If you've been paying attention to billboards, mainstream music outlets, or this site then you have likely been exposed to the Arkells.

Within the past month they have released their debut album, Jackson Square; filmed their first music video for O The Boss is Coming; and are midway through their national tour with headliners Matt Mays and El Torpedo.

I sat down with Dan (keyboards, vocals) at the Phoenix Concert Theatre to discuss the madness. We started with their CD release party.

"What was so cool about doing our CD release party at the Dakota [Tavern], was that it was the placed we first got hooked up with Dine Alone Records and really got everything started."

After I saw them at the Dakota, I was concerned about whether or not the Arkells would be able to record their apparent energy and charisma onto disc.

"Well that's always the struggle. There are so many elements that need to be controlled so that we nail it down right. And that was always our worry too. The studio is a dark place. It's not always exciting, but we worked with Jon Drew and we had a lot of fun with it."

I know that these guys are serious, because they have a music video. And a real one too. Not like me filming myself lip-synching to Mariah Carey with a tripod in my apartment when my roomates are gone. Not like that at all.

"We filmed it about a month ago, just before the tour started. We went out to this box factory in Brampton and shot it all in one day."

For a Hamilton band that has only been together for two years, they are progressing quickly. With labelmates like Alexisonfire, Bedouin Soundclash, and Attack in Black, they are lined up alongside some of the hottest indie bands in the Canadian music sphere. So, expectations are high and the pressure is on.