Dragonette Live at the Phoenix Concert Theatre April 3rd

When Martina Sorbara stepped onto the stage it was all over. On a Thursday night the sex-charged leading vixen from Dragonette appeared underneath an array of multi-coloured lights at Toronto’s Phoenix concert theatre and the crowd lost their shit. In a clinging black leather tank top and even tighter leather jeans, the home grown artists started off their set with “Jesus doesn’t love me”, countering the intentions of the audience who couldn’t help eye fucking her all night. Martina took it like a man though, and impressed with her strong voice that could turn from light to rich and syrupy coated in an instant. It’s always a deadly combination.

She definitely got around, performing a mixture of the spunky sound the band is known for, a cover, and even dangled a new song to tantalize drooling fans. When their signature song, “I get around,” started up, bodies started to pulse to the beat that launched the popularity of this Canadian band during the summer. Martina pumped her fist in the air and beamed as she leaned toward the crowd and sang the words that were filling the thick, energy fused atmosphere. She danced and swung her body to the rhythm as lights flash behind her, highlighting her Peter Pan hair cut.

When it came to songs like “True Believer”, and “Black Limousine,” Martina coated the lyrics with delicious sexual tones and released frustrated sighs that escaped at the end of every chorus. Her voice was punctuated by a seductive ring; a long moan of yearning that hung in the air and lured you in to soak it up. It seems to be her style to create an aura of desire and suggestion when most of her lyrical themes involve an element of sexual release, such as the song “You Please Me.” Every passionate burst of breath sounds like she’s making love to the microphone, and by extension, the audience. Its impossible to resist the enticing invitation.

Even in a larger venue, Martina interacts well with the crowd and makes it feel as intimate as the Mod Club. She proudly announced that this is the first time the band has witnessed scalpers at their show and asked with a smile if anyone took advantage and bought a ticket.

Their new song, “Stupid Grin,” was as electrified and gutsy as any other, with lines like “First thing in the morning, I wanna tell ya see ya alligata.” Martina bent over the microphone, “You won’t be getting nothing, that’s tough, wake up and smell the muffins,” her cat-like features defined as her figure was routinely illuminated by candy coloured lights.

The band’s cover of “Woman,” by Wolfmother radiated an electric-pop sound with funkier guitar and a powerhouse of fiery vocals from Martina. As the end of the show drew near the singer walked over to husband and bassist, Dan Kurtz, and ejaculated a command that he take off his sweater for Christ’s sakes. When she pulled the

zipper down the crowd got a glimpse of the pink heart patterned t-shirt underneath.

As a grand finale, the opening band, Sweet Thing, returned to the stage in barbershop quartet hats to accompany Martina’s light, feel-good lyrics in the song, “Lucky.” The boys had fun with it, doing spontaneous jigs while crooning harmoniously with the leading lady. It was a playful ending to a night that really “went all the way” to satisfy.