Cory Wong was at AB last Friday playing for a sold-out audience, during his European tour that has already stopped in Sweden, Norway, France or The Netherlands. Big curtains were covering the stage hiding what’s always a tremendous stage with his name in the back and all the band scattered around the stage but very well organised, as every member has it’s space, which comes in handy when placing the lights to light up who’s doing the solo. Suddenly, it’s lights out, Boombastic from Shaggy starts playing, and a hand comes out from under the curtains, sets the pedals on, and the song stops to give place to the big show to start with the Assassin song, lighting up a crowd ready to dance at his funk.
Wong was fronting a wonderful band and still giving it’s best moves and jumps, even after a small accident in Vegas, obliging him to keep an orthopaedic boot on to avoid further damage, not really ruining his vibe nor his outfit. Big applause for Vincen Garcia, the bass player who messaged Cory some years ago offering himself as a bassist, and who found his dream come true when Cory was in need for a bassist for this tour. He was sent the full book of songs to learn in 48 hours, and so he did, displaying his overwhelming virtuosity that made Cory vouch for him to be on this tour with him and his amazing band.
They were also joined on stage by Antwaun Stanley, who interacted constantly with the audience transforming the room into a big choir on multiple occasions.
The setlist was 13 songs long, ending with 3 on E, and coming back on stage for 2 encores, where they played Coming Back Around (with Antwaun Stanley) and Lunchtime, and ending with Dean Town, Vulfpeck cover, as a second encore at the audience demand.
Vrijdag 6 oktober 2023, Ancienne Belgique (Brussel, BE) | Foto's & tekst: Cristina Vergara