
During its eight-year run, the scuzzy noise rock band Dope Body was never the first name on the tongues of national music journalists delving into the Baltimore scene. That didn’t stop them from, over the course of six albums, earning a loyal following both at home and elsewhere in the country with an abrasive sound and a sweaty, physical live show.
In 2016, they called it quits, playing two final shows at the Metro Gallery and the DIY space Floristree. This Wednesday, we will get the definitive document of the latter in the movie “Dope Body: The End,” a concert film that eschews interviews, commentary and any behind-the-scenes looks and stays homed in on singer Andrew Laumann, guitarist Zachary Utz, bassist John Jones and drummer David Jacober as they deliver a raw farewell performance.
Director Michael Faulkner, whose credits include the documentary “Shu-De!” on local beatboxer Shodekeh, says the black-and-white, anamorphic footage matches the gritty qualities of the band’s music and stage presence. “We felt like it ended up resembling a 16 mm film, like a ’70s Iggy and the Stooges concert,” he said. I met up with Faulkner earlier this week to talk about what drew him to Dope Body’s music, how he and his film crew captured the group’s final performances, the movie’s premiere at the Parkway Theatre and more.