Declan Mckenna has achieved an amazing amount in an admirably short space of time.
First surfacing in 2015 as the winner of Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent prize, the talented teen has already produced a collection of indie hits including ‘Isombard,’ ‘Brazil’ and recent single ‘Humungous.’ A stint on the esteemed ‘BBC Sound of 2017’ poll saw the 18-year-old newcomer join the ranks of rising male singer-songwriters.
His engaging debut album What Do You Think About The Car? titled after a nostalgic home video, has also strengthened his reputation as “the voice of the generation.” Although this label is clearly hyperbolic, Mckenna’s upbeat indie-pop does resonate with a powerful political message. His social criticism is intelligently articulated as his songs address a range of current issues from transgender rights (‘Paracetamol’) to FIFA corruption (‘Brazil’).
This headline tour is Mckenna’s biggest yet. After spending his summer on the international festival circuit, the shows promise to deliver melody driven tracks with infectious energy. Support comes from garage rock newcomers Feet, self-proclaimed “bunch of Wronguns from Coventry,” according to their Bandcamp page. Their recent single ‘Petty Thieving’ is a punchy, entertaining track about stealing cheese from your local supermarket.
If high-energy guitar music is your thing, Declan Mckenna’s gig at Leeds University Union on Tuesday 24th October is not to be missed.
Lucy Milburn
[Feature Image: Attitude Magazine]