18th September, 2021
O2 Brixton Academy
Intrepid. Declan McKenna enters and owns the stage with unerring confidence, and unfaltering fearlessness. This was the most impactful impression from his concert. From his lyrics to his movements on stage, everything is daring and executed without regret.
With the opening number being Beautiful Faces, it was difficult for the audience not to create an undeniable energy in the atmosphere of that domed hall that persevered throughout the entirety of the performance. The song was followed by a triumphant burst of confetti that truly triggered the excitement among the crowd for the remainder of the night.
Despite the evident differences in genre and emotions from song-to-song, McKenna handled the changes between songs with smooth grace that ensured nothing was taken away from each piece, while simultaneously allowing the audience to maintain their undeniable elation, singing alongside him throughout the entirety of that magical night. Across the 90-minute long setlist, there wasn’t a single identifiable time in which the audience seemed to lose their vigour. Everyone around me was utterly and entirely exhilarated to be in the same room as Declan McKenna; to share his music in this way.
Overall, I believe Declan’s greatest quality lies in his ability to sustain a memorable and familiar atmosphere. Perhaps this was amplified by the second burst of confetti cannons, but even by the end of the setlist, the crowd was still buzzing; if not more so than when they had entered the venue.
The only potential drawback from the experience could lie in the hands of those who do not have much experience standing in the pits of concerts. With such an excitable crowd, there was not much breathing space on an individual basis. For some, this could be great: an opportunity to become inexorably synchronous with these strangers around you, connected only by your love for this artist before you all. For others, it could be considered claustrophobic, with the number of people edging forward throughout the duration of the night.
