<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>NEPA Scene</title>
	<atom:link href="https://nepascene.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://nepascene.com/</link>
	<description>The best of NEPA arts and entertainment</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:08:39 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4</generator>
	<item>
		<title>PHOTOS/VIDEOS: Tigers Jaw acoustic set at Record Store Day at Gallery of Sound in Wilkes-Barre, 04/18/26</title>
		<link>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/photos-videos-tigers-jaw-acoustic-set-record-store-day-gallery-sound-wilkes-barre-4-18-26/</link>
					<comments>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/photos-videos-tigers-jaw-acoustic-set-record-store-day-gallery-sound-wilkes-barre-4-18-26/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich Howells]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:08:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Videos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[acoustic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gallery of Sound]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scranton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tigers Jaw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wilkes-Barre]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nepascene.com/?p=68930</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>About 200 music fans were lined up outside when Gallery of Sound opened its doors at 9 a.m. for Record Store Day on Saturday, April 18, and the Wilkes-Barre store remained just as busy throughout the day, culminating in a serene acoustic performance by Ben Walsh and Brianna Collins of Scranton indie rock band Tigers [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/photos-videos-tigers-jaw-acoustic-set-record-store-day-gallery-sound-wilkes-barre-4-18-26/">PHOTOS/VIDEOS: Tigers Jaw acoustic set at Record Store Day at Gallery of Sound in Wilkes-Barre, 04/18/26</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>About 200 music fans were lined up outside when <a href="https://galleryofsound.com" target="_blank">Gallery of Sound</a> opened its doors at 9 a.m. for <a href="https://recordstoreday.com" target="_blank">Record Store Day</a> on Saturday, April 18, and the Wilkes-Barre store remained just as busy throughout the day, culminating in a serene acoustic performance by Ben Walsh and Brianna Collins of Scranton indie rock band <a href="https://www.tigersjaw.com" target="_blank">Tigers Jaw</a> that included songs from their new album, <a href="https://tigersjaw.bandcamp.com/album/lost-on-you" target="_blank">&#8220;Lost on You,&#8221;</a> played live for the first time in that stripped-down format.</p>
<p>Singer/songwriter <a href="https://www.instagram.com/magicoquinn/" target="_blank">Mike Quinn</a> (<a href="https://okaypaddy.bandcamp.com" target="_blank">Okay Paddy</a>, <a href="https://andthemoneynotes.bandcamp.com" target="_blank">And The Moneynotes</a>) and local bands <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ifkansashadtrees/" target="_blank">If Kansas Had Trees</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/1800bitchhhhh/" target="_blank">1-800 BITCH</a> opened the free all-ages show, providing a great selection of original music on and off the shelves.</p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iBdjvGdyQLc?si=yHm9PYeK2yotmD3y" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nu5vD0oFjj0?si=x8lQSAMbpUSdBacK" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k8wzgwMcB9I?si=iMMmjYoUc4gN6cmJ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yvFHyIM2y8M?si=3sMZg78kH_MeoRoG" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Read more about Tigers Jaw and their new album <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/between-us-tours-scranton-indie-rockers-tigers-jaw-play-free-acoustic-show-gallery-sound-wilkes-barre-april-18/">here</a>.</p>
	<div
		class="legacy-flickr-grid"
		data-flickr-set-id="72177720333213907"
		data-flickr-per-page="24"
	>
		<p>Loading gallery...</p>
	</div>
	
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/photos-videos-tigers-jaw-acoustic-set-record-store-day-gallery-sound-wilkes-barre-4-18-26/">PHOTOS/VIDEOS: Tigers Jaw acoustic set at Record Store Day at Gallery of Sound in Wilkes-Barre, 04/18/26</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/photos-videos-tigers-jaw-acoustic-set-record-store-day-gallery-sound-wilkes-barre-4-18-26/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Between U.S. tours, Scranton indie rockers Tigers Jaw play free acoustic show at Gallery of Sound in Wilkes-Barre on April 18</title>
