On Oct. 7, British singer-songwriter Declan McKenna took the stage in Columbus as part of his 2022 Zeros tour. 

   McKenna performed at Kemba Live with support from bedroom-pop artist Annie DiRusso. The tour marked his first string of shows in the United States since his 2019 tour through North America. Despite the release of his sophomore album, Zeros, in 2020, McKenna hasn’t gotten a chance to tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

   “It’s been a long time coming, but myself and my band are as ready as we’ve ever been, and just cannot wait to be finally coming back with a whole new show,” McKenna said in a statement to NME. 

   Annie DiRusso started the set and kept the crowd entertained with edgy tunes, like “Dead Dogs” and “Judgements from the World’s Greatest Band,” a reference to the beloved Beatles. Throughout the set, she told backstories for all of her songs, mainly ones of unrequited love and growing up.

   Later in the night, clad in a sparkling, Elton John-esque suit jacket, McKenna started his set with an ominous rendition of “With a Little Help from my Friends” by The Beatles. He soon welcomed the crowd with “Beautiful Faces,” an upbeat song that engaged the room to “lift [their] hands up and lead us back home.”

   The set slowed down towards the middle, with mellow songs like “My House” and “Emily,” a Bob Dylan-inspired song about a bitter breakup.

   He picked the crowd back up with “Humongous” and “Isombard,” obvious fan favorites that sent shocks of vibrations through the building for several minutes after. 

   McKenna’s focus and energy were unmatched. Despite his age, he yields great experience in the industry, something that translated clearly into his performance. He jumped through the pit, ran suicides on stage, and yet he never broke his voice. A roadie switched out his guitar after nearly every song, and McKenna didn’t fragment his rhythm once. 

   Towards the end of his set, McKenna referenced another concert in Columbus that night.

   “Iron Maiden is playing across the street tonight,” McKenna said. “And here we are, killing everything that’s left of rock and roll.”

   Ninety minutes after the start, the 23-year-old singer kissed the crowd goodbye – but not for long. He returned a minute later with his band to the uproar of a sold-out crowd. He astonished everyone with a five-song encore and didn’t stop once to chat with his audience. 

   “Brazil,” his breakout song about corruption of the titular nation, forced the crowd to their feet as McKenna belted out a call to action.

   McKenna is truly one to look out for in the indie music scene. His stage presence and performance vigor are unrivaled, and his lyrics deal with political issues that plague the world today. Keep your eye out for upcoming tours in Ohio; he’s one you won’t want to miss.