Flash backwards to a week ago, thousands of fans stood lined up anticipating the long-awaited Declan McKenna, who within a matter of hours would perform his first show at the Kentish Town venue. As a long-term fan of Declan, it was pleasing to see how many people turned up to support him and enjoy a night of music. After hours of waiting in line with many other fans and the helpful, yet cheerful security guards, we were stood shoulder to shoulder, dancing along to the two wonderful support acts, When Young and Superfood, and waiting excitedly for the main act.
As Declan appeared on stage, he began with his power-fuelled ‘Make Me Your Queen’, discussing the aspects of a relationship where the power is imbalanced. With the crowd already riled up from the first song, Declan and his band moved on smoothly to ‘Brazil’, his political power ballad about the money spent on the World Cup, and not the people of Brazil. From there, Declan moved swiftly through his debut album, transitioning from energizing songs like ‘The Kids Don’t Wanna Home’ to more upbeat, sadder songs ‘Why Do You Feel So Down’. Intertwined in between these eclectic mix of songs, Declan took the time to thank his band, his support acts, the crew and most importantly: the crowd that had made his first appearance there so memorable!
Whilst his songs encouraged an encore, which he certainly delivered, perhaps more importantly, his stage presence is what made him so intriguing to watch. Dancing around the stage as if no one was watching, crowd surfing and climbing up on the speakers are all part of why Declan McKenna is one to watch in 2018 and why he attracts so many fans, world-wide.