		<link>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/between-us-tours-scranton-indie-rockers-tigers-jaw-play-free-acoustic-show-gallery-sound-wilkes-barre-april-18/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[NEPA Scene Staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:18:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[acoustic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gallery of Sound]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scranton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tigers Jaw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wilkes-Barre]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nepascene.com/?p=59384</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>From a press release: Wrapping up the first leg of their coast-to-coast U.S. tour, Tigers Jaw will return to their hometown area for a free all-ages acoustic show at Gallery of Sound in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, April 18. The Record Store Day celebration begins when doors (186 Mundy St., Wilkes-Barre) open at 8 a.m. to [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/between-us-tours-scranton-indie-rockers-tigers-jaw-play-free-acoustic-show-gallery-sound-wilkes-barre-april-18/">Between U.S. tours, Scranton indie rockers Tigers Jaw play free acoustic show at Gallery of Sound in Wilkes-Barre on April 18</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>From a <a href="https://www.hopelessrecords.com/tigersjaw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">press release</a>:</em></p>
<p>Wrapping up the first leg of their coast-to-coast U.S. tour, <a href="https://www.tigersjaw.com" target="_blank">Tigers Jaw</a> will return to their hometown area for a free all-ages acoustic show at <a href="https://galleryofsound.com" target="_blank">Gallery of Sound</a> in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, April 18.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://recordstoreday.com" target="_blank">Record Store Day</a> celebration begins when doors (186 Mundy St., Wilkes-Barre) open at 8 a.m. to sell all kinds of special releases in limited quantities, followed by free entertainment throughout the afternoon. DJs <a href="https://www.instagram.com/randyskilz/" target="_blank">RandySkillz</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joenardonejr/" target="_blank">Joe Nardone Jr.</a> will spin vinyl at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. Live music from local artists <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ifkansashadtrees/" target="_blank">If Kansas Had Trees</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/1800bitchhhhh/" target="_blank">1-800 BITCH</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/magicoquinn/" target="_blank">Mike Quinn</a> (<a href="https://okaypaddy.bandcamp.com" target="_blank">Okay Paddy</a>, <a href="https://andthemoneynotes.bandcamp.com" target="_blank">And The Moneynotes</a>) starts at 4 p.m., and Tigers Jaw will headline at 6 p.m. with a stripped-down set.</p>
<p>The Scranton-based indie rock band&#8217;s new full-length record, <a href="https://tigersjaw.bandcamp.com/album/lost-on-you" target="_blank">&#8220;Lost on You,&#8221;</a> will be among the albums available to purchase on CD and vinyl in both bubblegum pink and blue, so they&#8217;ll be sticking around for a meet and greet to sign copies and take pictures with fans before getting back on the road next month with <a href="https://www.poolkidsband.com" target="_blank">Pool Kids</a>.</p>
<p>Recently released on March 27 via Hopeless Records, their seventh record and follow-up to their critically-acclaimed 2021 LP <a href="https://tigersjaw.bandcamp.com/album/i-wont-care-how-you-remember-me" target="_blank">&#8220;I Won’t Care How You Remember Me&#8221;</a> was produced/engineered by longtime collaborator Will Yip (The Menzingers, Title Fight, Turnstile, Movements) at his famed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Studio-4-Recording-100063476139782/" target="_blank">Studio 4</a> in Conshohocken and captures the energy and spirit of the live show the quintet &#8211; Ben Walsh (guitar, vocals), Brianna Collins (keys, vocals), Mark Lebiecki (guitar), Colin Gorman (bass), and Teddy Roberts (drums) &#8211; is known for.</p>
<p>The album’s exhilarating lead single, &#8220;Head Is Like a Sinking Stone,&#8221; <a href="https://nepascene.com/2025/12/scranton-indie-rockers-tigers-jaw-announce-2026-album-release-single-head-like-sinking-stone/">arrived last year alongside a music video</a> of tour footage shot by the band throughout the years and edited by Ricky Christian. Originating as a guitar riff written by their newest member Lebiecki and later completed by the band, Walsh noted the lyrics were inspired by a recurring dream from his childhood.</p>
<p>“When I was a kid, I had a strange recurring dream of jumping off the high dive at Nay Aug Park pool in Scranton, and after jumping in, time would just sort of freeze and I’d just be stuck there underwater,” he recalled.</p>
<p>“The premise was pretty terrifying, but the visual of sunshine reflecting on the ripples of water from the perspective of being beneath the surface was always kind of hauntingly beautiful. The chorus lyric sprung from a recollection of that dream and the rest followed. It serves as a kind of reminder to myself that beauty can be found in unexpected situations.”</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9XiuaoT0Zzg?si=hgj0h1gizMF3e-Rd" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Despite a person&#8217;s deepest desires, time only continues to move forward, slowly and incessantly. People attempt to understand the present through our conceptions of the past, and they hope to use that understanding to guide the future. These simple chronological divisions offer them a simple way to organize their lives &#8211; where they’ve been, where they are now, where they hope to be. Despite their connections, they feel disparate, always looking at one through the lens of another. On &#8220;Lost on You,&#8221; Tigers Jaw poses a much more holistic idea &#8211; everyone exists in all of these timelines at once.</p>
