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Cory Wong Tickets

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Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 156 reviews

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About

Music motivates at the most primal level.

You instinctually hum a tune in order to get pumped up in the morning, for fuel on the treadmill, to soundtrack your commute, or as the pre-game to a big night out. As much as he treasures his roles as a guitarist, composer, and producer, Cory Wong fashions himself "a hype man," first and foremost. Living up to this classification, he slings a Stratocaster and hurls "dad jokes" from the stage with the same panache, poise, and power.

"For me, it's all about the listener's experience," he explains. "I want them to have a visceral response like: 'I feel better,' 'That was really fun,' or 'I got to escape for an hour.' You'll hear my voice through the guitar, but I'm just a hype man. To uplift audiences with instrumental music that has no singing or lyrics is a fun challenge. I'm trying to solve the riddle. If I can get one person to feel good this way, it's a success. 

Straight out of Minneapolis, Cory positioned himself as music's answer to motivational speakers like Tony Robbins since emerging in 2011. Head-spinning rhythm guitar wizardry, technical ebullience, laugh-out-loud jokes, and radiance on stage established him as both a sought-after collaborator and celebrated solo artist alike. He lent his talents to television programs such as The Voice at the dawn of his career. After an impromptu meeting at the weekly jam hosted by Prince's rhythm section (where the Purple One often either performed or watched), he crossed paths with Vulfpeck who welcomed him as a frequent collaborator and member of the band. Solidifying a fruitful partnership, the group named their most popular instrumental track "Cory Wong," in tribute. Lighting up the stage in the band everywhere from Red Rocks Amphitheatre to Madison Square Garden, he remains a cornerstone of Vulfpeck's storied gigs.

"I try to feature the guitar, but I don't force myself into being the star of every song," he says. "The instrument plays an appropriate role. It's not all flash. I'm bringing rhythm to the forefront where it's not so shreddy. I refer to it as 'Covert chops.' I'm doing things that are sneakily hard, but they lay in the cut. I allow the song to breathe and present myself as more of a composer rather than a guitar player."

In the end, Cory transmits joy in its purest form through the guitar.

"The guiding light is to impart a feeling of joy," he leaves off. "I want people to experience instrumental music in a different way. This is hype. It's more than just guitar."

Setlists

    1. 1.Opener
    2. 2.Flyers Direct (The Fearless Flyers cover)
    3. 3.The Grid Generation
    4. 4.Flamingo
    5. 5.Bluebird
    6. 6.Welcome 2 Minneapolis
    7. 7.Direct Flyte (Not on written setlist - added during show)
    8. 8.Team Sports
    9. 9.King Bozzi
    10. 10.Stomping Grounds (Béla Fleck and the Flecktones cover)
    11. 11.305
    12. 12.Brooklyn Bop
    13. 13.Smokeshow
    14. 14.Separado
    15. 15.Meditation
    1. 1.Lunchtime
    2. 2.Let's Go!
    3. 3.Flamingo
    4. 4.Assassin (The Fearless Flyers cover)
    5. 5.Stomping Grounds (Béla Fleck and the Flecktones cover)
    6. 6.Bluebird
    7. 7.Look at Me
    8. 8.Call Me Wild
    9. 9.
    10. 10.Direct Flyte
    11. 11.Arrow Through Me (Wings cover)
    12. 12.Bennie and the Jets (Elton John cover)
    13. 13.Flamingo
    14. 14.Separado
    15. 15.Meditation

  2. Encore

    1. 16.Halo Theme/ Grid Generation
    2. 17.Dean Town (Vulfpeck cover)
    1. 1.Opener
    2. 2.Gigantactis (Mark Lettieri cover)
    3. 3.Flamingo
    4. 4.Bluebird
    5. 5.Cosmic Sans
    6. 6.Lilypad
    7. 7.Magnetar (Mark Lettieri cover)
    8. 8.Synchronicity
    9. 9.Starting Line
    10. 10.305
    11. 11.Look at Me
    12. 12.Best of My Love (The Emotions cover)
    13. 13.Separado
    14. 14.Concrete
    15. 15.Meditation

