Live Review, Mac DeMarco

Surveying the crowd of excited 16-20 year olds lighting up outside the Roundhouse; a uniform of 5 panels, rolled up jeans and oversized shirts, it is clear that Mac DeMarco has made his mark on UK youth. In his first London show since the release of mini-LP “Another One”, the audience were a powder keg of hormones and teenage ecstacy. The frenzy did not stop for the entire set as Mac and his now much larger band pleased crowds with a selection from ‘2’, ‘Salad Days’ and every single song from his new release.

Each song- despite it’s pace or mood, saw moshing and ignorant pushing. For a crowd made up of around 50% girls it was frustrating seeing so many people get trampled for such a laid back artist. Personally I was thrown to the ground and left to fend for myself as other punters desperately tried to get a barrier position.

As per usual, Mac had the perfect onstage banter. Years of touring and a natural comic timing makes a DeMarco show exceptionally well crafted and surreal. Unfortunately, The Roundhouse’s soundsystem was a let down- making all of the band’s efforts to entertain in between songs fruitless. The best crowd interaction was a stage dive by DeMarco lasting at least five minutes to the song ‘Still Together’. He returned to stage, shoe-less and bedraggled- but with a gappy grin, despite all the set backs he still can’t help but put on a good show.