<p>With nearly five years since their last release, Walsh emphasized that the band “wanted to feel confident in the material we have and let things progress naturally.” And so they took their time finding what felt right, even though, of course, life continued on all around them. The result is a Tigers Jaw record as great as fans should expect. Songs like &#8220;Primary Colors&#8221; and &#8220;Baptized on a Redwood Drive&#8221; find the group embracing a driving midtempo similar to alt rock heroes Jimmy Eat World or Weezer, with other tracks like &#8220;Head Is Like a Sinking Stone&#8221; and &#8220;BREEZER&#8221; feeling so classic that the best reference is Tigers Jaw themselves. They sing about blades and knives, anxieties and intentions, and timeless TJ topics like two worlds and ghosts.</p>
<p>&#8220;The genesis of [the second single] ‘Ghost’ was a chance run-in with a person I grew up with,” Walsh explained.</p>
<p>“A run-in that would have been warm, welcomed, and cherished at one point in my life held no significance after the slow, steady passage of time and growing apart. The quick flash of memories with this person felt like a glimpse into a past life, or like seeing a ghost. Some people don&#8217;t stay in your life forever and that&#8217;s OK, but it&#8217;s very interesting which memories get dredged up when you see a once familiar face.&#8221;</p>
<p>The next single, “Primary Colors,” is a duet of lush interchanging vocals and harmonies between Walsh and Collins, complemented by a stunning video directed by Britain Weyant that mirrors the song’s bittersweet reflection on time and memory.</p>
<p>“‘Primary Colors’ is about being so wrapped up in the aftermath of something that it overwhelms your senses entirely, when you’re stuck somewhere between reflecting on the ‘what ifs’ and finding the resolve to move forward. We recreated that mental space in the music video as a performance space that had doorways to memories, journeying through a relationship from the very first sparks to the slow unraveling.”</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xYGFen7Mhog?si=QVI3thZ1P8lITK-5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>These songs are portals taking listeners between different parts of the band’s life and even people&#8217;s own lives, showing them how they can understand time not as a linear narrative but as something that is all real and knowable at once. They weren’t able to get here without starting somewhere else &#8211; somewhere fans can instantly recognize and relate to. And while where they are going may still be unknown to listeners, they can see traces of it here already. It’s uncertain but true, something they are constantly grappling with as time continues to inevitably pass. But there is beauty in it if they can accept it, finding contentment in just attempting to know themselves.</p>
<p>As Collins sings on &#8220;Primary Colors,&#8221; “I understand it all now / It’s not supposed to make sense.”</p>
<p>Tigers Jaw was originally formed in 2005 by Walsh and Adam McIlwee. Characterized by unconventionally catchy songs, weaving harmonies, and timelessly relatable lyricism, the band has been organically increasing its fan base over two decades of touring and releasing music. The duo recorded <a href="https://tigersjaw.bandcamp.com/album/belongs-to-the-dead-remastered" target="_blank">&#8220;Belongs to the Dead&#8221;</a> in 2006 using a cassette deck and cheap microphones in McIlwee’s garage, drawing heavy influence from The Microphones. Around this time, they also self-recorded &#8220;I’m on Your Side,&#8221; the “lost Tigers Jaw LP” that contained early versions of TJ songs. Soon after, they linked up with Run for Cover Records to re-release the <a href="https://tigersjaw.bandcamp.com/album/tigers-jaw" target="_blank">self-titled album</a> (originally released on CD by Scranton’s Prison Jazz Records), as well as <a href="https://tigersjaw.bandcamp.com/album/two-worlds" target="_blank">&#8220;Two Worlds&#8221;</a> (2010), <a href="https://tigersjaw.bandcamp.com/album/charmer" target="_blank">&#8220;Charmer&#8221;</a> (2014), and other EPs.</p>
<p>Following a lineup change in 2013, Tigers Jaw began touring full-time. Walsh and longtime member Collins took some time off in 2016 to write songs for a new album that became <a href="https://amzn.to/41AWvW5" target="_blank">&#8220;Spin,&#8221;</a> released in 2017 on Yip’s Black Cement Records. Their first major label release was praised by critics and cemented the group as a songwriting force, satiating longtime fans and gripping new listeners. Aptly described as the middle ground between Fleetwood Mac and Saves the Day, Tigers Jaw has managed to progress and evolve while preserving the spirit of their modest origins in the scrappy DIY Scranton punk scene.</p>
<p>Learn more about Collins, Tigers Jaw, and their previous album, &#8220;I Won’t Care How You Remember Me,&#8221; in Episode 204 of the NEPA Scene Podcast:</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BsP3vSehgus?si=2FG3alCAK7ygpUD5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/between-us-tours-scranton-indie-rockers-tigers-jaw-play-free-acoustic-show-gallery-sound-wilkes-barre-april-18/">Between U.S. tours, Scranton indie rockers Tigers Jaw play free acoustic show at Gallery of Sound in Wilkes-Barre on April 18</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>PENGUINS PHOTOBLOG: &#8216;Steamtown Gandy Dancers&#8217; ride the rails to victory</title>
		<link>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/penguins-photoblog-steamtown-gandy-dancers-ride-rails-victory/</link>
					<comments>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/penguins-photoblog-steamtown-gandy-dancers-ride-rails-victory/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Riedmiller]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:53:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Penguins Photoblog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hockey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mohegan Arena]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Penguins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[railroad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scranton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wilkes-Barre]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nepascene.com/?p=68909</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Rebranding the team for one night only to reflect local history, the &#8220;Steamtown Gandy Dancers&#8221; (old slang for railroad workers) hammered home a first-round bye in the Calder Cup Playoffs on the fourth annual Community Night at Mohegan Arena last night. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins clinched second place in the Atlantic Division, led by two goals [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/penguins-photoblog-steamtown-gandy-dancers-ride-rails-victory/">PENGUINS PHOTOBLOG: &#8216;Steamtown Gandy Dancers&#8217; ride the rails to victory</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Rebranding the team for one night only to reflect local history, the &#8220;Steamtown Gandy Dancers&#8221; (old slang for railroad workers) hammered home a first-round bye in the Calder Cup Playoffs on the fourth annual Community Night at <a href="https://www.moheganarenapa.com" target="_blank">Mohegan Arena</a> last night. The <a href="https://www.wbspenguins.com" target="_blank">Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins</a> clinched second place in the Atlantic Division, led by two goals from Aiden McDonough and 25 saves by Joel Blomqvist.</p>
	<div
		class="legacy-flickr-grid"
		data-flickr-set-id="72177720333070780"
		data-flickr-per-page="24"
	>
		<p>Loading gallery...</p>
	</div>
	
<div style="background-color: #F9F9F9; padding: 10px;"><em>The <strong><a href="https://nepascene.com/category/lifestyle/penguins-photoblog/">Penguins Photoblog</a></strong> captures exciting moments and players from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey games at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township.</em></div>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/penguins-photoblog-steamtown-gandy-dancers-ride-rails-victory/">PENGUINS PHOTOBLOG: &#8216;Steamtown Gandy Dancers&#8217; ride the rails to victory</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/penguins-photoblog-steamtown-gandy-dancers-ride-rails-victory/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>RAILRIDERS PHOTOBLOG: Home opener starts 2026 season off right</title>
		<link>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/railriders-photoblog-home-opener-starts-season-off-right/</link>
					<comments>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/railriders-photoblog-home-opener-starts-season-off-right/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Riedmiller]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:25:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RailRiders Photoblog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[baseball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moosic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PNC Field]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RailRiders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scranton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wilkes-Barre]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nepascene.com/?p=68895</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>With the team&#8217;s largest opening week attendance since 2019 cheering them on, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders rallied to defeat the Durham Bulls 7-6 in their home opener on Wednesday, followed on Thursday by a walk-off 5-4 win. PNC Field hosts a single admission doubleheader today starting at 4:35 p.m., making up for Tuesday&#8217;s weather-postponed game. Dominique [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/railriders-photoblog-home-opener-starts-season-off-right/">RAILRIDERS PHOTOBLOG: Home opener starts 2026 season off right</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With the team&#8217;s largest opening week attendance since 2019 cheering them on, the <a href="https://www.milb.com/scranton-wb" target="_blank">Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders</a> rallied to defeat the <a href="https://www.milb.com/durham" target="_blank">Durham Bulls</a> 7-6 in their home opener on Wednesday, followed on Thursday by a walk-off 5-4 win. <a href="https://www.milb.com/scranton-wb/ballpark/visitpncfield" target="_blank">PNC Field</a> hosts a single admission doubleheader today starting at 4:35 p.m., making up for Tuesday&#8217;s weather-postponed game.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/domkozuch/" target="_blank">Dominique Kozuch</a> contributed to this set of photos.</p>
	<div
		class="legacy-flickr-grid"
		data-flickr-set-id="72177720333030078"
		data-flickr-per-page="24"
	>
		<p>Loading gallery...</p>
	</div>
	
<div style="background-color: #F9F9F9; padding: 10px;"><em>The <strong><a href="https://nepascene.com/category/lifestyle/railriders-photoblog/">RailRiders Photoblog</a></strong> captures exciting moments and players from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders baseball games at PNC Field in Moosic.</em></div>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/railriders-photoblog-home-opener-starts-season-off-right/">RAILRIDERS PHOTOBLOG: Home opener starts 2026 season off right</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/railriders-photoblog-home-opener-starts-season-off-right/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>PENGUINS PHOTOBLOG: Skating into the final 4 home games</title>
		<link>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/penguins-photoblog-skating-into-final-4-home-games/</link>
					<comments>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/penguins-photoblog-skating-into-final-4-home-games/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Riedmiller]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:02:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Penguins Photoblog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hockey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Penguins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scranton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wilkes-Barre]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nepascene.com/?p=68902</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Playoff berth well in hand, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins skate into their last four games, all home, with a chance at a first-round bye. The test begins tomorrow versus the Cleveland Monsters at Mohegan Arena. The puck drops at 6:05 p.m. This set of photos was taken on April 3. The Penguins Photoblog captures exciting moments [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/penguins-photoblog-skating-into-final-4-home-games/">PENGUINS PHOTOBLOG: Skating into the final 4 home games</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Playoff berth well in hand, the <a href="https://www.wbspenguins.com" target="_blank">Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins</a> skate into their last four games, all home, with a chance at a first-round bye. The test begins tomorrow versus the <a href="https://clevelandmonsters.com" target="_blank">Cleveland Monsters</a> at <a href="https://www.moheganarenapa.com" target="_blank">Mohegan Arena</a>. The puck drops at 6:05 p.m.</p>
<p>This set of photos was taken on April 3.</p>
	<div
		class="legacy-flickr-grid"
		data-flickr-set-id="72177720333030108"
		data-flickr-per-page="24"
	>
		<p>Loading gallery...</p>
	</div>
	
<div style="background-color: #F9F9F9; padding: 10px;"><em>The <strong><a href="https://nepascene.com/category/lifestyle/penguins-photoblog/">Penguins Photoblog</a></strong> captures exciting moments and players from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey games at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township.</em></div>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/penguins-photoblog-skating-into-final-4-home-games/">PENGUINS PHOTOBLOG: Skating into the final 4 home games</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/penguins-photoblog-skating-into-final-4-home-games/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>NEPA SCENE PODCAST: Scranton DJs Cowgirl Pills and Nasstronaut open the decks</title>
		<link>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/nepa-scene-podcast-scranton-djs-cowgirl-pills-nasstronaut-open-decks/</link>
					<comments>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/nepa-scene-podcast-scranton-djs-cowgirl-pills-nasstronaut-open-decks/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich Howells]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:01:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NEPA Scene Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Podcasts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Backyard Ale House]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DJ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mutant Brewing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scranton]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nepascene.com/?p=68886</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Recorded weekly in the NEPA Scene Studio in the basement of Center City Print in downtown Scranton, the award-winning NEPA Scene Podcast presents honest, uncensored interviews and in-depth discussions about regional arts, entertainment, and the issues that matter to Northeastern Pennsylvania. Offering a true alternative voice in local media, the multi-camera show is the only [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/nepa-scene-podcast-scranton-djs-cowgirl-pills-nasstronaut-open-decks/">NEPA SCENE PODCAST: Scranton DJs Cowgirl Pills and Nasstronaut open the decks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Recorded weekly in the NEPA Scene Studio in the basement of <a href="https://centercityprint.com" target="_blank">Center City Print</a> in downtown Scranton, the award-winning <a href="https://nepascene.com/category/art/nepa-scene-podcast/">NEPA Scene Podcast</a> presents honest, uncensored interviews and in-depth discussions about regional arts, entertainment, and the issues that matter to Northeastern Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>Offering a true alternative voice in local media, the multi-camera show is the only live streaming, in-person podcast of its kind in the area, produced in high definition on NEPA Scene’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nepascene" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/nepascene" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nepascene" target="_blank">Instagram</a> on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.</p>
