It was the last weekend of the summer, and Mac DeMarco had managed to pack a 25-song set into this Saturday, August 30th performance (the second consecutive day of three) at The Greek Theater.
DeMarco is currently touring across 17 countries and has 82 upcoming concerts. This was DeMarco’s follow-up set of appearances at The Greek after performing July of last year for a similar three-day stretch.
Mac Demarco arrived on stage to a chill round of applause, his crowd already well versed in the etiquette of his intimate sets. Demarco’s career spanning show included most of the tracks off his newly released album, Guitar, as well as fan favorites: Salad Days, For The First Time and a pre-encore show closer: Chamber Of Reflection.
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The new songs showcase Demarco’s ability to give a classic croon, while maintaining the full attention of his adoring mostly-female Latina audience. Demarco bravely began debuting the sets new songs earlier this week, which gave the audience just enough time to learn the words to new fan favorites “Shining”, “Home” and “Rock And Roll”, though, not surprisingly he got a much louder reception to his classic material, some of which spans all the back to the beginning of his career with “Freaking Out The Neighborhood” and “My Kinda Woman”.
This is probably my 7th Mac Demarco show since first seeing him 2014 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it’s always impressive to see how he keeps the audience engaged with such gentle energy. He also looks more comfortable on stage and healthier than I’ve seen him in a long time, swaying through his quiet dynamics of song bridges and belting out choruses without looking winded. Though it may seem strange to see; I’ve noticed a large amount of veteran musicians who don’t appear conditioned and prepared for their performance, and it was clear that Demarco is putting in the work fresh off recording the new record.
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There’s an obvious intention to Demarco’s perception of detachment and lethargy, though his songs seem to continue to mature, and his current band is much tighter, especially stand out bassist Daryl Johns. Demarco’s banter with the audience is also much sharper, and he kept the crowd laughing in between quiet song breaks.
During performances of “I Like Her” and “Heart To Heart”, Demarco transitions from singing nearly close mouthed to a full throated, mood altering chorus taking the audience with him for the entire ride- often ending abruptly to a quiet applause. Demarco’s three-day runs at the Greek seem far from finished, and if this weekend is any indication of this, then he will be welcomed back fondly next year.
McBriare Samuel Lanyon Mac DeMarco (born Vernor Winfield McBriare Smith IV on April 30, 1990) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and indie rock icon who has carved a distinct path in modern music through honesty, DIY aesthetic, and a commitment to creative freedom. Born in Duncan, British Columbia, and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, DeMarco began playing guitar in his teens (lessons learned from his grandmother) and participated in several early bands — including The Meat Cleavers, The Sound of Love, and Outdoor Miners — before launching his solo career.
After early experiments under the name Makeout Videotape, DeMarco signed to Captured Tracks in 2012 and released his debut mini-LP Rock and Roll Night Club. His first full-length studio album, 2, also dropped in 2012, followed by Salad Days (2014), This Old Dog (2017), and Here Comes the Cowboy (2019), each album evolving his sound in ways that balanced lo-fi charm, slacker rock, folded pop, and reflective songwriting.
In 2023, DeMarco released both Five Easy Hot Dogs (an entirely instrumental album recorded during a road trip from Los Angeles to New York) and One Wayne G, a massive 199-track compilation of mostly demos. These projects underscored his restless creativity and willingness to experiment beyond conventional album formats.
Words and Photos: David Smith
