Today I made the journey even further North than my usual haunts for an extra special live performance from the one and only Declan McKenna. Embarking on a short run of intimate headline UK dates in a number of independent venues, Declan and his talented band gave fans in less visited locations the chance to experience his live show and hear material old and new.
I arrived at tonight’s venue An Seòmar for my very first visit. This space was previously a Revolution bar which had now been taken over by the Ironworks’ previous owners; a godsend for the local live scene although maybe not quite boasting the same capacity level of the former space. It was not long before doors and queues of fans were already lining the streets for the sold out show. Myself and few others were certainly humbled when the vigorous ID checks did not apply to us in amongst the hoards of young attendees raring to see their favourite artist this far North.
Opening tonight were London alt-rock band Saint Clair. Having missed their set at Truck Festival I was eager to finally catch them live. With the venue already filling up nicely, the band were well-received by the Inverness audience who seemed to be as impressed as I was with their set. Frontman Toby Bardsley gave an impressive vocal performance with a voice that had elements of the rasp of Kelly Jones combined with the effortless clarity and soaring power of Jeff Buckley.
I was fully entranced by the band for the duration of their time on stage – another example of why it’s so important to get down early for support. Their debut EP is currently available to stream but to truly experience them at the peak of their powers they must be seen live! Scottish fans can catch them in October when they play McChuills in Glasgow.
Next up was the man of the evening, Declan McKenna making his Inverness debut to a sold out crowd. This was the first date of the tour, meaning fans were going in blind with no prior knowledge of potential setlists. Opening with Mulholland’s Dinner and Wine, followed by Elevator Hum set up the good vibes for the hour and a half that was ahead.
The first point of excitement came from the inclusion of ‘Zeros’ single The Key to Life on Earth and was matched with the same enthusiasm with latest new release Champagne later in the set. Declan gave a skilled performance full of energy, sweat, epic solos and passionate all-out vocals which were lapped up by the audience. The atmosphere was electric throughout with fans enthusiastically singing along to every word. Declan’s backing band are also to be praised, giving an equally outstanding performance.
Fans erupted with joy during the run of songs from debut album ‘What Do You Think About the Car?’ with Brazil and set closer British Bombs providing the catalyst needed for the whole room to bounce. Before the evening was out, we got a four song encore, including an unheard and unreleased track Thin Brain as well as an epic cover of The Beatles’ The Ballad of John And Yoko which led to Declan jumping into the the middle of the crowd to top it all off. If you’re the slightest bit unsure about seeing this guy in action, do not even hesitate. Declan McKenna is one of the most effervescent indie-alt performers of this generation.
Enjoy the full set in the playlist below!