<p>Host Rich Howells, the founder and editor of NEPA Scene, encourages viewers to tune in during the interview, which typically runs between an hour and two hours, to add their own questions and comments that will be addressed by the end of the episode.</p>
<p>The NEPA Scene Podcast is made possible by Center City Print, bringing ideas to life in three locations &#8211; Scranton, Kingston, and Hazleton. These one-stop shops are locally owned and operated, providing high-quality print products at affordable prices. From business cards, brochures, and banners to posters, flyers, and tickets, their custom design solutions and exceptional customer service can make any project a reality. Use promo code NEPASCENE in person or online at <a href="https://centercityprint.com" target="_blank">centercityprint.com</a> for 10 percent off.</p>
<p>In Episode 231, we sat down with award-winning Scranton DJ duo <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561995910138" target="_blank">Cowgirl Pills</a> and their friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580918293885" target="_blank">Nasstronaut</a>. Dylan and Eilish are teaming up with Mike Nasser to host a new bi-weekly open decks night at <a href="https://www.backyardalehouse.com" target="_blank">Backyard Ale House</a> in Scranton starting April 9, so we talked about how they discovered electronic music and became DJs, what being a couple adds to the Cowgirl Pills dynamic, hustling to find steady work and turn DJing into a full-time job, building their playlists and repertoire over the last few years, how Cowgirl Pills winning &#8220;Best New Artist&#8221; at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SteamtownMusicAwards" target="_blank">Steamtown Music Awards</a> helped them get to the next level, the local DJ scene and giving up-and-coming DJs a chance to break in, behind-the-scenes stories of good times and gigs gone wrong, Mike&#8217;s time in the band <a href="https://lasersex.bandcamp.com" target="_blank">Laser Sex</a> and Dylan&#8217;s original music as a solo acoustic artist, Nasstronaut launching out of Backyard and into <a href="https://mutantbrewing.com" target="_blank">Mutant Brewing</a>, and more.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UsdTkYaPzUo?si=bUuxKyM7M6tt_dtA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/04/nepa-scene-podcast-scranton-djs-cowgirl-pills-nasstronaut-open-decks/">NEPA SCENE PODCAST: Scranton DJs Cowgirl Pills and Nasstronaut open the decks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://nepascene.com/2026/04/nepa-scene-podcast-scranton-djs-cowgirl-pills-nasstronaut-open-decks/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>NEPA SCENE PODCAST: Stroudsburg power pop/punk rock band Don&#8217;t Panic thanks you &#8216;For Your Consideration&#8217;</title>
		<link>https://nepascene.com/2026/03/nepa-scene-podcast-stroudsburg-power-pop-punk-rock-band-dont-panic-thanks-you-for-your-consideration/</link>
					<comments>https://nepascene.com/2026/03/nepa-scene-podcast-stroudsburg-power-pop-punk-rock-band-dont-panic-thanks-you-for-your-consideration/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich Howells]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:49:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NEPA Scene Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Podcasts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[punk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sherman Theater]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stroudsburg]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nepascene.com/?p=68883</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Recorded weekly in the NEPA Scene Studio in the basement of Center City Print in downtown Scranton, the award-winning NEPA Scene Podcast presents honest, uncensored interviews and in-depth discussions about regional arts, entertainment, and the issues that matter to Northeastern Pennsylvania. Offering a true alternative voice in local media, the multi-camera show is the only [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/03/nepa-scene-podcast-stroudsburg-power-pop-punk-rock-band-dont-panic-thanks-you-for-your-consideration/">NEPA SCENE PODCAST: Stroudsburg power pop/punk rock band Don&#8217;t Panic thanks you &#8216;For Your Consideration&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Recorded weekly in the NEPA Scene Studio in the basement of <a href="https://centercityprint.com" target="_blank">Center City Print</a> in downtown Scranton, the award-winning <a href="https://nepascene.com/category/art/nepa-scene-podcast/">NEPA Scene Podcast</a> presents honest, uncensored interviews and in-depth discussions about regional arts, entertainment, and the issues that matter to Northeastern Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>Offering a true alternative voice in local media, the multi-camera show is the only live streaming, in-person podcast of its kind in the area, produced in high definition on NEPA Scene’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nepascene" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/nepascene" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nepascene" target="_blank">Instagram</a> on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.</p>
