Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

NEWSLETTER
Sign up for our twice-weekly newsletter!

Mac DeMarco’s silly performance rocks the 9:30 Club

Photo by Robert Redfield, courtesy of Elastic Artists.
Photo by Robert Redfield, courtesy of Elastic Artists.

D.C. has waited a long time for up-and-coming Canadian singer Mac DeMarco.

DeMarco, with his new indie-pop album “Salad Days,” played the last show of his U.S. tour Saturday night at the 9:30 Club.

The line of teenagers, dressed much like DeMarco in white shirts and baseball caps, flowed off the sidewalk hours before doors even opened for the show that sold out almost immediately after tickets went on sale in April.

The crowd could not control its excitement for the Canadian idol. Even as Mac DeMarco and his touring band watched the opening acts from the balcony, fans pointed him out to their friends and took pictures of him with their phones.

DeMarco finally stepped on stage. His songs are often described as “jizz jazz,” with the swing and flow of the rhythm complementing a giddy chorus.

“This song’s called Martha Stewart’s pussy,” DeMarco joked before playing the comforting song “Blue Boy.”

From the moment the band started playing its first song, “Salad Days,” the entire crowd sang along with DeMarco until the end of the set. DeMarco fed off the crowd, staring into fans’ eyes to “find a vibe” and thanking them for paper notes they handed him.

Everything that could happen at a concert did. Someone requested “Free Bird” – and the band delivered. About 30 people crowd-surfed, including band members and DeMarco. “Rock and Roll Night Club,” one of DeMarco’s most well-known hits, made it on the setlist with bassist Pierce McGarry’s usual high-pitched ending.

In his “Simpsons” tee, DeMarco belted out the lyrics to “Cooking Up Something Good,” with maniacal screams.

Mosh pits don’t usually come with bands as easygoing as this one, but DeMarco’s psychedelic, jazz-inspired rock had kids pushing and jumping around all night.

The band’s jokes broke up the setlist and sent the show on entertaining tangents.

“I’d like to preface this next song with some medical knowledge,” said McGarry.

The bassist informed the crowd that if you’re depressed, you should try using leeches to cheer up. Then he sang Coldplay’s “Yellow” in his now-famous whinny hollering. Hundreds in the audience took out their lighters and sang along.

The night ended with an encore of two covers,“Enter Sandman” and “Smoke on the Water,” leaving all happily basking in the rock vibes.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpweQBqAkes]

More to Discover
Donate to The GW Hatchet