DeMarco Returns to Montreal

Former Mile End dweller, Mac DeMarco, returned to Montreal on Sunday after a five-year hiatus to perform at Metropolis (MTelus). His 2019 show, at the same venue, was wild and had a storybook ending. Sunday’s show was certainly more subdued but the young crowd was high-energy when DeMarco hit the stage and worked like a comedian between songs.

Around 6:30 pm, a long line-up of young hip-looking people trailed from the venue doors, around a corner, down the block, around another corner and almost to the end of that block. The show opened at 8:00 pm with Tex Crick, an artist on Mac’s Record Label, playing jazzy indie music with a laid-back, butter-smooth voice. The crowd shifted gear as DeMarco walked under the lights and began singing “Shining,” the first song on his new album, Guitar, which he has been touring around Canada. DeMarco slid around the stage comfortably, weaving back and forth in his construction pants, dropping and catching the mic with precision timing. His voice was almost identical to his recordings.

All of the band members, besides Alec Meen (on keys), have changed since DeMarco’s last appearance. On drums was Philippe Melanson, on guitar was Pedro Martins and on bass was Daryl Johns–another artist on DeMarco’s record label. Between songs, Mac mumbled like some kind of stereotypical rural worker, talking about truck stops and saying things like “Shit, it’s on the boss's card anyway right?” He also worked “C’est bon” into the show like a catch phrase. He’d say it here and there at first and then between every song until the crowd was shouting it back to him in a chant.

In the last few years, much has changed for DeMarco, who, after living in LA for several years, has moved back to Canada and has a quiet place on the west coast where he likes to tinker with things and take care of his property. DeMarco quit drinking during the pandemic and hasn’t looked back. He looked considerably healthier this time around and has talked about how constant touring and drinking took a toll on him previously.

Guitar is DeMarco’s sixth studio album and is very laid back. He sings in a falsetto on a lot of the tracks, and though his voice sometimes sounds as if it is struggling or wavering, he pulls it off. DeMarco has been this way since the beginning, a kind of DIY guy who doesn’t mind imperfection. The instruments in Guitar are fairly stripped back as well and are simpler in that sense than his earlier music. It seemed that with all of DeMarco’s new albums being softer than his earlier ones that his live show might be as well, and though this was the case for certain songs, the overall show was far from low-energy.

Last time DeMarco was at the venue, a fan jumped on stage and stole his hat. DeMarco was visibly angry and grabbed the kid back the collar, saying, “Get the fuck outta here!” He asked the audience to throw his hat back and when it wasn’t returned, DeMarco counted the band into their last song; a cover of “Enter Sandman,” in which he mumbled half the lyrics and made up the rest. The crowd was swaying back and forth in such a way that it forced you to bounce seven feet to your left on your toes and then seven feet back to your right. As the song hit its climax, DeMarco smashed his favorite guitar–one he owned for eight years–into pieces. The band continued to play. And as DeMarco looked out to the audience, his hat came flying through the air, and he caught it. Next, a bouquet of flowers was tossed up and he caught that too. He then bowed and walked off stage.

Though an uncontrollable set of circumstances like that did not come about this time, DeMarco is as charismatic as they come, and his presence hangs in the air with an excitement that not many artists or people can bring. It was a great show. At one point, DeMarco apologized for taking so long to return to Montreal and added that we won’t be left waiting so long for his next appearance.

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