Yet it wasn’t just the wins in five major categories that had a surging band – dominated by familiar names with strong ties to area communities – feeling the power of adulation and satisfaction on this particular night.

“You realize a couple of things when you’re up there (being honored),” said Waller, a Manson native and the co-founder of the group that formed in 2021. “First, it’s about the journey – not the destination. We all put in the work, and I guess that puts us in position to be nominated, but success isn’t defined by whether or not you’re (recognized with awards). It’s a much bigger picture than that.

“You also see the incredible bond and relationships you build through the MCMO, and how supportive we all are of each other. And at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about: bringing country music to the Midwest and creating a scene to be a part of together.”

Waller is the band’s primary songwriter, while also handling lead vocals and guitar. His name is first on the marquee, but Waller insists this is a true collaborative effort among all members of the group.

Emilee Johnson, who was born in Fort Dodge and grew up in Eagle Grove, is another lead vocalist and guitar player. Ronley King, from Gowrie, plays lead guitar. Manson native Ethridge Netz (bass) and Fort Dodge’s Kaleb Ferry (drums) are the other original members of the band, which recently added Joshua Rex of West Des Moines (fiddle) and Blake Van Houten (tour manager/media/photography/merchandise) as well.

The sound – an honest, hard-hitting blend of country and rock rooted in the black dirt soul of north-central Iowa and the Midwest in general – is relatively new to mainstream listeners. Their music has struck a chord with fans, peers and critics alike, pushing Cory Waller & The Wicked Things from a regional bar staple into the big picture of the genre’s future.

“Cory sent me a text that said he was getting a group together and asked if I would join,” Johnson said. “It was pretty much a no-brainer. I had played with Cory in another band called Salty View a few years back, and we hit it off and harmonized well together.

“We all met at River Hops Brewery (in Fort Dodge) and everything clicked by the first practice. We knew we had something special.”

Being on the same page on the stage was the easy part. Keeping the band together – given the sheer number of members, the fact that they all have day jobs and the constant travel requirements – takes nearly as much work as creating the music itself.

Waller admits it isn’t always easy, but sharing a common goal brings everything together.

“We have seven people rowing in the same direction,” Waller said. “And we all take ownership. This isn’t just my thing or Emilee’s thing – it’s everyone’s thing. It takes blood, sweat and tears from everyone involved to get to where we are. We all have and use our own talents and areas (of expertise).

“Again, it gets back to the grind of the journey. You get up and go to another gig or write another song. You put thousands of miles on your van. You share memories and you make music. We know who we are and what we want, and we prioritize it. We’re betting a dream on it happening for us.”

At the MCMO Awards, Cory Waller & The Wicked Things landed Song of the Year (“Steal A Car”), Album of the Year (“Redfield”) and Entertainer of the Year honors for 2024.

Johnson garnered Female Vocalist of the Year recognition, and Waller was tabbed the Songwriter of the Year.

“A bunch of emotions ran through my head,” Johnson said of the flurry. “From disbelief, to excitement, to ‘holy crap – we did it!’ It’s such a humbling experience, just being nominated. To win and be recognized in a room full of peers who are out there doing the same thing as you…it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe.

“Incredible.”

Cory Waller & The Wicked Things are currently lined up for 31 shows in the next four months, from this Saturday in Rockwell City to gigs in Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

The title track for their upcoming EP, “Golden Buckle,” will hit the airwaves on July 18. In addition to releasing “Redfield” last July, the band also put out “The Way I’m Living” in January of 2024.

“It’s not all sunshine and roses, but nothing in life is,” Johnson said. “It’s a lot of hard work all week long to get to the weekend and perform. Long days, longer nights, a lot of time spent away from loved ones and plenty of missed celebrations. We are all so lucky to have strong support systems at home who let us chase our dreams. We would be nothing without them.

“I think our main goal as a band is to make music for the Midwestern working class. All of our songs are derived from our friendship and experiences. It’s our passion, and I think you can hear that in our music. We’ve always been of the mindset that if it’s good for the goose, it’s good for the gander. If something needs to be revamped or altered in some way, we talk about it as a group and come to a decision democratically.”

Waller knows that regardless of the band’s success or popularity moving forward, staying true to themselves and their sound keeps them both grounded and headed in the right direction.

“You have to find a balance and keep having those conversations about who you are and what success looks like to you,” Waller said. “One thing that’s cool about your sound is that you can keep tweaking, keep evolving and be exploratory. See what works and what doesn’t. But we’re doing it together. We found out pretty early on that we have something special that people gravitate to. It’s honest, it’s original and it’s sincere.

“The music we create is a direct reflection of our friendship.”