XPN Fest Recap: Harmony Woods starts off Sunday with a sulblime set of sensitive rock

Harmony Woods | photo by Ashley Gellman for WXPN | agellmanphotos.com

If Sofia Verbilla was nervous stepping outside of the zone of dimly lit basements to play a massive festival, it didn’t show. Harmony Woods was effortlessly able to recreate the intimate vibe of jamming at a house show. Pink-haired and cat-eyed, Verbilla expressed gratitude and humility to be playing on the River Stage. “My dad used to take me to this festival as a kid, so playing it is so unreal.”

The band opened with two of their most popular hits, “The Best Things” and “Jenkintown-Wyncote,” off 2017’s Nothing Special. “The Worst Things” struck a note with me in particular, a string of diary-like thoughts and warm imagery detailing internal insecurity around a teetering relationship.

The three other band members exchanged knowing smiles and silently mouthed the lyrics to themselves, adding to the close-knit atmosphere. Harmony Woods closed with the drafty, “Ghosts.” “Death is not a stranger, every life will have an end / One day you will die and only ghosts will be your friend,” Sofia sang, her voice caressing each word. The band is anticipating the release of a new album; in the meantime, listen to the performance below, and check out a gallery of photos from the set.

Setlist
The Best Things
Jenkintown-Wyncote
Speckled
The Worst Things
Best Laid Plans II
Renovations
Ghosts