[Photos by Jeslyn Wang]
Mac DeMarco’s music has a way of making you fall for it all over again—so much so, that when your first vinyl of his gets scratched, you replace it without hesitation. And if you catch him live one night, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll want to be there the next night, too. I speak from experience.
After a decade of making music, the Canadian legend returned to the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, kicking off the first of his three sold-out nights of “Evening with Mac DeMarco” shows. Shaping modern indie pop with his signature guitar tone, DeMarco’s distinctive style has continually evolved. His latest album, One Wayne G, showcases his extensive instrumental prowess, featuring a whopping 199 tracks.
Settling into my seat at the Greek Theatre, I watched as concertgoers, surviving LA traffic, hurried to their spots under the still-light summer sky. From the outset, it was clear that the choice of venue was perfect. The Greek Theatre’s open-air ambiance and intimate-yet-vibrant setting created a relaxed atmosphere, ideal for the experience.
The stage setup was minimalistic: a black background, an off-center guitar stand, and subdued lighting. Dressed in his signature uniform –a hat, pants, and t-shirt – Mac DeMarco took the stage with his band, launching into two classics, “On the Level” and “Salad Days.”
While Mac DeMarco is widely recognized as a solo artist, his band’s acoustic accompaniment was essential to the performance. DeMarco introduced his talented band—Alec Meen on keyboards, Daryl Johns on bass, Chris Fishman on guitar, and JD Beck on drums—each a star in their own right. Central to maintaining DeMarco’s signature sound, they also infused humor and engagement by incorporating comical antics into the set. Between songs, DeMarco entertained the audience with jokes and a recurring bit, directing the words “Kiss me, you fool” to his bandmate Daryl. Was this a playful nod to the iconic video of Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson? The world may never know, but DeMarco certainly gave the audience a good laugh.
Mac DeMarco has a ritual during his live performances where he begins each song with a familiar one, two, three. When he whispered those words and launched into the intro of “Cooking Up Something Good,” the crowd erupted in unison.
The mood shifted with “Nobody,” creating an undistributed energy that continued with “Rock and Roll Night Club,” an early release resonating with a lo-fi, groovy sound. As the sun fully set, the lights around DeMarco and his band grew more vibrant, illuminating the performance of the mellow, guitar-driven track “20210218 Round Here.”
This show was not only his first in over a year but also one of the rare shows he had planned for 2024, adding an extra layer of significance to the evening. From tracks on his 2012 album, 2, to his latest releases, the audience was charmed and the anticipation for each new song never waned. Though I typically stand at concerts, I opted to remain seated with the rest of my section. DeMarco’s music had a calming effect, creating a space to simply watch, listen, and let the music float by.
The tracks from his newest album highlight his natural ability of making eccentric songs sound truly remarkable. The playful yet infectious rhythm of “20200816 She Want The Sandwich” left me shocked at how such an unserious song could sound so seamless. During the introduction of “20200817 Proud True Toyota,” he jokingly asked for help to get the song featured in a Toyota commercial.
Consistent with his direct and personal stage presence, DeMarco shared the story of how he got his new dog, Bear. Fittingly, he performed “Little Dogs March,” with the newest member of the band, Bear, making a sweet appearance on stage.
The already-special set also featured a live debut of “20200820 Turn My TV On,” a whispered, groovy track from his latest album. The amphitheater, packed to its six-thousand-person capacity, became a gentle glow of phone flashlights waving in the air during the heartfelt hit, “Still Beating.
If that wasn’t enough, the show concluded with four of his biggest hits, each one a crowd-pleaser. DeMarco also made sure to surprise the audience by performing “Moonlight on the River” for the first time since 2018.
The set was truly electrifying. After two hours of non-stop music, featuring 27 phenomenal songs from his entire discography, Mac DeMarco returned for an unforgettable encore. The crowd surged with one final wave as he delivered “Still Together” with a fresh, upbeat twist that reinvented the original.
I wasn’t ready to call it a night. As I left the venue, I immediately began hunting for tickets to spend another evening with Mac DeMarco.
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