Take the immortalized A train all the way to the Rockaways of NYC. Get off at 67th Street Station.
Walk north, then turn right. You will find yourself standing in front of a simple house like all the others around it, but it is not. Fans of the Canada's indie rock lovechild Mac DeMarco know this house was the home-studio where indie rock's most prolific slacker recorded his 2016 Album "Another One".
Listen below:
The tunes recorded here are love songs of a man who knows nothing but love. Love for his band, the thrill of live performance, KiKi, Viceroy cigarettes, and most importantly: his fans. That's why at the end of his album he sweetly invites you to stop by for a cup of coffee, after reciting his home address:
6802 Bayfield Ave, Arverne, New York.
Those who know Mac's music love Mac's music. Simple and effective drum beats, shiny guitar riffs that jangle like a pocket full of loonies and toonies, perfect bass lines that pop out of the mix in just the right way, repeatable and relateable lyrics, all recorded by one man and one man alone; Mac DeMarco. If you are a fan and you just so happen to be in NY, make the "The Rockaway Pilgrimage" to the house where it all went down. If you are still not convinced, here are 3 more incentives.
1. Tall Juan.
Mac is not the only rocker in this house, Tall Juan calls it home and rocks just as hard as Mac. If the Ramones and the Sex Pistols had a baby boy in Argentina his name would be Tall Juan. Tall Juan is nothing but nice. He opened the door with a smile and a handful of Mac memorabilia, which brings me to #2.
Listen to Tall Juan's "Why Not?" below. Rockaway recorded and live as fuck.
2. Pick up a piece of Mac memorabilia.
The sad news is Mac no longer lives at the house, having moved to LA a few months ago, but the good news? He left a treasure-trove of Mac memorabilia for fans that make The Rockaway Pilgrimage. But Halloween rules though, only one piece of Mac art per person. Get them while supplies last.
3. The A Train.
This NYC train is made of legend. Riding it from hectic Manhattan over the water is a long quiet meditation. Coincidentally the duration of the ride from Manhattan fits perfectly with the length of Mac's discography. Listen to his tunes in chronological order, by the time you arrive Mac will be reciting his address as you look upon his house, so remember to bring all your Mac and your head-phones.