Today's Cult Hero for Tomorrow's Cabaret Up Close and Personal with Will Wood of Will Wood & the Tapeworm
Song
River: Does our mixed up world still embrace the avant-garde? Are
they still open to the glam/cabaret/perfunctory deluge of 'outside
the norm' rock n roll?
Will
Wood: The world has always been mixed up, and the intent of the
avant-garde has always been to subvert what’s embraced. Most of the
avant-garde is trash- all the artist seems to want to do is challenge
preconceived standards of what is “good” music is. In other
words; make bad music. I’d rather challenge preconceived standards
of what is “avant-garde.” I’m looking to do to the avant-garde
what Green Day did to punk rock.
You
can come like us before we’re cool on August 11th
at Roxy & Dukes, for the recording and filming of our upcoming
live album/concert film. Part One, The Real Will Wood, sold out in a
matter of weeks, and The Real Will Wood Part Two: The Real Will Wood
and the Tapeworms is already halfway to sold out, and you can snag
tickets here: willwoodandthetapeworms.bigcartel.com/category/tickets
SR:
Reason for the oxymoron is it seems we are a minimalist effort
society at times, yet we bombard ourselves with yelling about
whatever makes us angry. Wondering truly how much of this opposing
and conflicting at times societal attitude is playing its part on the
music scene. Your thought possibly more in-depth?
Will
Wood: I looked out my back window today and there was a small
androgynous child wandering around my yard in pajamas with a pair of
hedge clippers just singing some old tune. I think it was from
“Hello, Dolly!” but I’m not entirely sure. Maybe it was
“Oklahoma.” Either way, the thing is still out there and somebody
better pick their fucking kid up or I’m gonna start taking potshots
with my BB gun. You know what I mean?
The
burgeoning sun still casts shadows of our past over breadcrumbs we’ve
left in our wake. Much like the borrowed light of the moon, we are
merely reflections of the center of everything. There is a paradigm
shift upon the twisting horizon and we will greet it with filthy
hands and rusted teeth on its winding trajectory of fear on August
11th at Roxy & Dukes.
 |
| PC: Mark Jaworski |
SR:
Are Americans, is the world looking for a Cult Hero again? Something
larger than life but still attainable to inject themselves into.
Will
Wood: I have seen the light until blind, and used nothing but
echolocation and my inner radar to navigate the path to the Truth of
All that Is. Wielding my pineal gland like a diamond cutter, I will
guide the sick and ashamed to the boundaries of reality and push them
over the edge of the map like a baby bird from the nest. Humanity
seeks beyond their means.
In
other words, I hope so, ‘cause my daughter’s gotta eat and I
can’t afford my medication anymore. Buy tickets to August 11th
here: willwoodandthetapeworms.bigcartel.com/category/tickets
SR:
How does WWATT include the masses?
Will
Wood: Y’all are all invited! Tune into these vibrations, hep
cats, come get your kicks with the in crowd. I also ain’t above
selling this here soul if some suit with a hot stack is buyin’.
There’s
this sick notion going around that somehow “the masses” are too
thick to pull their head out of the top 40 stations and try something
new. They’re not, they’re as sick of the same old thing as
everyone else. We all want novelty- it’s the reason people do
drugs, have sex with strangers, go on road trips, and do drugs. We
just don’t always know where to look. Put me on blast I’ll show
you that the you can still get down to the beat of something
off-beat.
Great
opportunity to do that would be August 11th at Roxy &
Dukes, featuring Gypsy Punk giants Bella’s Bartok.
SR:
How many different things are taking place simultaneously in the
music video “Hand Me My Shovel, I’m Going In!”?
Will
Wood: Define “things taking place.” What I can tell you is
the lovely ladies on the trapeze hoop are joining us with their
high-flying circus act on August 11th at Roxy & Dukes.
Hanging from the rafters, contorting, spinning, kicking me in the
head. These thrillingly skilled creeps are bringing spectacle to the
stage- the whole thing is going to be shot in 4K HD with Hi-Fi sound
and Sci-Fi lights. GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
SR:
The meld with Mark Jaworski really solidified this project. How did
you all connect/meet and give us some inside details on the original
meeting, and what transpired while creating this flick?
Will
Wood: Mark is a real worldly spirit, and an otherworldly
character. We’ll be getting together to eat a block of sandstone he
stole from King Rameses’ tomb and absorb the nutrients of its
history sometime in the next couple of weeks. Drenched in homemade
marinara of course. Hopefully his feet aren’t still all cut up from
the broken glass he stepped in during the shoot. Lots of smoke and
lots of time spent trying not to choke on confetti or let too much
glitter get under our eyelids.
Which
reminds me, I almost forgot: if you like glitter, chaos, and blood;
come see us at Roxy & Dukes on August 11th! Tickets
are on sale now from willwoodandthetapeworms.com !
SR:
What is it about those Jersey musicians that make them march to their
own unique prowess?
Will
Wood: We’re soaked in an over-saturation of one-dimensional
hardcore screamers and pop punk whiners. Knee deep in banality and
what’s been done a thousand times. The genres aren’t exactly
taking new submissions right now. But if you look in the right places
at the right times, you can hear some genuinely unique original acts
blossoming on the scene. What’s got them popping up? Maybe there’s
something in the water. Maybe it’s the pressure-cooker culture
that’s twisting people’s heads until they can’t help but
express something entirely different. Maybe it’s the growing drug
problem.
One
of the right places and right times is ROXY AND DUKES ON AUGUST 11TH
WILL WOOD AND THE TAPEWORMS ARE PLAYING A BIG OL’ SHOW WITH A
9-PIECE BAND, TRAPEZE ARTISTS, AND BELLA’S BARTOK TICKETS ARE
LIMITED FOUR HAVE SOLD SINCE I STARTED ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS AND
THERE’S BARELY ENOUGH ROOM FOR 175 PEOPLE IN THIS PLACE. COME ON
DOWN!!!
SR:
WWATT is it a Clockwork Orange or more of an Alice in Wonderland
movement?
Will
Wood: What?
SR:
Are those Marks feet on the piano top?
Will
Wood: Yup! Before they started bleeding with shards of glass from
shattered religious candles sticking through his toes. Trooper didn’t
even go the hospital, he just pulled them out with his fingers and
tossed ‘em aside.
That
fucking kid is still outside. Stay here, I’m getting the BB gun.
SR:
How did the young lady's tattoo turn out?
Will
Wood: 
SR:
Is the universe ready for foreign scales?
Will Wood: Well
we’re gonna find out on August 11th at Roxy &
Duke’s! BECAUSE THE WHOLE UNIVERSE IS GONNA BE THERE OH WOW HOT
DAMN YOU BETTER GET YOUR TICKET QUICK HOOOO-WHEE.
SR:
When can we expect the release of this full project and what is next
on the menu?
Will
Wood: I can’t tell you that, unfortunately. May be releasing it
through a pretty substantial international indie label. May be doing
it DIY. Depends on the time frame. But as soon as it’s out…
ANYONE WHO BOUGHT TICKETS TO THE REAL WILL WOOD PART ONE OR THE REAL
WILL WOOD AND THE TAPEWORMS AT ROXY & DUKES ON AUGUST 11TH
WILL GET A FREE COPY!
SR:
Would you consider adding to your menu shrunken heads?
Will
Wood: Not really my thing.
