Mac DeMarco hit the stage for one of his THREE sold out shows at Webster Hall in New York City debuting his all-instrumental album, “One Wayne G.” Taking a break from turning his lyrical genius brain, DeMarco and his accompanying band, Five Easy Hot Dogs,” focused on the core build of what makes a song, a song; the instrumentals.
Fans lined up for the night hours in advance to secure their spot in the venue. One fan said they traveled from Canada and had been out in line since 11am to slap their hand right on the barricade. Fans held signs, anxiously waiting for the artist to hit the stage; and, here’s the best part… there was NO opening act. Yep, you heard my right. Mac DeMarco and the Five Easy Hot Dogs started the night AND concluded the night!
The stage was set up in a very Mac DeMarco-y way… If you listen to his music, you’ll understand. There was a very psychedelic feel, with a hint of an antique shop you get lured into.
When 8pm hit, the band walked out. The low lights set the mood of a chill vibe, which is what the night was meant for (according to Mac). He said to get real close, make friends, and vibe together. As a person looking in, it’s no question that he knows that the power of music is incredibly strong and brings people together. It’s every artist’s goal to bring people together, and Mac has that energy in him and in his music that can do exactly that.
At 8pm, Mac announced that he was going to do the first half of his set, fully off of his 2023 instrumental album, and he would later bring back some old tunes. Opening his show with “Gualala,” “Gualala 2,” and “Crescent City,” the crowd was completely hypnotized by the groovy mash of instruments.
It felt like home. It felt comforting. It felt euphoric.
He later played songs like “Edmonton,” “Chicago” and “Rockaway.”
To open his “hits” section of the show, he broke through with “Salad Days,” a song off his 2014 album. He also performed songs that got the entire room singing such as “Heart to Heart,” “Let Her Go,” and my personal favorite tune of the night, “For The First Time;” that particular song is one of Mac’s most popular hits, and it really got the venue to shake and sounds bounce from wall to wall.
Mac DeMarco never disappoints. His talents are truly ethereal and his genius attributes never go unnoticed. He’s currently touring out of the U.S., and if you’re still on summer break and want an excuse to travel out of the country… there it is.
