Festival season aside, one of the biggest live music experiences of the summer that we missed was seeing . And while little snippets of the band playing before hockey games are nice, there's no replicating the real thing. However, Max, Mike, Nick, Tim, and have put together a little something for the fans as we come through these hot August days near the end of our summer.
Campfire Chords comes as a collection of 19 tracks, including the band's new single Quitting You, 17 acoustic renditions of previous releases, and the Take Me Home outro. If you haven't heard Quitting You yet, or if you haven't seen the video, hit play now and then we'll get into the album some more.
Arkells - Quitting You
On social media, the band has been teasing the acoustic versions of their songs that will appear on Campfire Chords. So far we've heard snippets of Knocking At The Door, Michigan Left, Come To Light, A Little Rain (A Song For Pete), and Eyes On The Prize. As fans, we can say that these posts have done an excellent job of making us excited to hear the full versions of these songs, and all of the tracks on the album.
Click the play buttons to hear the teases.
Knocking At The Door
Campfire Chords comes out August 20. Every day until then we'll offer a little slice of heaven to get you in the mood.
Here's Knocking At The Door ft. Shezelle Weekes on vocals and Aaron Goldstein on pedal steel guitar.
Pre-save the record here: https://t.co/4Kyd0ILzMb pic.twitter.com/cSOIIm7bBx- ARKELLS (@arkellsmusic) August 4, 2020
Michigan Left
A little slice of heaven: Michigan Left from Campfire Chords. Out August 20.
User PSA: follow us on instagram for all fun things and updates for Campfire Chords.
Head there now and follow along: https://t.co/IcNkJjobdR pic.twitter.com/bGaKq5uYBC
- ARKELLS (@arkellsmusic) August 7, 2020
Come To Light
⛺️Campfire Chords // Come To Light🌲 Even though the High Noon studio version is fancied up in a 80's Don Henley kind of way, the bones of this song has always had a country feel. All those nice cowboy chords make it beg for a two step. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/TVxhej1XsZ
- ARKELLS (@arkellsmusic) August 9, 2020
A Little Rain (A Song For Pete)
Campfire Chords // A Little Rain (A Song For Pete).
This song always had a gospel vibe in our heads, and this version we finally got to do it.
We got our friend Marla Joy to sing harms, and@aarongoldstein to lay down a little Pop Staples guitar. Campfire Chords out August 20. pic.twitter.com/aPGNd7ifq9- ARKELLS (@arkellsmusic) August 10, 2020
Eyes On The Prize
"Reach out, it could be better than a fantasy."
Eyes On The Prize featuring Shezelle Weekes, from Campfire Chords out August 20.Listen for a taste here: pic.twitter.com/dyYTVAOBxd
- ARKELLS (@arkellsmusic) August 12, 2020
Campfire Chords // Book Club
A song about being 17 and cruising around in your friend's mom's new audi. And arguing about what to listen to on the radio. https://t.co/h3PQuMrDwO pic.twitter.com/ovSMlydrwl
- ARKELLS (@arkellsmusic) August 13, 2020
And Then Some
Campfire Chords // And Then Some.
Capo on 4.
Verse/ Chorus: G C Em
Pre: C D C D C D Em Am
Out August 20. Listen to a slice here.
📸@nathannash_ pic.twitter.com/yi5we5HqnN- ARKELLS (@arkellsmusic) August 15, 2020
I'm not sure which of these songs I'm most excited to hear the full version of, but I think it might be Knocking At The Door with the addition of Aaron Goldstein on the pedal steel guitar.
But really, I'm looking forward to hitting play on the entire album and letting it play. Closing my eyes and imagining a backyard bonfire or a cloudless night sky full of stars. If Arkells are looking to break into the cottage-vibe soundtrack landscape like Blue Rodeo, The Hip, and more - this is a strong move.
While we're here, there are a couple other videos/songs that we want to share because it all goes together. First it's the double shot of Years In The Making and Quitting You, as seen on Sportsnet. They are lovely and it was great to see them as part of the #OneTeam and to give love to frontline workers in these unprecedented times.
Years In The Making (tribute to frontline workers)
Quitting You (live debut)
And I don't want to miss out on sharing this stripped-down performance of And Then Some from Budweiser Stage in Toronto. We were there that night, and having the band gathered together at the front of the stage, with the entire crowd singing along was something special. And remembering Max saying "This is some Canadian campfire music right now" in the middle of the song made me think of this song as soon as I started thinking about what the Campfire Chords album could be.
Hit play and enjoy.
And Then Some (Sold Out in Toronto)
I still get chills and love moments like these in any and all live shows. The choir of thousands of voices and the love that just kind of flows between strangers and to and from the stage is *chef's kiss*.
Here's hoping we all get to experience that again sooner rather than later.
Check out the full tracklist for Campfire Chords and be ready for the album to drop on August 20, 2020.
Arkells, Campfire Chords Tracklist
1. Knocking At The Door (Acoustic)
2. Quitting You
3. Years In The Making (Acoustic)
4. Whistleblower (Acoustic)
5. Michigan Left (Acoustic)
6. I'm Not The Sun (Acoustic)
7. Don't Be A Stranger (Acoustic)
8. Come To Light (Acoustic)
9. A Little Rain (Acoustic)
10. Eyes On The Prize (Acoustic)
11. Book Club (Acoustic)
12. And Then Some (Acoustic)
13. Kiss Cam (Acoustic)
14. My Heart's Always Yours (Acoustic)
15. Hand Me Downs (Acoustic)
16. 11:11 (Acoustic)
17. Relentless (Acoustic)
18. Leather Jacket (Acoustic)
19. Take Me Home (Outro)
ps. Almost two years ago I had a dream that Arkells recorded a live acoustic album at The Dakota Tavern in Toronto. This isn't quite that - but I'll take it.
