Declan McKenna Concert Review | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Declan McKenna Concert Review

A politically educated teenager with some wicked guitar solos.

467
Declan McKenna Concert Review
Abby Gilman

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a concert at Crowbar, a small venue located in the center of Ybor City. It is described on it’s website as a “rough-&-read downtown nightclub and beer garden featuring live music, DJ’s and weekly special events.”

One of my favorite artists, Declan McKenna, was performing there and my friend Rebecca and I decided it would be fun to go early, walk around the city a bit and then get in line. It was a general admission concert meaning, first come, first serve seating.

I’m going to be honest, this was one of the best experiences I have ever had at a concert because everything was so relaxed. It was unlike any other concerts I’ve gone to because it was such a small venue that only held around three hundred people maximum. We were the third and fourth people in line which was extremely promising because I was expecting a much longer line. I’ve been to a few general admission shows in my day and it always seems like no matter how early I got there, there was always at least fifty people in front of me.

By the grace of god, we ended up being first row. And when I say first row, I mean like we sat on the stage while waiting for the opening act to come out. The opening act was Chappell Roan, an alternative singer with a sort of Lana Del Ray vibe. I was surprised at how well she sang and how soulful her voice was considering she is so young.

Finally, the time had come for the man himself to come out. It’s always exciting to go to a concert where the artist is the same age as you because, at least for me, the artists are typically older than me so it almost makes them seem “less real.” I guess what I’m trying to say is that seeing a 19-year-old kid up on stage in front of three hundred people made the idea of being a rockstar or going into the arts more attainable. If this kid could get up and perform every night for hundreds of strangers and live out his dream, who says I or any other young adult can’t? It sounds silly but because he is my own age, he is just so much more relatable.

Declan McKenna isn’t your typical teeny bopper boy singing about love and heartbreak all the time. He is a well-educated young adult who discusses a lot of real-world problems in his songs. For example, according to Genius, his debut single “Brazil,” is a “protest song criticizing FIFA, the international governing body of association football, and their decision of awarding the 2014 FIFA World Cup to Brazil, without addressing the extensive and deep poverty affecting Brazilians and ‘doing anything for the communities.’” His second single, “Paracetamol,” was inspired by the death of transgender teen, Leelah Alcorn who committed suicide in 2014. This song mainly discusses the misrepresentation of the LGBTQ community in the media. Other songs that deal with politcal issues featured on his debut album, “What Do You Think of the Car?” are “The Kids Don’t Want to Come Home” and “Isombard.” Overall, I think he does a great job at representing just how woke the millennial generation actually is.

Moving back to the concert itself, Declan put on an extremely high-energy rock performance filled with heavy guitar solos, buckets of glitter and balloons. Because McKenna is still not as widely known in the US as in the UK, he had a smaller entourage than other people I have seen in concert, creating a feeling of authenticity. He had a full band behind him including himself on guitar, but you can tell he led the show. I couldn’t take my eyes off him and his sparkling highlight he was sporting. It almost felt like I was listening to a professional garage band, which I’m sure taken out of context may sound like an insult. However, I think it is the complete opposite. He had the perfect amount of “rough around the edges” that made his performance unique. He doesn’t have all the glitz and extras that say Taylor Swift or even Kendrick Lamar, who I have seen in concert, has. There’s no backing vocals, no confetti cannons or large video screens, just him and the music. He relies on his own talent and the talent of his band members to put on a good show which I think is admirable.

I think that a quality that has McKenna ahead of the game is his guitar playing ability. One of my favorite performances was his song “Mind,” because I am a sucker for well-played guitar solos and he definitely rocked one during the bridge of the song. Another one of my favorite performances was the encore, “Listen to your Friends,” which he came out with pink sunglasses on and an acoustic guitar after giving us a few minutes to recuperate. He also brought out bags of balloons to throw around the crowd during his performance of “Paracetamol” which I found to be almost contradicting to what the song is really about.

I think that Declan McKenna has a little bit to go before he can stand as a rock icon or a “voice of our generation” but he is definitely on the right track and road to success. Personally, his authentic, alternative sound and raw performance are all qualities of a real superstar in the making. I cannot wait to see where he takes his career and for the development of his sound.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

194873
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

17655
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

459992
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

27832
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments