Dorothy; The Redemption Tour with Cory Marks, Took The Legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ to Tombstone Town!

Dorothy has been blazing a trail of soulful rock and roll for quite some time. She is out headlining and selling out venues across the U.S. on her Redemption Tour in support of her new album The Way. The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ was just the second night of the tour. The venue was sold out and fans filled every bit of space in the venue, if you needed the restroom or the bar you would have had to crowd surf there. Supporting Dorothy was Canadian-country rocker Cory Marks who is out supporting his newest album Sorry for Nothing.

I have come to know and love both artists because of the band Halestorm and their lead singer Lzzy Hale. I first encountered Dorothy in 2016 when she opened for Halestorm and Lita Ford. From the first note I was hooked. I had no idea what to expect but this woman had the most powerful, soulful rock vocals I’d ever heard. Her voice is distinctive in such a crowed market that she stands out. I have seen her perform at least 20 times since then and will make a point to see her every time she comes around.

I discovered Cory Marks in 2020 when he collaborated with Lzzy Hale on his song "Out in the Rain", which is an amazing country ballad with a little rock and roll grit. I was very excited for this tour because I knew both artists would draw a diverse crowd and that they would both tear up the stage, and my assumptions were 100% correct.

Opening up the night was Cory Marks, he and his band came blazing onto this legendary stage. He opened the night with "A Lot Like Me" which the first lyric is "I got the swagger of a rock star and I don't care". While this song is more country than rock, it is very guitar driven with counrty swagger on the vocals. The performance was super high energy and got the crowd really moving. His second song was "(Make My) Country Rock". The recorded version recruited some heavy rock and roll artists and a country superstar to the mix. The song features Travis Tritt, Mick Mars and Sully Erna from Godsmack. Cory dropped the guitar for this song running back and forth across the stage and interacting with the crowd. He also got up close and personal with my camera lens and tried to run off with the drummers cymbal.

Just for fun he threw in a cover of Creed's "My Sacafice" which fit his vocal style very well. Scott Stapp is not an easy artist to cover. This was a great way to get the audience to sing along as many of them did not know most, if any of Cory's work. Near the conclusion of the evening Cory sang a song that many actually did know, "Outlaws and Outsiders" which was recorded again with Travis Tritt, Mick Mars and rocker Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch. This song got the crowd a little rowdy and a little more sweaty. Cory showed his love of rock with his country flair.

While this was my first Cory Marks show it will not be my last. His energy was infectious, his songs are fun and relatable, and he knows how to throw a party. His band was awesome as well and they added to the total energy of the performance.

The superstar of the night was Dorothy. This woman has been to hell and back battling health issues due to breast implants which she had removed after being diagnosed with Breast Implant Illness, reclaiming her sobriety and finding her “Redemption” through God. Her new album The Way is a rebirth and rising from all the things she’s leaving in dust and all of the things she’s found in her new life.

Dorothy is selling out these smaller cap venues with no room to breathe. She could easily top out larger venues that she deserves to be showcased in. She opened her set with “Down to the Bottom”. This song has a bluesy riff and vibe that caused a lot of foot stomping from the crowd. Her second song was a new track called “The Devil I Know”. This song touches upon the overcoming of addiction, facing the Devil of it and having faith . Her vocals make you believe that there is a heaven.

Other new songs that Dorothy performed were “Bones” “Mud” and “Tombstone Town” which features Slash on her album. I loved her performance of “Mud”. She showcased the heavier and grittier side of herself including some gnarly screams. “Tombstone Town” which was her closer tore the Stone Pony up. Her band is insanely good. She’s backed by her longtime bassist Eliot Lorango, guitarist Sam Bam Koltun and drummer Jake Hayden.

Dorothy mixed in plenty of her older songs as well including “Raise Hell”, “After Midnight” and “Dark Nights”.

She performed a total of 13 songs that led the fans through her catalogue of albums. The fans sang, danced, cried and forgot the world existed for awhile. Dorothy is a fortified rockstar that is here to stay. Do yourself a favor and see her live You will thank me later.