahona crushed it on the trombone, delivering some spectacular solos and joining Arkells on stage multiple times, most notably for the songs “Knocking At The Door” and “What’s On Your Mind.”

SPILL FEATURE: WE ARE ALL CONNECTED – A CONVERSATION WITH MAX KERMAN OF ARKELLS

Arkells played Between Us front to back, and even though the album is just over a month old, it felt like all the songs were already classics to the crowd, who happily sang back every word to the band. As soon as Anthony Carone played the opening piano riff of the first song of the night, “Next Summer,” the crowd was ready to rock. Throughout the whole night, this was the case, too. It was nonstop energy from both the crowd and Arkells, each having a wonderful, joyful time connecting through music. “What Good?” was a smashing sensation, especially with its infectious exuberance, feel-good vibes, magnetic sound, and Max Kerman’s charisma. The entire place was buzzing during their exhilarating performance of “Ride.” Kerman’s vocals, as always, were stunning the entire night, but “Ride” particularly stands out. The Talking Heads-inspired “Money” was also a complete blast. Mike DeAngelis’ guitar riffs and Nick Dika’s bass lines on this song sounded amazing. They were ridiculously funky. The hypnotically groovy disco track “What’s On Your Mind” was absolute fire, especially when Kerman went into the crowd and started to sing and dance. The rest of the album, especially “Imagine Barcelona” and “Rumor” also really connected with fans.

PURCHASE BETWEEN US

After playing Between Us, Arkells took a short intermission before going out for their second set, which consisted of fan favourites. Hearing classic songs like “11:11,” “Knocking At The Door,” and “Leather Jacket” in a small, intimate setting was such a treat. For “Knocking At The Door,” Kerman brought Stewart to the stage to sing with him. Stewart is an Arkells superfan and a proud member of Connect Up With Downs. It was awesome to witness Kerman and Stewart share the mic together! Arkells also played “Tragic Flaw” and “Your Name,” two songs they rarely play live. It was really great to hear these songs. One of my favourite songs of the night was “Never Thought This Would Happen.” The beautiful synth, dreamy atmosphere, and the unforgettable chorus really stand out. Plus, Kerman got the entire crowd to sing the chorus with him.

It is very clear how much the fans mean to the Arkells, and it is great to see how much effort, heart, and time they put into each show to make it special for the audience. This was my third time seeing Arkells live, and each time has been a truly unique experience.

Overall, Arkells stop at the Royal Legion Branch No. 1 and the rest of their City Takeover shows in Canadian cities have further cemented their status as one of the best bands to see live.

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Inlay Photo Credit: Scarlett O’Neil