Corey Taylor stopped in Houston at House of Blues on his 2023 World Tour with support from WARGASM and LUNA AURA.
Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, Corey Taylor is well known for his highly impressive vocal range and unmatched showmanship. Taylor, the frontman of Slipknot and Stone Sour, visited Houston on the US leg of his world tour following the release of his sophomore solo album CMF2. He brought along British rock group WARGASM and solo alternative/indie artist LUNA AURA as support.
LUNA AURA kicked off the show and compelled the audience with her stage presence and powerful vocals. The genre-bending Arizonan musician has opened for many other notable artists such as P!nk, Weezer and Muse. LUNA AURA released her latest EP THE FICTION September 14, which features five catchy rock tracks to add to her already exemplary discography. Her opening set included hit songs “HONEY” and “CRASH DRIVE” as well as a number of other riveting tracks. She had the crowd up and moving from start to finish and put on a truly entertaining performance.
WARGASM took the stage shortly after LUNA AURA. The British rock powerhouse performed a jaw-dropping set filled with energetic antics. The group consists of two vocalists, Milkie Way and Sam Matlock, who have fantastic on-stage chemistry. WARGASM released their latest single “Bang Ya Head (feat. Fred Durst)” from their upcoming album Venom on September 8. The band paid homage to Fred Durst by briefly playing “Break Stuff” by Limp Bizkit, getting the audience excited and capturing all attention. WARGASM’s setlist also featured their hit song “Spit.” which formed a circle pit and featured a stage dive from vocalist Sam Matlock. After a quick cover of “Fuel” by Metallica, the band wrapped up their set and exited the stage, making way for Corey Taylor and his band.
After a brief intermission, Corey Taylor began his set and put an end to the anticipation. Taylor kicked off the performance with his song “Post Traumatic Blues”, a single he released in July. He stepped away from his solo works with two Stone Sour tracks, “Tumult” and “Song #3”. Once the audience was warmed up after the first few songs, Taylor played one of Slipknot’s most famous tracks, “Before I Forget”. He was highly interactive with the crowd throughout the entire show, cracking jokes and waving at fans in between songs. Halfway through the night, he played a cover of the SpongeBob Squarepants Theme as the entire room sang along and laughed. He followed the comedic cover of the beloved theme song by playing “Snuff”, one of Slipknot’s saddest songs. To finalize his performance, Taylor sang two Stone Sour songs back-to-back, “Bother” and “Through Glass”. After him and his band exited the stage, the audience chanted for an encore. Moments later, he made his grand entrance back to the mic, sporting a Houston Astros jersey with CMFT embroidered on the back. Taylor ended his set with Slipknot’s most popular song, “Duality”, and a cover of “Ace of Spades” by Motörhead.
Corey Taylor is a true showman and amazing vocalist, proven by the sheer volume of fans who packed into House of Blues for his concert. He put on a breathtaking and entertaining performance, helping satisfy and create unforgettable moments for fans. Corey Taylor’s 2023 World Tour will continue until November 24, with the last stop being in Tilburg, Netherlands.
Listen to THE FICTION by LUNA AURA on Spotify and Apple Music.
Listen to “Bang Ya Head (feat. Fred Durst)” by WARGASM on Spotify and Apple Music.
Listen to CMF2 by Corey Taylor on Spotify and Apple Music.
I’m a Houston based photographer who loves being around live music and all the creative people involved in the local music scene. I enjoy capturing performers and artists doing what they love and the essence of how live music makes people feel. When Im not behind the lens, I love trying new things and visiting new places.
