“The following is based on a true story,” begins Arkells’ hilariously unexpected video for “Drake’s Dad”, a song that’s actually about the time frontman Max Kerman randomly met Drake’s dad in a bar. “Last summer I was on a road trip with my best friends through the American South,” Kerman recalls, “and in the middle of the night, we happened to meet Drake’s dad — Dennis Graham — in a Memphis bar.”
That’s one hell of a coincidence — a Canadian rock band meeting the father of Canada’s most dominant music star in Tennessee, of all places. So of course Kerman had to write a song about it. “I love writing about the joy of friendship, and the lighthouse that home can be while you’re out lost at sea,” he explains. “The narrative carries on to Nashville for some more shenanigans, and finishes with us crawling back into bed back home in Hamilton, very tired and missing our girls.”
OK, but hold up. Is that actually Drake’s dad in the video? Sure is, along with a full cast of characters pulled from the band’s adventures in Nashville and Memphis. The song itself incorporates a distinctly Southern groove that feels right at home alongside visuals of Arkells getting up to all kinds of mischief, including but not limited to: drinking beers in the shower, partying with bachelorettes, and singing with a gospel choir. Them be some pretty nice Views, dudes.
Check out the video for “Drake’s Dad” above, and scroll down to see the band’s full itinerary, which includes a stint with fellow rabble rouser Frank Turner. Arkells’ new album, Morning Report, is due out worldwide on August 5th.
Arkells 2016 Tour Dates:
07/28 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
07/28 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge, Lollapalooza After Party
07/30 – New Glasgow, NS @ The Riverfront Jubilee
08/01 – St. John’s, NL @ George St. Festival
08/06 – Regina, SK @ Queen City Ex
08/21 – Großpösna, DE @ Highfield Festival
08/23 – London, UK @ Lexington
08/25 – Übersee, DE @ Chiemsee Festival
08/27 – Bala, ON @ Kee To Bala
09/03 – Calgary, AB @ X-FEST
09/04 – Edmonton, AB @ Sonic Boom Festival
09/09 – Niagara, ON @ Jackson Triggs
09/15 – New York, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall
09/27 – Champaign, IL @ The Accord *
09/28 – St. Louis, MO @ The Ready Room *
09/29 – Maquoketa, IA @ Codfish *
09/30 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Eagles Club *
10/01 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Cafe – Beer Garden *
10/20 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
10/27 – Athens, GA @ The Georgia Theatre *
10/28 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater *
10/29 – Morgantown, WV @ Mainstage *
10/30 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa *
10/31 – Wilmington, DE @ World Café Live at The Queen *
11/02 – Albany, NY @ Upstate Concert Theater *
11/03 – Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt *
11/11 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Bag
11/12 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
12/9-10 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
* = w/ Frank Turner