Declan McKenna
18 year old newcomer Declan McKenna has gone from strength to strength since shuffling into the limelight in 2015. Winner of Glastonbury Festival’s emerging talent competition, tour dates with Blossoms followed and a place on the BBC’s prestigious Sound of 2017 poll closed last year with deserved triumph. On the first night of his biggest headline tour to date, a sold out Waterfront Studio was treated to a real glimpse at a young star absolutely worth the hype.
For a chilly Monday night, there’s a striking energy in the room as the band bound on stage. Any last shreds of sheepishness dissolve as the perpetually infectious Isombard punches into the room, and a lively mosh pit opens almost instantly. Bethlehem follows, cementing the zeitgeist of the evening; it’s clear this is going to be a sweaty one.
A bunch of new material is aired – “I’ve only got, like, two songs!” McKenna jokes early on. Why Do You Feel So Down? and Make Me Your Queen comfortably bulk up the set, both mid-tempo with tropical qualities, but the real gems come later. Tackling social justice with a powerful spoken word segment, Listen to Your Friends epitomises the perceptiveness that makes McKenna’s songwriting so noteworthy. This isn’t just some kid trying to be a rockstar, this is a social commentator in the making, uncensored, honest and all set to change the world with nothing more than a smile and some catchy tunes. One such tune is Humungous, which builds into a deliciously unexpected Ashes To Ashes-esque guitar climax.
It’s striking how far the show has developed since McKenna’s last Norwich headliner, at the Arts Centre last February. Musically it’s slicker, more relaxed and tracks that sounded good last time are pushed to a whole new level. Plus, there are of course more people than the “maybe thirty or forty” back then. Drummer Gabi King confidently backs the nonchalant Nathan Cox on keys, Sofia Heustice on bass and guitarist Isabel Torres, whose dusky riffs mix dynamically with McKenna’s. The band move and operate as one tight unit, especially on Brew and Basic, which sound fuller and refreshed compared to their early recordings.
Through the wooziness of Paracetamol, a strong love can be felt between artist and audience. Both being predominantly teenagers makes for a sense of community as outstretched arms bridge the gap, culminating in a triumphant crowd surf from Declan during Brazil. “I don’t even need to be here!” he joyfully exclaims at the novelty of the audience knowing all the words – reflective of how this is still as exciting for him as it is for us. A frenzied reprise gives the chance for one last dance, before the Waterfront Studio takes a collective sigh of knowing we’ve just witnessed something special. Keep an eye out for big things from Declan McKenna – today the Waterfront Studio, tomorrow the world.
