Mac DeMarco shows his Salad Days are far from over in a thrilling return to the UK. The Canadian 'slack rocker' headed to London's O2 Brixton Academy for three sold-out shows, where he lit up the room with a set covering all the hits.
A Night of Fun and Music
The first thing you have to remember about a Mac DeMarco show is that it is a lot of fun. He is there for a good time just as much as the crowd is. That was especially the case at London's O2 Brixton Academy, where the Canadian singer-songwriter appeared with his backing band for three sold-out gigs last week. Energy levels were high as he strolled around the stage, jumping on top of speakers and walking on his hands. The fans lapped it all up. There were quips about Yorkshire Tea and PG Tips, eliciting a chant from the stalls of 'Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire'.
Setlist Blends Old and New
He looked to be enjoying every second just as much as the fans were. But away from the on-stage antics, what stuck out was the depth of his back catalogue. The set took in the old and the new, alternating between tracks from his latest album, Guitar, with classics from the archive to ensure everyone left satisfied. Brixton provided the perfect venue for such a show too, as it still retains a slightly intimate atmosphere, which suited the more acoustic nature of Guitar.
The set started with its opening track 'Shining' - a melancholic, slower number which received a rapturous response, the crowd swaying as he crooned. Despite its opening line of 'my love must be broken', what was clear is that is definitely not the case when it comes to the affection his British fanbase has for him.
That was followed by 'For the First Time', from 2017's This Old Dog, which sparked the first mass singalong of the night. Up next was 'On The Level', from the same album, with the crowd becoming a sea of arms waving in the air from side to side.
Standout Moments
The catchy 'Salad Days', from 2014's album of the same name, was arguably the standout track of the night, the audience enthusiastically singing along to its refrain of 'la-li-la-lala'. 'No Other Heart', from 2015's Another One, also got a great response. The biggest cheer was reserved for his 2012 single 'Ode to Viceroy' - a love song to his then-favourite cigarette brand (he has since quit smoking) - which again got everyone singing. But it was 'Freaking out the Neighbourhood', also from his debut album of that year, called 2, which got the greatest reaction on the floor, the crowd a mass throng of bodies jumping around.
Encore and Conclusion
He commanded the stage throughout all of this, and was evidently enjoying himself as he hopped around and joked with the crowd. The encore saw Mac drape a Union Jack flag across an amp, which was greeted with yells of approval. Selling out three nights in Brixton is no mean feat, but the excitement with which he was greeted confirmed that it was probably never really in doubt he would manage it. Despite his move away from the fast, electric anthems which defined him in the mid-2010s, to a more softer, slower sound, it is clear he can still get the party well and truly started. His Salad Days are certainly far from over.