  2. Encore

    1. 16.Merci
    2. 17.Assassin (The Fearless Flyers cover)
    1. 1.Ketosis
    2. 2.How Much Do You Love Me? (Vulfmon cover)
    3. 3.Dirty Work (Steely Dan cover)
    4. 4.Team Sports
    5. 5.Meditation
    6. 6.The Grid Generation
    7. 7.Lunchtime
    1. 1.Opener (>)
    2. 2.Flyers Direct (The Fearless Flyers cover)
    3. 3.Team Sports
    4. 4.Welcome 2 Minneapolis
    5. 5.St. Paul
    6. 6.Flamingo
    7. 7.Stomping Grounds (Béla Fleck and the Flecktones cover) (Dedicated to Cory's first DMB show)
    8. 8.Direct Flyte
    9. 9.Bluebird
    10. 10.The Grid Generation
    11. 11.Assassin (The Fearless Flyers cover)

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Reviews

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 156 reviews
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  • My first but certainly not last

    by Bread on 11/25/24The Salt Shed Indoors (Shed) - ChicagoRating: 5 out of 5

    From the open band (Couch) to all the featured artists, this was sublime

  • Amazing

    by manandmaschine on 11/25/24The Salt Shed Indoors (Shed) - ChicagoRating: 5 out of 5

    No way he could play all his hits, but the show was two hours, 4 special guests including Antoine Stanley and Mark Lettieri. What else could I ask for?

  • 4th time seeing CW - done, next.

    by Sewally on 11/25/24The Salt Shed Indoors (Shed) - ChicagoRating: 2 out of 5

    I've now seen Cory Wong four times now, and although he and his band always put on a class act, four times is enough. But what I really did not like about the show was The Salt Shed's stage height. The stage needs to be higher by at least four feet. I and how many hundreds of others had a hard time seeing ANYTHING that was happening on the stage. Had I been able to see the band as they were performing, I would have stayed for the entire show; as it was, I left very early. It's not any fun going to see a concert just to not be able to see what's happening on stage. Until they do something about the stage height, I won't be going back to The Salt Shed. Which is a shame, because for such a wide-open venue, the sound was very good. SALT SHED - RAISE YOUR STAGE HEIGHT!!!

  • PHENOMENAL!!!

    by Kurt W on 11/25/24The Salt Shed Indoors (Shed) - ChicagoRating: 5 out of 5

    The opening band, Couch, alone would've been worth the price of admission. Then Corey and his crew took it up several more notches. Loved the mid-way Q & A session with the band. So cool!!! Great show. Great venue. Great staff at the Salt Shed. It was my first time there and I'll definitely be back.

  • Awesome Show

    by Debi C on 11/25/24The Salt Shed Indoors (Shed) - ChicagoRating: 5 out of 5

    This was my 1st Cory Wong Show & it won’t be my last! The energy was felt throughout the Salt Shed. His guest were some of the Best!

  • Tight Show

    by Nola Girl on 11/24/24The Sylvee - MadisonRating: 5 out of 5

    Cory Wong is massively talented!! He keeps everyone entertained with his quick hands and great energy. Very diverse sounds, including an acoustic set. He looks like he’s having fun and so does the band. His horn section is tiiighttt!🎷 It was like a contemporary funky jazz big band performance.

  • Incredible Show

    by Matt on 11/24/24The Sylvee - MadisonRating: 5 out of 5

    Cory Wong and his band put on an incredible performance. High energy, fantastic sound, and played for a good amount of time. One of my favorite shows I’ve ever been too.

  • Great show, sound mix had ssues

    by Bob on 11/24/24The Sylvee - MadisonRating: 4 out of 5

    Cory Wong does a great show. Musicianship is off the charts! Only complaint is that for the show before the "intermission", bass levels were WAY too high. Couldn't hear much other than that. Much better after the "press conference". Couch was also fantastic.

  • Cory and His Crew Always Deliver!

    by Nate A on 11/18/24State Theatre - PortlandRating: 5 out of 5

    Second time seeing Cory and it was just as fun and awesome as the first time! You can tell the amount of joy and passion Cory and his band have performing. As is it largely instrumental, you don't even need to know the songs beforehand to enjoy their show. Just go to see an extremely tight band of world class musicians get you moving and blow you away with their skill. It's worth it!

  • Electric!

    by KH on 11/18/24History - TorontoRating: 5 out of 5

    So much energy and precision tightness between band members! A very talented group of musicians! The addition of Tema Siegel from Couch on vocals for a few songs was incredible!