Laneway aptly marked it’s humble beginnings in a Melbourne laneway in 2005. It has since built a reputation as a festival with it’s finger firmly on the pulse of the music industry, despite canning one of Australia’s foremost up-and-coming artists from the bill this year (cc: Kirin J Callinan).
Nevertheless, we savour the release of each lineup with intense anticipation because the event delivers a solid slew of talent from around the world every single year; from artists who we don’t usually see in this neck of the woods, to absolute crowd favourites we can’t get enough of.
Part II had us at Mac DeMarco, who is and always will be a festival favourite with his random tangents, on-stage quirks and warm adoration for his fans. We caught the enigmatic Moses Sumney next who walked out in a black cloak, surrounded in mystery. Anderson .Paak and his band The Free Nationals were arguably the most anticipated act of the day and they delivered in droves. BADBADNOTGOOD served up some sonic smoothness before we caught Father John Misty changing guitars several times due to technical difficulties. “I think ODESZA has, like 60 acoustic guitars. How can I compete?” And, on cue, the Seattle producers took the Garden Stage with their shiny new drumline (sans the guitars) and gave us a taste of their impeccable live show.
Then we headed over for POND who never fail to amaze, with manic frontman Nic Allbrook fawning over the stage and amongst the crowd all at once. Thirsty for some heavy electronica, TOKiMONSTA’s set was exactly what we ordered before we rounded out the night the only way one should, with a wall of hot shoegaze and Slowdive came correct. Another hectic time full of unforgettable moments.
Until next year, Laneway.
Photos: Dani Hansen
Mac DeMarco
Moses Sumney
Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals
BADBADNOTGOOD
Father John Misty
ODESZA
POND
TOKiMONSTA
Slowdive
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
It’s been almost two weeks since we lost the legendary Prince, and in that time we’ve had countless heartfelt tributes from the likes of Frank Ocean, Lenny Kravtiz, Elton John and of course many, many more. Last week, Canadian Mac Demarco joined the list, taking to Instagram to say, “We lost a true hero of mine the other day. Although it’s sad, I’m sure he’s ripping a hot solo right now in the next dimension. RIP. Got a treat in his honor coming soon.” Well, it’s that time folks.
The Jizz-Jazz pioneer has today released his tribute, a sensual cover of It’s Gonna Be Lonely, the final track on Prince’s 1979 self titled album. The performance just screams the classic Mac we all know and love; especially when he hits those high notes. The video is no different, filmed for Pitchfork TV by director Jim Larson, it features the typical weirdness you would expect; a beautiful New York sunset with a man in a leather mask just bopping, dancing and waving his arms around in the background. It’s truly art, and definitely is a beautiful tribute to late musical genius.
The facts of Prince’s death are still being determined, but one this is for sure. The world lost a lot of magic when he left it.
Image: Pitchfork
Mac DeMarco is not unknown for the goofy and outright odd.
Showing a bit of heart, the singer lent his talents to a serious cause. Laying down some kitschy covers, DeMarco appeared at Panache Booking and New York Night Train’s annual Village of Love benefit concert to raise money for planned parenthood.
Among his own tracks, DeMarco delighted fans with an acoustic rendition of Billy Joel’s 1977 hit Just the Way You Are.
Mac’s cover of the golden classic wasn’t exactly seamless. There were more than a few fumbled lyrics, but the singer was quick to cover up any imperfections with his trade mark smile.
https://youtu.be/3GQKqbmgN9A
The performance was followed on by busting out a crowd-pleasing sing along of the Four Seasons’ chart-buster December 1963 (Oh, What A Night).
It’s not the first time the 70s staple has found it’s way into Demarco’s live set, but the singer certainly instilled the cover with a tongue in cheek twist given the subject matter of the benefit.
https://youtu.be/8PvATwBUbyo
DeMarco closed the set with original Still Together, which concluded part way due to an impromptu stage dive.
The singer is currently working on a new track in collaboration with Ryan Paris, the vocalist behind 80s synth pop classic Dolce Vita.
Read More:Unreleased Mac DeMarco Song Aired On Pitchfork Radio
Image: Brooklynvegan
First announced beforehand via the Pitchfork website, a special radio feature by Captured Tracks label head Mike Sniper premiered a previously unheard track from Mac DeMarco. The set for Pitchfork Radio was broadcast live from Men’s New York Fashion Week.
The track itself, named as Missin The Old Me, apparently dates back to 2012 or 2013 – specifically just after the release of DeMarco’s sophomore album 2. The track was made briefly available to stream via DeMarco’s Soundcloud following the set. Described as dreamy and hazy, unfortunately the song has now been removed but it seems that Missin The Old Me is along the lines of what we’ve come to expect from the Canadian artist.
Following two record releases last year (Some Other Ones and Another One), DeMarco has also recently finished a string of shows in Australia. Appearing at Falls Festival at the close of 2015, and playing live shows around the country (you can check out our photos from his show at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney here)
And if you happened to have missed all of the above, don’t worry you can still enjoy his excellent review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (don’t worry, no spoilers). Or, just have a listen to some of his music that is available.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPeJMoms_Ag]
GUM
Kirin J Callinan
Mac DeMarco
See More
Read our review of GUM’s sophomore album, ‘Glamorous Damage’
Read our review of Falls Festival
See our galleries from Falls Festival at Byron Bay for Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3
Always one to do things his own way, Mac DeMarco has shared his own take on a Christmas classic… And shared it on Boxing Day.
Putting his own spin on the Bing Crosby/Irving Berlin Christmas that is White Christmas, Mac has added a dollar sign and a Santa hat-wearing-Jar Jar Binks photo, and has this week shared a new cover of White Christma$.
