Hear The New Mac Demarco X DIIV X Homeshake Project: Met Gala

On the last day of the 2014 Pickathon Music Festival, we watched as Mac DeMarco and his band played an engaging late night set on the Starlight stage.  Their second performance of the fest differentiated itself from the set earlier in the weekend, partially because it marked Mac‘s final live show with guitarist, Peter Sagar operating as part of his official touring band.  The heartfelt sendoff involved an absurdist left-field medley of tunes which managed to work in Rammstein, “Taking Care of ‘Bidness’,” The Beatles’ “Blackbird” (with Staind lyrics), and Tool, leading to Sagar leaping onto the audience, while rapping “Break Stuff” — the Limp Bizkit song credited with inciting the Woodstock ’99 riot — and, culminating with a cover of Shaggy‘s cover of Juice Newton‘s “Angel Of The Morning.”

Sagar‘s departure from Mac and the constant touring was imperative for him to direct his full attention toward Homeshake, a project through which Pete has gone on to release 3 impressive studio albums of infectious bedroom R&B grooves via the Captured Tracks sub label, Sinderlyn Records.  As for DeMarco, he kept it moving, as he continues periodically restaff his backing band with what seems like a bottomless well of talented cohorts from his Canadian motherland.  With Mac now living in Los Angeles, there’s no telling who you’ll see him bring in or reach out to for a collaboration — Mike Myers even came out on stage to sing an Austin Powers tune at an event recently.  And just tonight, Sagar and DeMarco have announced a “new band” of sorts that reunites the pair, along with Mac‘s current keyboardist, Alec Meen, and fellow Captured Tracks recording artist, Colin Caulfied, of DIIV.  Caulfield, Meen, and Sagar each used their respective instagram accounts to post an image of the 4 of them posing around, what appears to be Mac‘s pool [see header image above].  Demarco, on the other hand, just posted a closeup of a can of Modelo.  Caulfield‘s post was captioned with, “Singing in a new band called Met Gala.  Our first 7″ is on YouTube now.  Check the bio.  Thanks.”

The YouTube video in question is a 7-minute exploration into sensual R&B split between two songs.  Labeled the “Red Carpet 7-inch,” the quartet makes the intentionally ludicrous claim that it was “Recorded earlier today on the red carpet at the Met Gala.”  But the over-the-top celebrity annual charity ball isn’t the only event that seems to have influenced the project.  Along with the song “She’s My Sweetness,” the B-Side is for a tune titled “Fuck The Toronto Raptors” — the basketball team was knocked from the NBA playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 3rd year in a row, which marks 10 consecutive playoff game losses to LeBron and his crew and, even worse, losing in back-to-back sweeps on the exact same date as last year: May 7th.

As some may or may not know, while Sagar played guitar in Mac‘s outfit and fronts Homeshake, his roots are actually as a jazz drummer.  That’s why it makes sense that he handles the kit in this operation, along with being credited with “vocals, ad libs” and “finger snaps.”  As Colin stated, he provides vocals, as well as “backing vocals, ad-libs” and… “finger snaps.”  And while every other post about this project with likely give Demarco top billing, it seems that the Meen is doing some of the heavy lifting here, providing keys with Juno 60 and Prophet 5 analog synths, a fender Rhodes 54, and a Schafer and Sons upright piano, while remaining the least recognizable name in this unit.  Meanwhile, Mac‘s contribution is credited as “computer, waves plugin, vocal hooks” and “autotune.”  Other names that are credited in the description are Sadie Holliday (Iphone 8+ Camera, Finger Snaps, Pastrami Stir Fry); Andrew Neville, most likely of the Halifax band, Moon ( Basketball Consultant, Finger snaps); Sheer Agony drummer, Greg Napier (Basketball consultant, Finger snaps); and Shapes And Sizes multi-instrumentalist/vocalist, Caila Thompson (Sagar vocal coach, Finger snaps).

Peep the video/audio below, followed by the entire description for this “7-inch.”  Then, just wait along with the rest of us for the the physical to drop.

 

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Recorded earlier today on the red carpet at the Met Gala.

Introducing, Met Gala.

A: She’s My Sweet
B: Fuck The Toronto Raptors

personnel:

Alec Meen –
Juno 60, Prophet 5, Rhodes 54, Schafer and Sons Upright

Colin Caulfield – Vocals, Backing Vocals, Ad-libs, Finger Snaps

Peter Sagar – Vocals, Ad-libs, Kick Drum, Snare Drum, Hi-hat, Finger Snaps

Mac DeMarco – Computer, Waves plugin, Vocal Hooks, Autotune

Sadie Holliday –
Iphone 8+ Camera, Finger Snaps, Pastrami Stir Fry

Andrew Neville – Basketball Consultant, Finger snaps

Greg Napier – On Flight Now, Finger Snaps

Caila Thompson – Sagar Vocal Coach, Finger Snaps

Thank you,
Goodnight.

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