Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points of Atlanta was the place to be on Oct. 14 to see Declan McKenna perform a groovy yet dramatic indie rock concert after sunset at 8:30 p.m.
McKenna’s performance consisted of several guitar switches performed onstage, one of which happened mid-song, an army crawl underneath the stage’s inches-tall riser and a five-song encore which ended with his final guitar getting smashed on the stage floor.
He walked onstage wearing a suit jacket, silk tie, trucker hat and a pair of large-framed sunglasses, all of which made their way off his person throughout the duration of the performance. The sunglasses eventually made their way back on to cover most of the singer’s face.
When the musician sang “Beautiful Faces” off his newest album “Zeros” audience members in the pit, assigned seating and balcony area put their hands up and moved them to the rhythm of the song when McKenna belted the lyrics, “lift your hands up and lead us back home.”
Older and more recognizable songs “Why Do You Feel So Down,” “Brazil” and “My House” had fans jumping up and down to the beat and singing along enthusiastically.
McKenna is an English singer-songwriter and played tribute to The Beatles by beginning his concert off-stage singing his rendition of “With A Little Help From My Friends.” McKenna’s voice even resembles that of a young John Lennon.
The artist who opened for McKenna, Annie Dirusso, performed her song entitled “Judgements From the World’s Greatest Band” about The Beatles poster in her room and how she imagines the band members judging her from the wall, singing, “I wonder what they could say if they could talk.”
McKenna criticizes injustices in some of his music and his lyrics often contrast with the lively sound of his guitar riffs. The guitar he strummed for his final song “British Bombs,” an upbeat tune meant to be loud and energetic, was one with Great Britain’s flag design plastered on the front.
In the song McKenna protests England on their foreign policy by singing if an act is not a “war crime, it’s a total waste of your time.” The songwriter then smashed the guitar twice, creating powerful imagery of smashing Great Britain’s long history of oppression and tyranny.
The concert ended with McKenna and his band members tossing plastic rose stems into the crowd, giving mementos to his dedicated fans.
Declan McKenna’s discography can be found on music streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music as well as on his official website.
