A Wicked Good Time

A wicked twist on Texas Red Dirt music will be coming to the North Platte Valley this weekend.

Cory Waller & the Wicked Things will perform at the 18th Annual Encampment Community Barbeque/Potluck on August 3.

This will be The Wicked Things’ first visit to the Platte Valley. Waller said he had been asked for a long time to perform in Encampment but, due to his touring schedule, he could not find the time to come to the Platte Valley.

“I had a friend of a friend who has been trying to get us to come to Saratoga for a while,” Waller said. “Because of our schedule, things didn't work out and I have been looking for a good reason to come up in the Platte Valley area. We finally got a time slot opened to perform in Encampment and took advantage of it.”

While his band may play Texas Red Dirt country, he comes from the Midwest. Waller grew up in Manson, Iowa, and within a 60-mile radius of Manson his whole life.

“Growing up in Iowa, I was lucky to listen to a wide range of music,” Waller said. “In the Midwest 95% of all radio stations are set to country music but I was a big punk rock and heavy metal fan in my teens.”

According to Waller, his band plays a little bit of rock music but focuses more on Texas Red Dirt and country.

Waller said he couldn't pick a specific music artist who influenced him in music.

He said he was a fan of John Mellencamp because they are both from the Midwest.

“I have been playing music since I was 13 years old and started in punk rock bands like most kids did,” Waller said. “As life went on, I played in the Southern Country Rock band for 13 years. When the band broke up, I hooked up with a guitar player from my old band. He and I started Corey Waller and The Wicked Things.”

Along with Ronley King, Waller said he has long-time friends who are members of his band. He said these were people he had known since he was a teenager.

“I have been friends with my bass player, Ethridge Netz, and have known Emilee Johnson since I was 13 years old,” Waller said. “My drummer, Kaleb Ferry, has played in different punk rock bands since we were kids. This entire lineup in my band are people I've been long-time friends with”.

According to Waller, along with traveling around the Midwest, his band has performed as far west as the Pacific Coast. This year, their tour will take them throughout the West and Midwest.

“We travel primarily in the Midwest,” Waller said. “Last summer we got out to California and this year we have been to Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Nebraska”.

Entering into their fourth year as a band, the Wicked Things are now getting into their original music.

“We are members of the Midwest Country Music Organization and last year we won song of the year called Body Aches in which Emilee does the vocals in the song,” said Waller.

Cory Waller and the Wicked Things will play at Grand View Park in Encampment at 5 p.m.