PHOTOS: Will Wood and the Tapeworms, The Cryptid, Static in the Attic, and Harambe at Levels in Scranton, 03/14/18
Levels Bar & Grill in downtown Scranton is typically home to college dance parties with DJs and cover bands, but on Wednesday, March 14, the venue hosted something decidedly different and unlike anything else going on in the local music scene at the moment… or possibly ever.
Avant-garde, experimental pop rock group Will Wood and the Tapeworms, known for their theatrical, sold-out live performances in their home state of New Jersey, played their first show in Scranton with Avoca indie rock band The Cryptid, Carbondale blues rock trio Static in the Attic, and Jermyn psychedelic rockers Harambe. While their new live album, released exactly one month before that night, is excellent, “The Real,” doesn’t compare to witnessing their music spring to life and spill out onto the floor, breaking the typical barrier between band and audience as Will Wood and other members of the band danced with the crowd and ran up and down the first and second floors.
With a kinetic energy that didn’t let up, the quirky quintet packed passion, emotion, humor and, most importantly, fun into their nearly hour-long set that was broken up by the shrewdly funny ramblings of Wood, who stood on his keyboard between songs and explained the inspiration and creative mindset behind their work. With his third eye painted on his forehead, Wood ended with a sardonically amusing solo tune called “The Most Important Thing in the World,” reminding everyone that they’re going to die someday in the most lighthearted way possible.
While the audience was much smaller than it should have been, it was attentive and eager to talk to the band afterward about what they had witnessed, which they’re likely still processing today.
See NEPA Scene’s photos of Will Wood and the Tapeworms playing at Trophy Scars’ 15th anniversary show last year here, learn more about the band in this You Should Be Listening To feature, and watch their entire performance in a video taken from NEPA Scene’s Facebook Live stream below:
