Will Wood Brings A Safe Place to Rochester, NY

Leo Janto
11 minutes ago
2 min read

Seeing Will Wood live at Anthology in Rochester, NY – my hometown – was more than just a concert. It started with a free pre-show earlier in the day, open to anyone who wanted to stop by. That gesture alone said a lot about the kind of experience Will wants to create: welcoming, accessible, and community driven.

The energy carried into the main performance, which felt deeply personal and thoughtfully put together. Early on, he joked that people probably assume his songs are about “being gay, suicide, Buddhism, and drugs.” It was a funny moment, but also surprisingly accurate – his music dives into heavy topics without ever feeling too self-serious. It’s honest, and people connect to that.

Looking around the venue, I noticed that most of the crowd seemed to be part of the queer community. There was a strong sense of safety and mutual understanding in the room. Will’s music clearly resonates with people who are looking for a space to be themselves, and he’s built that space through both his art and through the way he engages with his audience.

Being up front, I saw a lot of dancing and even a few attempts at crowd surfing. He interacted with the crowd throughout the night – resting his foot on a fan’s shoulder during one song (with their full support), and later grabbing someone’s phone and briefly incorporating it into the performance. Moments like that made the show feel present and alive.

What really set his performance apart was how theatrical it was. The songs themselves felt like they belonged in a musical. He used props, like a dial telephone that distorted his voice to sound like a recorded message, which added a creative texture to the set rather than distracting from it.

Visually, Will’s makeup stood out, striking and intentional. I’ve always admired how he expresses himself through style as much as through sound. It adds another layer to his performance that feels honest rather than performative.

Seeing Will Wood in my hometown made the experience even more meaningful. His show was expressive, well-crafted, and emotionally open, lingering long after the last note.

All photos by Leo Janto for Zany Waves