Cory Wong Goes Long With O.A.R. On ‘Anyway’ In Minneapolis

O.A.R. brought out Minnesota native Cory Wong during Tuesday’s Three Decades Tour stop at the Minneapolis Armory. Wong joined the band for a nearly 10-minute “Anyway” highlighted by an extended guitar solo.

“I’m gonna need a whole lotta noise for this one. Minnesota’s own Mr. Cory Wong, c’mon out here,” O.A.R. frontman Marc Roberge told the crowd before welcoming the guitarist to the stage.

Wong strapped in alongside Roberge and guitarist Richard On for the entirety of “Anyway,” which came 14 songs into O.A.R.’s 20-song performance. The guitarist was given plenty of room to work during the extended rendition, eventually taking center stage for a lengthy solo.

“Anyway” was first released on O.A.R.’s 2002 live album, Any Time Now, before a studio version appeared on 2003’s In Between Now and Then. The latter marked the band’s major-label debut and was recorded at Electric Lady Studios and The Magic Shop in New York City. “Anyway” has been a live staple ever since, with O.A.R. performing the song more than 700 times over the past two-plus decades.

Wong’s guest spot brought his relationship with O.A.R. back to the same venue where the musicians shared the stage three years earlier. The guitarist and O.A.R. teamed with the Minnesota Wild in July 2023 to present the “Crazy Game of Hockey” charity weekend, which culminated with a concert featuring both acts at the Armory.

The connection between Wong and O.A.R. extends beyond the stage. Wong recruited the band for “Hiding On The Moon,” a song featured on his 2023 album, The Lucky One. Wong co-wrote the track with Roberge and Cody Fry after Roberge invited him to his New York studio.

“I’ve been a fan of O.A.R. since I was a teenager,” Wong said at the time. The guitarist explained he had seen the band perform several times before eventually getting to know Roberge and his bandmates and discovering they clicked musically.

O.A.R. returned the favor by joining Wong for “Hiding On The Moon” during Wong’s set at the 2023 Crazy Game of Hockey concert. Members of both bands later filled the stage during O.A.R.’s encore for a collaborative take on “Hard To Handle.”

Tuesday’s guest appearance was Wong’s lone sit-in of the night. O.A.R.’s set also included covers of Stone Temple Pilots’ “Plush” and The Band’s “The Weight,” along with such staples as “Hey Girl,” “I Feel Home,” “Delicate Few,” “Shattered (Turn The Car Around)” and show-closing “That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker.”

Watch Cory Wong join O.A.R. for “Anyway” at the Minneapolis Armory below: