Issue 84 / Dec 2017/Jan 2018

REVIEWS
Mac DeMarco (Keith Ainsworth / arkimages.co.uk)
Mac DeMarco (Keith Ainsworth / arkimages.co.uk)
Mac DeMarco
+ Montero
Harvest Sun @ Mountford Hall – 21/11
Tonight is perhaps one of the biggest in the Liverpool gig calendar.
A night which has been upgraded from the O2 Academy to the
much larger Mountford Hall. In a city where it can often prove
difficult to urge the gig-going population out from under their
rocks, tonight proves Liverpool’s love for MAC DEMARCO, with
the queue to get in snaking out of the door and bustling onto to
the street – some have even been waiting outside since one o’clock
this afternoon. Those die hard few are joined in the Liverpool Guild
Of Students’ main room by an eclectic lot ranging from young
teens clad in Hawaiian shorts, peaked caps and dungarees to
many an ageing muso: all of whom have come to worship to one
of the most popular independent artists in the world.
As we enter the packed-out room we are greeted by
MONTERO. With lead singer Bjenny’s artwork adorning
DeMarco’s T-shirts which hang on the merch stand, we have
already had a sneak peek into the mind of the long-haired singer
sporting a pilot’s hat. Having found a cuddly toy backstage, he
throws it into the crowd as his band begin to play. Much like his
artwork, the music is a vibrant blast of surrealist joy, offering us
the chance to board Montero Airlines with him. We can’t help but
fall head first into the band’s kaleidoscopic world and we can’t say
we don’t love every second of it. Blending the platformed, cocainefuelled
glam heights of Elton John with elements of modern and
West Coast psychedelia, they sweep us up to cartoon planes and
leave us in a state of euphoria.
The voice of a phantom boxing announcer heralds the arrival
of Mac DeMarco: “The man of the hour, 25% Italian and riddled
with disease”. The room erupts into a frenzy as the main man
himself emerges from a Stars In Their Eyes-style plume of smoke,
followed by his entourage. As if trying to calm the audience
slightly, the band jump straight into the soothing YMO-esque
synths of On The Level, but it appears to have the opposite effect
with the crowd just screaming the words even louder.
The atmosphere in the room is perhaps one of the most
congenial we have felt in years. Warm and friendly, there’s not a
single harsh word or bad feeling in sight with Mac only adding
to the smiles offering up tracks from across his career. Despite
the big steel barriers required at a show as large as tonight, the
connection between the band and the crowd is incredible. As
the audience erupt into cries of ‘Ohhh Jeremy Corbyn’, DeMarco
and band respond by playing the Seven Nation Army riff back at
them, despite perhaps not knowing what is truly going on. Having
played The La’s There She Goes throughout the tour, tonight it
feels particularly special in Mavers and co’s hometown with the
crowd erupting into a riot.
Without sounding overly cheesy, tonight is a night which
shows how music can bring people together and the true joy it
brings. With its big hitting covers, it’s a jangle pop party which
ditches chin stroking in favour of just having a good time.
Matthew Hogarth
“Tonight is a night
which shows how
music can bring people
together and the
true joy it brings”
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