Mac DeMarco Isn't Afraid to Look Like an Idiot

I've seldom ever seen a live performer bomb quite as badly as Mac DeMarco did a couple of years ago at Vancouver's Khatsahlano Music & Arts Festival.

The show started off well, but the cheeky, gap-toothed songwriter -- who used to perform around town with his band Makeout Videotape, but currently lives in Brooklyn -- seemed to grow frustrated when his guitar malfunctioned. After spending a couple tunes kicking his gear, the second half of the set consisted of him awkwardly coaxing his bandmates to do extended, intentionally shitty solos. It was funny at first, but the joke grew old and the music was ghastly.

This train wreck doesn't appear to have been an isolated incident, since a quick YouTube search reveals performance footage of a completely naked DeMarco shoving a drumstick where the sun don't shine while U2's "Beautiful Day" plays in the background. The video is very dark, thank god, but readers are nevertheless advised to proceed with caution if clicking on that link.

Ironically, the same qualities that make DeMarco a loose cannon on stage are also what make him so compelling: that he doesn't have a trace of self-seriousness and isn't afraid of making himself look like an idiot. After all, this is a guy who describes his musical style as "jizz jazz" and once tweeted a photo of himself with a cigarette between his butt cheeks.

DeMarco's easygoing attitude is the magic at the heart of his brilliant new album, Salad Days, which is supremely laid back and steeped in homemade DIY warmth. His guitar tone is trebly and warped, and his smooth, droopy-eyed vocal delivery makes it sound as if he just rolled out of bed. (Which he probably did -- the album was recorded in his bedroom.)

But even though DeMarco delivers his songs with a wink and with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, some serious themes rise to the surface. Jangling title cut "Salad Days" begins the album with the lyrics "As I'm getting older / Chip upon my shoulder," which seems like a very world-weary sentiment for a 23-year-old to express. The feelings are reiterated on "Passing Out Pieces," as he sighs, "Watching my life / Passing right in front of my eyes."

Elsewhere, the soothing acoustic ditty "Let My Baby Stay" reportedly addresses his girlfriend Kiki's struggles with U.S. immigration, while the eerily gorgeous "Chamber of Reflection" finds DeMarco crooning a refrain of "alone again." There's a trace of new wave balladry in the latter number's sparkling synths, and the melodic dip towards the end of the chorus is stunning.

Following the closing instrumental "Johnny's Odyssey," DeMarco signs off with a spoken farewell, saying, "Hi, guys this is Mac. Thank you for joining me, see you again soon, buh-bye." I'm not sure if he's taking the piss or being extremely polite, but after a brilliant album like Salad Days, I'm definitely going to be joining him again next time.