header image: an echowave edit; base imagery – @o2academybrix
words: meg hilborne, @meghillbilly
a night to remember <3
Mac DeMarco has returned to the UK for the highly anticipated tour in support of Guitar, his sixth studio album released in August last year – a project that feels like a return to the Mac many fans first fell in love with, marking his most traditional singer-songwriter release since Here Comes the Cowboy in 2019.
While previous records five easy hot dogs and the sprawling One Wayne G showcased a more experimental, largely instrumental side of his artistry, Guitar brought back the warm, wavy sound and vulnerable lyricism that have long defined his music.
DeMarco performed a three-night residency at the O2 Academy Brixton, and I attended the second date. Having last seen DeMarco perform in 2018, this show felt deeply nostalgic. It was a chance to reconnect not only with an artist I admire, but with a version of his music that has soundtracked much of the past decade.
The audience was exactly what you’d expect: indie-loving twenty-somethings sporting mullets, moustaches and Vans trainers, many accompanied by equally enthusiastic partners. One particularly sweet moment saw a teenage girl weaving through the crowd with her mum in tow, apologising to everyone they squeezed past while explaining that her daughter absolutely adored Mac.
Support came from Otto Benson, whose set provided an unexpectedly calming start to the evening. Rather than energising the crowd, his music created a dreamy, almost transcendent atmosphere. It was beautiful in its own right and proved to be the perfect precursor to DeMarco’s arrival. When he finally took to the stage, the crowd erupted.
despite the eight-year gap since I last saw him perform, it felt as though no time had passed at all. His voice sounded instantly recognisable, effortlessly delivering carefully crafted lyrics with the same laid-back charm that had always made him so captivating.
The setlist struck a strong balance between old and new material. While some fan favourites inevitably missed the cut to make room for songs from Guitar, it was clear that the older tracks generated the biggest reactions. The crowd went wild for classics such as ‘Salad Days’ and ‘Ode to Viceroy’, singing along to every word. The audience itself was a spectacle, with fans filming the show on Nintendo DS consoles and digital cameras rather than smartphones.
DeMarco, meanwhile, controlled the room effortlessly. He repeatedly slipped into exaggerated British accents, prompting laughter throughout the venue, and even got the audience chanting “PG Tips” and “Yorkshire”, happily leaning into every British tea stereotype imaginable.
His performance style remains one of the things that makes him such a unique live act. One moment he’s swinging his microphone by the cable, doing handstands and leaping from podiums; the next he’s standing completely still, delivering a heartfelt ballad with remarkable sincerity.
A particular highlight came when DeMarco welcomed Italian singer Ryan Paris (best known for the 1983 hit ‘Dolce Vita’) to perform their collaboration ‘Simply Paradise’. It felt like a genuinely special moment. Paris later returned during the encore, joining DeMarco after a rapturous rendition of ‘My Kind of Woman’ to perform ‘Dolce Vita’, sending the crowd into one final frenzy before the night came to a close.
Seeing Mac DeMarco again after eight years was a genuinely special experience; It felt as though no time had passed at all, and if this performance proved anything, it’s that his unique charm remains entirely intact. I can only hope the wait for the next one won’t be quite so long.
