Reunion & Reinvention: Will Wood on The Tapeworms’ First Full-Scale Tour

After years apart, Will Wood is reuniting with The Tapeworms for a tour like no other. This marks a major milestone — their first full-scale tour with a band, stepping up to bigger stages and crowds.

In this interview, we’ll dive into what fans can expect from the shows, how old material is being reimagined, and how Wood’s unique mix of music and comedy is evolving. Get ready for a blend of nostalgia, creativity, and surprises.

It’s been a while since you’ve toured with The Tapeworms. What’s it like getting back together with the band after all these years?

Will Wood: “To be honest, it would almost be more accurate to say this is the first time I’ve toured with a band. The most we ever did was little regional weekend runs with a minivan and a Uhaul, the rest was always super local one-offs. People might not realize this, but I’ve only ever toured for real with my solo act, so this will be my first time in a bus and my first time with a big crew. So it’s extra exciting to be back in the studio arranging the songs for the lineup and spending time with the guys.”

Can you tell us what fans can expect from the upcoming Tapeworms shows? How will these performances differ from past ones?

“Well, I think part of the fun of it for long-time fans is that they’ll get to experience the old days a bit, but I always want to be changing and growing as well, so I hope to bring people something that celebrates the ten-year mark in a way that reflects but also looks forward. I won’t give away too much. But I can at least say we’re all more proficient musicians than we were years ago, have a bigger budget, and will be playing on much bigger stages to much bigger crowds than the Tapeworms show was originally kind of designed for.”

Will Wood’s cat

You’ve described these shows as a reimagining of your earlier work. What elements of your past material are you most excited to rework or revisit live?

“I’ll be playing the more recent stuff too, but I’m always trying to kind of reimagine. Partially because I don’t even remember what I play on the record half the time, and I like to let ideas come to me on stage. Partially because the live lineup was never the same as the one on the record back in the day. I’ve always considered live performance to be a totally different art form than studio recording, so we don’t try to match the sounds, just capture the vibe and experiment with it from there, and that really lends itself to creativity both in rehearsal and in the moment.”

You’ve built a reputation for a unique blend of high-energy performance and theatricality. How do you plan to bring that dynamic to the stage this time around?

“I don’t want to spoil it for the band shows. I also don’t want to tell you my ideas and make promises I can’t keep when I end up having a different idea later on and going in an entirely different direction (laughs). But for the theatre shows, this time around I have a different approach to my writing process than I did when I was writing Slouching Towards Branson, and I hope it both surprises people while also giving them the kind of show they’ve come to expect.”

This tour will cover the eastern U.S., while your solo shows in August will focus on the western and southern U.S. What differences do you anticipate in the vibe of these two types of performances?

“Well for people who have been following my work for a little while, I think they know I sort of have two sides in a way (laughs). So, I think they know what to anticipate, head butting a keyboard and yelling nonsense on the East Coast, head butting a piano and speaking coherently on the West.”

Your solo shows are known for blending emotional depth with comedic elements. How do you balance these contrasting aspects in your performances, and do you see them playing off each other in new ways on this tour?

“Honestly, I don’t know yet. I’m always changing my approach to how I write my theatre shows, and for all I know, this one will be more traditional standup than usual, or maybe I’ll just spend the whole show trying to make people cry. I really enjoy the process of constructing an arc and trying to get people to sort of ‘gO oN a JoURnEy’ or whatever, but sometimes I just want to confuse people. I’m still learning how to have my fun, sometimes even at the audience’s expense, while also trying to give people something they find meaningful. Have my cake and eat it too. And sometimes the story or what-have-you doesn’t take shape until I’m halfway into the writing process.”

Will Wood’s cat

You’ve said that this tour will take your alt-comedy performance style to new heights. Can you give us a sneak peek into what that might look like for audiences?

“That might be press release hype, I mean sure I always want to try and outdo myself, but I think the thing that’s really different this time is the fact that it’ll be all theatres, not just cabaret/comedy clubs and bars.”

How do you hope new fans will experience your music and performances, especially given the mix of comedy and music you bring to the stage?

“A few years ago, there was a really rough adjustment period that was, I think, partially pandemic stuff, kids being kids, and people not knowing what to expect. There was an entire tour where kids who found me because of a viral clip came expecting a pop-rock act and were yelling stuff at me and each other the entire set, which obviously made doing what I do impossible. So I’m hoping that with more new fans, people get to experience what I do at all (laughs).

“I’ve had to develop techniques to deal with that, and that’s happened less and less though. So yeah, the hope is that they get something they can connect with on a personal level and have a few yucks in the process. As for the Tapeworms shows, I hope they don’t get hurt.”

You mentioned in a quote that you’re honoured but also intimidated by performing in venues like The Palace of Fine Arts. What does it mean to you to perform in such prestigious venues, and how does it shape your performance?

“It’s really gratifying. Flattering, exciting, yada yada. As much as it feels out of my league, it also feels like the right environment. Slouching Towards Branson was theatre, so moving to actual theatres with what I do this time feels like the logical next step, and hopefully will improve the experience of the audience. When I’ve done shows in theatres in the past, I’ve noticed it sort of instinctively affects my performing style. It brings a lot of intensity out of me, I sometimes get more dramatic, and bigger crowds can be harder, but also more rewarding. The stakes are higher, you know?”

Tour Dates:

05/16 – New York – Gramercy Theatre
05/17 – Brooklyn – Warsaw
06/13 – Rochester – Anthology
06/14 – Cleveland – The Roxy
06/16 – Minneapolis – First Avenue
06/17 – Chicago – Concord Music Hall
06/18 – Lansing – Grewal Hall
06/20 – Pittsburgh – Mr. Smalls Theater
06/21 – Allentown – Archer Music Hall
06/22 – Boston – Royale
07/11 – Washington – The Howard
07/12 – Carrboro – Cat’s Cradle
07/13 – Atlanta – Heaven at Masquerade
07/15 – Orlando – Plaza Live
07/17 – New Orleans – House of Blues
07/18 – Houston – House of Blues
07/19 – Dallas – House of Blues
08/20 – Denver – Paramount Theatre
08/23 – Portland – Newmark Theatre
08/24 – Seattle – Neptune Theatre
08/26 – San Francisco – Palace of Fine Arts
08/28 – Los Angeles – Wilshire Ebell Theatre
08/29 – El Cajon – The Magnolia
08/31 – Mesa – Mesa Arts Center
09/03 – San Antonio – Aztec Theatre
09/05 – Oklahoma City – Tower Theatre
09/07 – St. Louis – The Pageant