For the indie world and Pitchfork, it's hard to even remember a life without Mac Demarco. The gap-toothed dream machine came into the scene one cigarette at a time, with blissful tunes that are dominated by the Chorus guitar-effect pedal. It was only in 2012 when the then 22-year-old signed to Captured Tracks and released his epochal mini LP Rock n Roll Night Club, the first work under a solo moniker, (he had been putting out music via other outlets years before.)
After impressing the label, indie critics, and fans alike, Demarco was already working on another album. By the time October rolled around, Demarco had his first full-length LP complete, titled 2. This album has huge tracks fans know and love today such as "Cooking Up Something Good," "Ode to Viceroy" and "Freaking Out The Neighborhood."
It was the CMJ showcase of 2012 at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on October 18th that these songs met the stage for the first time. Demarco is known now not only for his rockin' performances, but also as being an entertainer on every level. A Demarco show promises music, comedy, special guests, and a stage dive in some form or another.
In 2012, it was even rowdier. Demarco live debuted an array of cuts off 2, and as well as cuts off Rock N Roll Night Club. The night was filled with Demarco's usual grody antics: burping, talking about butt holes... and also he'd lay down while playing, call out people on their phones, and dive into an awkward crowd surf (he was still a novice back then.) He also made sure to take some time to make-out with his girlfriend who was in the front row. They are still together (no pun intended) and she's often still a part of the shows.
He prefaced his live debut of "Cooking Up Something Good" by telling the story of his father's meth addiction, and let the world know that his favorite cigarette brand is Viceroy before he went into "Ode to Viceroy" for the very first time. He ended this track by playing bits of songs by Metallica and the Police, something he used to do more often back in the earlier days of his career.
Back then, Zachary Cole Smith (of DIIV) was still performing in Mac's band, and his own band DIIV performed at the showcase as well. Check out some of Demarco's setlist below, please note that it's not in order nor the complete setlist.
Today, Demarco has freed himself of record label clutches by starting his own label: Mac's Record Label. He's currently touring abroad in Europe with his band, and will launch a new line up of solo dates, titled the Purple Bobcat Next to River Tour, starting mid-November. Check out all those dates below!
10/19 – Warsaw, PL @ Progresja *
10/20 – Warsaw, PL @ Progresja *
10/21 – Bratislava, SK @ Atelier Babylon *
10/22 – Leipzig, DE @ Werk 2 *
10/23 – Frankfurt, DE @ Gibson ^
10/24 – Munich, DE @ Neue Theaterfabrik ^
10/25 – Dusseldorf, DE @ Robert-Schuman-Saal ^
10/26 – Antwerp, BE @ De Roma ^
10/29 – Belfast, UK @ Limelight ^
10/30 – Manchester, UK @ Victoria Warehouse “^*
10/31 – Southampton, UK @ This Old Bat ^
11/01 – Paris, FR @ Pitchfork Paris
11/03-04 – Long Beach, CA @ Tropicalia Festival +
11/12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar +
11/13 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar +
11/14 – Oklahoma City, OK @ ACM Performance Lab +
11/17 – Chattanooga, TN @ Walker Theatre +
11/18 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle +
11/20 – Charlotte, NC @ McGlohon Theater +
11/21 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall +
11/23 – Atlanta, GA @ King Plow Art Center +
11/24 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre +
11/25 – Jackson, MS @ Hal and Mals +
11/26 – New Orleans, LA @ Music Box Village +
11/28 – Austin, TX @ The Paramount Theatre +
11/29 – Dallas, TX @ Texas Theatre +
11/30 – San Antonio, TX @ Tobin Center +
12/03 – Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole
+ = Purple Bobcat Next to River Tour
* = with Aldous RH
^ = with Jackie Cohen
“ = with The Garden
