Six hundred eager fans shuffled into a sold out show from rock band Dorothy at the Majestic Theatre on April 27 to experience what opening act Cory Marks called “a very rockin’ Sunday night.” With a country spin on classic rock motifs of the 1970s, Dorothy brought a reminiscent energy and special on-stage personality to the Majestic.
Marks, a Canadian country rock singer, kicked off the night with similar cliches and an impersonal rock ‘n’ roll fervor. But it was when he sang that his true personality made more of an appearance. The singer’s wide smile and wild jumping painted a clear, if amusing, picture of his passion for the music.
His heavy rock aesthetics were contrasted with a more modern and country-esque sound, creating a unique juxtaposition. If you can imagine Dave Grohl singing Jason Aldean songs, you’ll get a good feel for who Cory Marks is.
The crowd was still buzzing from Marks when Dorothy came out only minutes later, welcoming the band with applause and headbanging as they launched into their punchy ballad “Down to the Bottom.”
The group is led by Dorothy Martin, a California-based singer who broke out after the group released their debut EP in 2014. Since then, Dorothy has released four studio albums that put a country twist on classic rock music. Martin’s bangs and leather fringed jacket were visually reminiscent of stars like Stevie Nicks or Janis Joplin. It’s an intentional look; The band aims to function as a time machine to the past. More than any particular song, it was this energy that made the group special.
As they continued down the setlist, “Rest In Peace” was the obvious fan favorite of the night, with intensity and volume soaring in the theatre during its opening notes. Anchored with a heavy beat, the song is an angsty tribute to closure and moving on. The band closed with an encore of “Tombstone Town,” the hit off their latest album “THE WAY” which was released on March 14. The song, which features Slash, lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses, held a fast pace and vengeful warning of karma that made for a dramatic finish.
Throughout the night, Dorothy’s on-stage personality was notably warm towards fans. Martin caught kisses being blown at her, smiled warmly at children who waved at her and at one point brought a fan on stage to dance with her. Afterwards, she looked back at the crowd and shrugged, “Well, that’s never happened before!” But it was an act that fit seamlessly into her friendly, frantic energy.
All around Martin, her band became its own show. They moved like one unit, leaning into each other, spinning across the stage and throwing guitar picks and drumsticks into the audience. Despite Martin being their namesake, there was no mistaking the fact that this show was about all of them.
