Simply jubilant: Declan McKenna live at the Edinburgh International Festival
It was a night of manic joy from pop’s deep thinker.
Photo: Andrew Perry
Following months of touring his latest album on the live circuit, indie-pop’s Declan McKenna recently brought his What Happened To The Beach? tour to an end in Scotland’s capital as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.
Entering Edinburgh’s historic Playhouse stage right, and with all the calmness that he’s not known for onstage, Declan aptly opened his set with theatrical single Sympathy, instantly raising the rows of screaming fans to their feet with little more than a breath.
Having waited patiently for over an hour to hear the very best of his sonic oddities (despite having secured a seat with their ticket), the musician’s fans were more than ready to give it everything. “I don’t feel like I need to ask, but let’s dance,” Declan said, before the upbeat melody of Why Do You Feel So Down began.
He was right of course; he didn’t need to ask. Everyone already was, and probably would’ve regardless. With the brighter, spacier atmospheres of his latest work, as well as his reliably restless energy, it’s no surprise that Declan’s music inspired such a sense of joy and freedom when played live.
As anyone who has obsessively watched his televised festival performances can confirm, a Declan McKenna gig comes with certain expectations: high energy, cool sounds, and an inevitable venture into the crowd – expectations were easily met.
Coming to the edge of the stage amongst the staggered breaths and warbling lights of Breath of Light, the compounding chaos of the song’s finale sparked Declan’s first foray into the stalls. Carelessly leaping over the orchestra pit with guitar in hand, screams echoed around the room before in a blink, he was scrambling back on stage.
As such a restless and manic performer, Declan’s vocal talent and musical skill easily goes unnoticed. But the warmth in his tone and his ability to effortlessly bring his discography to life is not only what makes this possible, but also what allows the physicality of his performance to become just as memorable as the songs he performs.
Mezzanine proved this as the multilayered wall of sound soared up to the balcony, hypnotising the room with its mesmerising rhythm and addictive quirks, just like on the album. But it was for the oldies that Edinburgh really went mad. The Kids Don’t Wanna Come Home, Isombard and Brazil were met with high-pitched shrieks as the band tightly performed each track with ease, to then head off stage for their encore.
Photo: Andrew Perry
Returning alone, Declan thanked the Scottish crowd for their support and offered them a song in return. “I guess this is a live debut,” he said, “I didn’t write this song.” Murmurs swept across seats as die-hard fans processed what was about to happen. The opening lyrics of Slipping Through My Fingers rang through the room and fans quickly jumped in to join Declan’s now well-known rendition of the ABBA classic in a beautifully serene and memorable moment.
Yet, it wasn’t long until it was back to scheduled programming, and Declan was racing through the stalls for a thrilling performance of British Bombs before finishing with the triumphant The Phantom Buzz (Kick In). Cheers could not have been louder.
It’s been seven years since Declan McKenna released his debut album and he’s still as exciting and refreshing as ever. If he was a musical prodigy back then, he must be a generational talent by now.