DECLAN MCKENNA w/ VLAD HOLIDAY @ ROADRUNNER 10/16

Photography by Gwyneth Moe

Review by Sadie Shelkey

Since the runaway success of his debut single “Brazil” in 2015, Declan McKenna has evolved from a political indie-pop darling to a distinct experimental voice in the genre. Wednesday night, the English singer delighted Roadrunner with contagious energy and a diverse set that celebrated both his roots and artistic growth.

McKenna has a knack for picking excellent openers, and Vlad Holiday was no exception. 

Holiday seemed effortlessly cool as he blended each song into the next, his lo-fi production and dreamlike vocals captivating the growing crowd. Accompanied by an excellent bassist and drummer, Holiday’s distortion-filled performances of “Like in the Movies” and “Downtown Baby” were highlights (and the latter has been stuck in my head since he left the stage). His first full-length album, “My Favorite Drug,” releases next month.

In a stark contrast from Holiday’s grungy-rockstar look, Declan took the stage in a colorful, 60s-inspired button-down and flare pants– setting the tone for the retro-coolness he embodied throughout his performance.

Declan opened his set with “Sympathy,” “Why Do You Feel So Down?” and “The Key to Life on Earth” –one song from each of his three albums. While this is McKenna’s first US tour since releasing his album “What Happened to the Beach?” the performance featured an array of songs from across his discography. Pedal effects and his band’s vocal harmonies bridged the gap between his acoustic indie pop origins and the more psychedelic production of his newer work. Despite the differing tones of each album, the set was cohesive and left the audience in an exciting void, not knowing what would come next. 

McKenna then performed “That’s Life,” an unreleased song fans are sure to fall in love with. At the time of writing, Declan has announced the song’s upcoming release on October 25th, accompanying a cheeky post marking the end of his label contract and the beginning of a new era as an independent artist.

Throughout the show, McKenna continued to bound seamlessly through songs of varying tones and styles– including a crowd-pleasing transition from laid-back “Mezzanine” to upbeat favorite “Isombard.” 

Although he stayed focused on music over spectacle, there was a palpable connection between him and the crowd. From lively bouncing to mellow swaying, Declan’s energy was contagious, encouraging the audience to echo his ever-shifting vibes and ride the flow of the concert. Most people in the crowd were singing every word of his set back to him, making the large floor of Roadrunner seem more intimate than most smaller shows I’ve seen.

After performing his first release and crowd-favorite “Brazil,” Declan took place at the keyboard, finishing his set with a stripped-back, vulnerable performance of “It’s An Act.” 

Following a few moments of sitting with the finale, followed by a few more of screaming for an encore, the audience cheered as McKenna retook the stage, laughing and asking the crowd, “Do you guys want, like, the complete opposite vibe?”

The audience then danced through a lively performance of “The Phantom Buzz (Kick In)” and roared as Declan seamlessly transitioned to “British Bombs,” leaving the zealous crowd with a message of peace as the lights dimmed. 

I’ve been a fan of Declan McKenna since 2019, and his evolution as a musician and songwriter has been incredible to watch. This performance at Roadrunner was truly a testament to the range of his musicality, the dedication of his fans, and a bright future to come as an independent artist.