The significance of the Jar Jar Binks photo comes from his recent review of the latest Star Wars movie, and the cover is very, very him. Slow and chilled out, it’s dreamy in it’s delivery and soft and gentle, exactly what you want to hear nursing a Christmas hangover. Suitably Mac, he slows things down to a nice, leisurely pace here, and it has definitely earned a spot on my family Christmas playlist for next year.
While it’s uncertain if this new track will make it’s way into his live setlist, Australian Mac DeMarco fans have just a few days left before they can catch the man in action at Falls Festival and Southbound Festival, as well as a few highly sought-after sideshows. Check the dates below, and wrap your ears around White Christma$ in all it’s Mac glory.
Mac DeMarco tour dates:
Canadian artist Mac DeMarco has made what may be his first foray into the world of film criticism.
Seated comfortably in his home studio the indie prankster recorded a three-minute reflection on the recently released Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Employing a rapidly accelerated abridgement of the iconic Cantina Theme, the video commences with the franchise’s iconic opening crawl.
Producing crumpled tickets as evidence, DeMarco reveals that he had the pleasure of seeing the movie twice in rapid succession at both 1.30 am and 10 am sessions.
The artists also courteously noted that the review would be spoiler-free.
Revealing ‘he’s back’, the remainder of the video switches to a succession of images of the much loathed character Jar Jar Binks set to John Williams’ iconic Duel of the Fates theme.
DeMarco’s imagination seems to have been captivated by two images in particular. Firstly, a fan-made image of the Jar Jar dressed in Sith robes, perhaps suggesting DeMarco’s fondness of a viral Reddit theory that the character was in fact the arch-villain of the prequel trilogy. Secondly is another fan-made image, of the Gungan in sexual congress with Natalie Portman’s Padme Amidala.
https://www.facebook.com/Stereogum/videos/10153884122261979/
Mac DeMarco will be in town at the end of this month to perform at Falls and Southbound festivals, alongside two headline tour dates:
Wed, Jan 6: Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Buy tickets here
Thurs, Jan 7: The Factory Theatre, Sydney
Buy tickets here
Mac DeMarco has been all over musical news recently – and for good reason. Today, we’ve got an Eric Clapton cover, a new LP AND the exciting news that he’s returning to Australia for the third time in two years, for a slot at the Falls Music and Arts Festival over New Years.
Steeping out of his comfort genre and into a classic, this week sees the release of a pretty dazzling cover of Eric Clapton’s Change The World.
In case you missed him earlier this year while he was in town for St Jerome’s Laneway Festival (read our Sydney or Brisbane reviews here,) you’ll be able to catch DeMarco across the new years festival. Taking place in Byron Bay, Marion Bay and Lorne, he’ll be joined at Falls by stellar international acts like Foals, Disclosure and Bloc Party. Check out the full lineup and ticket details right here.
We reported back in April that DeMarco was also slated to release a new LP later this year – and finally, that day has arrived. Titled Another One, the eight-track release is a kind of journey through his twisted and forlorn interpretation of love and romance, and features The Way You’d Love Her and new single I’ve Been Waiting For Her. The release was written and self-recorded in between his busy touring schedule, at the Queens, New York home where he has recently invited fans to come over for a pot of coffee.
Buy or stream it here.
Mac DeMarco has sparked what is probably the cutest episode of mass stalking in musical history. The Canadian singer/songwriter disclosed his real home address in his latest track My House by the Water, in a lighthearted effort to get people to listen to his entire mini-album Another One.
He spoke to Wall Street Journal about his ingenious plan “The way I rationalise it… to have the address you’ll have to listen to the album to the very end… Second, to even consider coming to my house you have to be a kind of superfan. And thirdly, it’s in such a weird part of New York that if they actually get there, they deserve a cup of coffee.”
Great idea in theory… except it didn’t quite work out that way. He told Billboard that he didn’t know what he was thinking “I’ve had about 30 kids come so far.” It seems that the bold move did little to encourage people to listen to the entire album, but rather initiated a kind of challenge for bored teenagers, who are giving very little thought to the actual logistics of visiting a musician at their house. For example whether they are even going to be there. DeMarco stated:
“Everybody has been nice, but I asked a kid the other day, ‘Did you check if I was on tour or did you just come over blindly?’ And they were like, ‘We just came over.’ These kids came from Long Island and Staten Island. They took the train for two hours. You didn’t even think to check if I’m on tour?”
Oh well, at the moment it seems like a bit of harmless fun. Let’s just hope it doesn’t creepy and end up like this situation with Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson.
If you’re interested in paying DeMarco a visit, or if you just genuinely want to here the track, check it out below!
Mac Demarco understands the moony swoons that pour from nascent lovers. He gets the subtlety of ‘amour’, that it is both euphoric and mundane, new yet familiar. His old and new music continues to demonstrate this. Maccy has shared a new single, No Other Heart, from his upcoming mini-LP Another One, out on the 7th of August via captured tracks. The song is a cool, lay-back-in-your-chair tune with the jizz-jazzer’s usual twangy riffs and atmospheric soundscapes. Its 70s-revival sound has got me feeling all nostalgic; lost and found loves flash fast to my mind.
I’ve Been Waiting for Her is different to Mac Demarco’s most recent release. Its a bit crisper – hot day at the beach crisp – and more refreshing. Its all here: Demarco’s signature diction that sits cozily in your ears, his straightforward and unpretentious melodies, and, most of all, his familiarity (everything he makes feels heart-achingly reminiscent).
So get excited as this maestro continues to release his time-traveling musical magic.