MAC DEMARCO
Mac DeMarco, Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA 9/4/25.
After being arguably my favorite musician for the past 15 years, I couldn’t have been more excited to finally see Mac DeMarco live, especially at a venue like Franklin Music Hall.
The night kicked off with the opening act, Mock Media, a four-piece band from Vancouver, Canada. Their folky, laid-back sound set the perfect vibe to ease the crowd into the evening.
When it was finally time for Mac to take the stage, a sea of phones lit up as he opened with a track from his newest album, Shining. The energy in the room was electric. When he played “For the First Time” from This Old Dog, the entire crowd joined in, singing along word-for-word, a rare and beautiful thing to witness at a live show. That energy continued throughout the set, with fans passionately singing along to every song.
One of the biggest reactions of the night came when Mac played “Salad Days,” the beloved title track from his 2014 album. Between songs, Mac riffed with the Philly crowd, joking about getting cheesesteaks and tossing in the occasional “Go Birds!” which, of course, got thunderous applause every time.
Midway through the set, he played “Passing Out Pieces,” which happens to be my all-time favorite Mac song. Later, when he launched into “Freaking Out the Neighborhood,” the crowd exploded as soon as he struck the first chord, jumping and dancing with pure excitement.
To close the set, Mac played the most requested song of the night and a recent viral favorite: “Chamber of Reflection.” But he wasn’t done just yet. After a brief walk offstage, he surprised fans with an encore performance of the slower, yet still beautiful “Nobody.”
As I exited the venue, I saw dozens of fans lining up outside his van in the pouring rain, hoping for a chance to meet him, a true testament to how dedicated Mac DeMarco fans are.
I already can’t wait for him to come back, hopefully sooner this time!
Shot by Dylan Sheridan
Review by Jonah van Bemmelen
