BY JAMIE UMBACH – ROGERSPLACE.COM
EDMONTON, AB – Consider the call heeded.
Arkells launched their Rally Cry Tour a week earlier than previously expected on Thursday night at Rogers Place, much to the advantage of everyone in attendance.
You can thank Justin Timberlake’s vocal chords for that reshuffling.
“Originally the tour was supposed to start in Vancouver, but Justin Timberlake called me and said he needed a favour,” Max Kerman, frontman for the five-piece from Hamilton, said before the show in an interview from the Oilers Hall of Fame room. “He said my voice hurts. Can we switch dates?”
“I said make us an offer we can’t refuse.”
With a day off now planned in Edmonton for February 7, the original date, they’ll take in the JT concert and spend some more time in the city that’s had to up the venue capacity each time they’ve made the trip back.
“We’re happy to start our tour in Edmonton. We love it here.”
Eight years ago, Arkells could barely find a moment to rest, playing shows in Edmonton at places like MacEwan University or the basement of the Starlite Room, often times onthe same day. Now, Rogers Place served as the venue that would start their biggest tour in the biggest Canadian arenas.
