Declan MCKENNA BRINGS “The Big Return” tour to Seattle
Bringing his indie rock hits and 80’s inspired glamor to Seattle, Declan Mckenna returned to the ‘Rainy City’ 13 months later.
Back in 2022, Declan Mckenna kicked off his 15 date cross country tour- “Zeros Tour USA”, in Seattle, Washington. As the North London-born musician hadn’t performed in the US since 2019, this tour was a massive hit. The “Zeros Tour USA” completely sold out, with fans even traveling to great lengths to make it to the spectacular show. “Zeros Tour USA” concluded in late October of 2022, which left fans missing his presence, but they eagerly awaited the singer's next move. However, after just a few short months, McKenna announced he’d be making his return to American soil with his 2023 tour- “The Big Return.” This tour leg stretches over six months, with over 46 shows.
“The Big Return” tour consists of the musician's latest singles, fan favorites, and covers. Mckenna tweeted “The Big Return aka Declan Mckeras” just days after the tour announcement which jokingly hinted how the setlist will consist of fan favorites and his latest singles from his discography- just as the setlist of Taylor Swift’s “The Era’s Tour” is composed.
Declan Mckenna brought “The Big Return” tour to Seattle, Washington, on October 23rd. Despite the harsh rain and wind, fans lined up hours in advance in hopes of being front row.
One fan in particular stood out to me- Gazelle. Gazelle is a 19-year-old who traveled internationally from Vancouver, Canada, to make it out to the show. She arrived bright and early at 8 a.m. to secure a spot in the queue. When asked how she was kept busy all day, she responded that she made friendship bracelets which referred to her favorite songs and other inside jokes within the fandom.
At 7 pm sharp, the doors opened and hundreds upon hundreds of fans costumed in 80’s inspired chrome and eye glitter packed the floor of the Showbox SODO. Awaiting the opener to begin, the crowd sang and danced along to the pre-show setlist, which included numerous 70’s and 80’s classic hits.
At 8 pm, the opener, Allie Crow Buckley kicked off the night with an intimate performance. She performed a beautiful set which was well responded to by the crowd. After her set, the crowd became eager for McKenna to take the stage.
The pre-show selection of songs could not have been more perfect- with Fleetwood Mac and ABBA transporting the crowd back to the 80s with their top tracks. Suddenly, the lights dimmed and the first few cords of The Mama’s and Papa’s “Dedicated to the One I Love,” began. Slowly, McKenna's band emerged onstage through the fog and picked up their instruments as the song picked up. However, once the band was in position, McKenna took the stage and began singing his recent single- “Nothing Works.” Followed by "Beautiful Faces” and “Rapture”, McKenna immediately made his performance intimate, yet animated, despite the large venue capacity.
McKenna’s energy was unlike any other artist I’ve seen. Despite singing an extensive 17-song setlist, McKenna’s energy never died down. His energy was unceasing as his groovy dance moves and dashing jumps seemed to never diminish.
Continuing his set, McKenna performed “You Better Believe!!!” followed by “Be An Astronaut”. What I found especially charming during this portion of the show was that “Be An Astronaut” was performed on an elevated piano. This was brilliantly done as it allowed the outskirts of the packed crowd to catch a better glimpse of the singer. This further demonstrates McKenna’s admirable ability to make his performance intimate despite a large crowd.
McKenna resumed his highly energized show by playing fan favorites from his freshman album- What Do You Think About the Car?, which included the tracks “Listen to Your Friends”, “Why Do You Feel So Down”, and “Humongous”. The crowd went wild during these songs, especially the fans who have been there since the beginning of his musical career.
McKenna then paused to express his love and gratitude for everyone who came out to the show that evening, especially those who were also in attendance at last year's show. He then took a few moments to thank his fans for their support of his recent singles and to hint at his upcoming album, What Happened to the Beach?, which will be released on February 9th, 2024.
Before leaving the stage, McKenna strummed his guitar to begin his most popular song- “Brazil”. The crowd immediately recognized the song and burst into screams as the sounds of the layered guitars echoed through the speakers.
Originally released in 2014, “Brazil” has only gotten more popular thanks to the musician winning Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent Competition in 2015 and when the song blew up on TikTok in 2022.
As “Brazil” came to a close, McKenna exited the stage but felt drawn back as the crowd was chanting for an encore. McKenna returned to sing a cover of George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass,” which was followed by a crowd favorite, “British Bombs.”
As I was in attendance for Declan McKenna’s opening night of “The Zero’s Tour” last fall, I’m confident in saying that over the past year, McKenna has grown as a singer and performer. His voice has gotten much stronger, yet melodious. Additionally, his stage presence is a lot more confident and enchanting which allowed for his performance in Seattle to be unforgettable.
I’m extremely excited about the release of his next album and eager to see what else his future holds for him.
K E E P U P W I T H
