YouTube superstar dodie, with support from newcomer Adam Melchor, thrilled a house filled with emotional young fans at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC on Friday, September 6.
England’s Dorothy “dodie” Clark, 24, began her career performing covers on piano and ukulele before moving on to write original material. Using YouTube as her platform, she’s amassed literally millions of subscribers since creating her first solo YouTube channel in 2011. Previous EPs, “Intertwined” and “You” were released in 2016 and 2017, respectively; dodie’s latest, “Human,” was released in January of this year.
It’s easy to see the appeal for the mostly (very) young, mostly female fans at the 9:30 Club. She has an accessible but somewhat ethereal stage presence, her entrance onto the stage punctuated by white lights that made her appear as if she were an otherworldly figure plopped down from the sky, yet she dressed casually and wore no shoes. Her soft voice, often drowned out by the sound of the crowd singing along with her, carries songs with relatable themes.
Before launching into “Human,” she asked the audience if there was anyone in the crowd who had a crush on someone. Yes, dodie, we all do. But lest she seem trite, she does use her voice responsibly, spreading positive messages about metal health and inclusivity. As an example, the small Pride flags held by her fans were met by matching stage lighting during “Rainbow.” Sex, drugs, and rock and roll it’s not, but it doesn’t need to be.
Complementing dodie was the support of Adam Melchor. The 24-year-old from New Jersey was accompanied only by his acoustic guitar and a keyboard. His newcomer status belies his skills as he sang dreamy folk songs about growth and human connection from his new EP “Plan on You” with ease. Trained in opera, Melchor’s voice is simply beautiful. The crowd seemed to agree.
ADAM MELCHOR
DODIE SETLIST
Arms Unfolding
Monster
Human
If I’m Being Honest
6/10
Sick of Losing Soulmates
Not What I Meant
Burned Out
Secret for the Mad
You
Rainbow
She
Boys Like You
Guiltless
When
Absolutely Smitten
Would You Be So Kind?
In the Middle
