Live Report: Mac DeMarco becomes enamoured with The National Stadium

Mac DeMarco is a man who hardly needs introduction. A cult icon with a devoted global following, whose warm sound has shaped a generation of artists, from Steve Lacy to Men I Trust. On this Monday night in Dublin, he proves exactly why.

The stage is covered in smoke and gentle blue lights before DeMarco and his posse arrive. The National Stadium fills quickly, a sold-out swarm Gen-Zers sporting mullets, moustaches and trendy outdoor clothing that looks suspiciously untested in nature.

Then, almost unnoticed, five silhouettes glide onto the stage through the fog. After welcoming the crowd, Mac DeMarco briefly introduces himself and his band, consisting of a bassist, guitarist, drummer and keyboardist. They start with the intimate, gentle melodies of 'Shining', the first song off his new album Guitar.

Mac DeMarco at The National Stadium on November 17th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

His newer songs are stripped down to a minimalist combination of light drums, gentle guitar strums and soft vocals. During the show, DeMarco follows up every new song with one a classic, meaning fans unfamiliar with his newer music don't have to wait long to chant along.

Case in point is the second song of the night, 'For the First Time', a fan favourite from his 2017 album This Old Dog. The moody, low tempo number boasts gorgeous synthesiser chords, a groovy bassline and warm guitar riffs. DeMarco performs overcome by passion, swaying across the stage and swinging his microphone like a conductors baton.

The artist could be described as, according to the words of the man sitting behind me, a "weird little dude".  One second he's threatening to barbecue his bassist, while the next he's pretending to procreate with him on stage. In one feat of athletic showmanship, he even starts planking (or more so humping the ground). Clearly the man Benson Boone wishes he was.

DeMarco may be a whimsical on stage, but many of his songs carry a sense of profound sadness. The staccato synths of 'Watching Him Fade Away' and the horror-film atmospherics of 'Moonlight on The River' for example, cover the absence of his father, who's said to have left when DeMarco was a four years old. Other songs, like 'No Other Heart' touch on breakups and depression, while songs like 'Nobody' tackle themes of existentialism.

Mac DeMarco at The National Stadium on November 17th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

'My Kind of Woman' is a highlight. A love song that's equal parts passion and yearning. It's also accompanied by some of the night's best instrumentations. Bright guitar riffs, soft drums and gentle bass lines guide DeMarco's cries of admiration, as he exclaims: "I'm down on my hands and knees, begging you please, baby, show me your world".

The last song of the night is 'Chamber of Reflection'. The 2012 hit off his second album Salad Days (third if you count Rock and Roll Night Club), is his biggest song by far, according to streaming services anyway, with the track sitting at over a billion streams on Spotify.

Met with thunderous applause and cheers, it is a joy to hear live. The fuzzy synthesiser swells and slow-chugging bass lines that decorate the song cascade towards the audience and underline DeMarcos somber vocals beautifully. The track's title is a reference to a ritual practised by the Freemasons, with the goal of providing a period of, you guessed it, self reflection. DeMarco artfully uses this practise as a metaphor, as he sings about contemplating his own life during a time of isolation.

Mac DeMarco at The National Stadium on November 17th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

In the midst of a loneliness epidemic, Mac DeMarco speaks to the lone soul like a loving relative, ensuring you that better times are ahead, while keeping the lister's cold soul warm through it's cozy frequencies. This kind of music is needed more than ever, and DeMarco is the perfect man to provide it.