Alternative/indie star Declan McKenna made a stop at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo for The Big Return tour May 31. This was an early start to the English artist’s venture around North America.
European natives the Oracle Sisters opened up the show with their alternative roots and light-hearted energy on stage. The group is composed of Lewis Lazar, Christopher Willatt, and Julia Johansen. Their use of bright instrumentation matched with a simplistic elegance make for a captivating stage performance.
Declan instantly swooned the crowd with his stage presence from his silk robe to his black shades. He exudes this rockstar attitude while creating that safe space for young indie kids. Declan opened up the night with his hit off of his 2020 album Zeros, “Beautiful Faces.”
The young musician came back to his roots by playing songs off of his first album What Do You Think About the Car?. Some of which include, “Paracetamol” and “Listen to Your Friends.” Nothing got the crowd more hyped up though until Declan performed his record breaking single, “Brazil” which looks to critique FIFA and their shady practices.
Declan McKenna Attacks the System
The English singer/songwriter is no stranger to making music that hyper-analyzes the systems put in place to disenfranchise the less fortunate. Another popular single that does just that is “British Bombs” which Declan played in his encore. This song exudes the frustration that the artist feels towards the British government’s lack of care towards civilian deaths that they cause. He examines the hypocrisy of them while creating a strong crescendo to exude his anger. When closing the night in Buffalo with this the whole crowd was seen jumping and screaming alongside Declan.
Stay up to date with shows coming to the Town Ballroom this Summer. Big Wreck performs June 16 and Joseph will be there June 17. Get tickets here.
Setlist: Beautiful Faces, Rapture, You Better Believe!!!, Paracetamol, Listen to Your Friends, Why Do You Feel So Down, Emily, My House, Make Me Your Queen, The Kids Don’t Wanna Come Home, Eventually Darling, Twice Your Size, The Key to Life on Earth, Brazil, Isombard
Encore: All Things Must Pass ( George Harrison cover), British Bombs
Photos by Maddie McCafferty
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