Cory Marks - Cathouse, Glasgow Tuesday 18th March 2025

It may be the first time that Cory has performed in Scotland but a Marks has displayed his talents on Scottish soil (or ice!) previously, with his brother Matt playing and coaching Dundee Stars in the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League for a few years. But there wasn’t a puck or random punch-up in sight when Cory Marks and his band took to the stage at a packed Cathouse for the final date of the tour.

Kicking off with the blistering modern day Lynyrd Skynyrd sounding ‘A Lot Like Me’ from the tour’s namesake album, Marks slowed the tempo ever so slightly to the country radio sounds of ‘Drive’ and ‘A Different Kind of Year’. It was a great start to the show and anyone lucky enough to be in the Cathouse knew that it was set to be a special night of music.

Marks returned to his current album, Sorry For Nothing, for the foot stomping ‘Whisky For Sale’, which initially invokes images of a small town saloon and tumbleweed before bursting to life with the kind of chorus and riffs that would be at home on Planet Rock. ‘(Make My) Country Rock’, another hard rock and country crossover song that was originally recorded along with country and rock legends, Travis Tritt and Mick Mars, as well as Sully Erna of Godsmack. It’s a great hard rock song that is clearly steeped in country roots but it’s exactly the kind of song that proves just how well hard rock and country can mix with the right artist at the helm. ‘Devil’s Grin’ took it back to a more traditional country rock sound, albeit with sing along “oh, oh, oh, oh” that the Glasgow choir revelled in singing along to.

Marks showed that he’s so much more than simply being a country rock singer-songwriter by getting behind the drums for an impressive drum solo before hinting at where some of his rock inspirations come from with an impressive cover of Creed’s ‘My Sacrifice’. There’s a definite Scott Stapp quality to his voice and perhaps that’s why it worked so well. ‘Keep Doing What I Do’, with its ZZ Top vibe and the more menacing, moody sound of ‘Guilty’ (which has a Creed/Alter Bridge feel to it) led to another cover, this time by fellow Canadian Bryan Adams with the brilliant ‘Somebody’.

The main set was brought to a close with ‘Blame It On The Double’ before an encore of the brilliantly radio friendly ‘Tough To Be Strong’, the rocking country outlaw sound of… well… ‘Outlaws & Outsiders’ and the wonderful acoustic finale of the spellbinding latest album title track, ‘Sorry For Nothing’ ensured that the affable Canadian left the stage to a heroes goodbye from the Glasgow audience.

Country is one of the fastest growing music genres in the UK and when it’s crossed with rock and hard rock, longtime UK favourites, it makes for something very different and very special indeed. By merging the power of rock and hard rock with the sensibility of classic country, Marks is doing something that not too many artists have successfully managed before… but he’s ably showing what a spinetingling feeling you get when those sounds are merged oh, so perfectly. Add in his energetic stage presence and a small but legendary Glasgow venue and you’ve got a perfect night of live music.

Hopefully, it won’t be too long before Cory Marks returns to the UK. He’s all country… but also all rock n roll!