<p>Host Rich Howells, the founder and editor of NEPA Scene, encourages viewers to tune in during the interview, which typically runs between an hour and two hours, to add their own questions and comments that will be addressed by the end of the episode.</p>
<p>The NEPA Scene Podcast is made possible by Center City Print, bringing ideas to life in three locations &#8211; Scranton, Kingston, and Hazleton. These one-stop shops are locally owned and operated, providing high-quality print products at affordable prices. From business cards, brochures, and banners to posters, flyers, and tickets, their custom design solutions and exceptional customer service can make any project a reality. Use promo code NEPASCENE in person or online at <a href="https://centercityprint.com" target="_blank">centercityprint.com</a> for 10 percent off.</p>
<p>In Episode 230, we sat down with vocalist/guitarist Ted Felicetti of Stroudsburg power pop/punk rock band <a href="https://www.dontpanicofficial.com" target="_blank">Don’t Panic</a>, who have a nearly sold-out album release show coming up this Friday, March 27 at the <a href="https://shermantheater.com/venue/sherman-showcase/" target="_blank">Sherman Showcase</a>. We talked about all 10 tracks on their upcoming album <a href="https://dontpanic.bigcartel.com" target="_blank">“For Your Consideration;”</a> their unique comeback story that led them to produce four albums in seven years; hitting the road with Bowling for Soup, Less Than Jake, The Ataris, Alien Ant Farm, The Spill Canvas, and more; the rising costs of touring and making it as an independent band; running a Patreon and creating engaging content for fans; Ted also working as a booking agent; playing the Rock Boat “floating music festival;” their next tour with Driveways, Like Roses, and Action/Adventure in August; and more.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wSxm_KHjG4o?si=YrTpbEjpbbhAWtLx" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/03/nepa-scene-podcast-stroudsburg-power-pop-punk-rock-band-dont-panic-thanks-you-for-your-consideration/">NEPA SCENE PODCAST: Stroudsburg power pop/punk rock band Don&#8217;t Panic thanks you &#8216;For Your Consideration&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://nepascene.com/2026/03/nepa-scene-podcast-stroudsburg-power-pop-punk-rock-band-dont-panic-thanks-you-for-your-consideration/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>SONG PREMIERES: NEPA dark wave artist Zeu doubles down on &#8216;Sympathy&#8217; and &#8216;Nostalgia&#8217; in troubling times</title>
		<link>https://nepascene.com/2026/02/song-premieres-nepa-dark-wave-artist-zeu-doubles-down-sympathy-nostalgia-troubling-times/</link>
					<comments>https://nepascene.com/2026/02/song-premieres-nepa-dark-wave-artist-zeu-doubles-down-sympathy-nostalgia-troubling-times/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich Howells]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 20:50:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Avoca]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mountain Top]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[premiere]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wilkes-Barre]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nepascene.com/2026/02/song-premieres-nepa-dark-wave-artist-zeu-doubles-down-sympathy-nostalgia-troubling-times/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Piercing the darkness, beams of light suddenly perforate the pitch black, illuminating just enough of the void to form the frame of some kind of doorway. Giving off an ominous red glow, is this a way out of the cold and seemingly endless absence or will this mysterious gateway lead to something even more sinister? [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/02/song-premieres-nepa-dark-wave-artist-zeu-doubles-down-sympathy-nostalgia-troubling-times/">SONG PREMIERES: NEPA dark wave artist Zeu doubles down on &#8216;Sympathy&#8217; and &#8216;Nostalgia&#8217; in troubling times</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Piercing the darkness, beams of light suddenly perforate the pitch black, illuminating just enough of the void to form the frame of some kind of doorway. Giving off an ominous red glow, is this a way out of the cold and seemingly endless absence or will this mysterious gateway lead to something even more sinister?</p>
<p>The cover art for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091153030877" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zeu&#8217;s</a> double single of &#8220;Sympathy&#8221; and &#8220;Nostalgia&#8221; subliminally invites listeners to reach out and open this foreboding passage, illuminating singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Matthew Zedolik&#8217;s somberly poetic thoughts on both concepts.</p>
<p>&#8220;The passage of time really inspires me. If you look at old family photos, it seems like yesterday but they were from 20 years ago. I’m in the same body, but it has aged and I’m slowly dying. Sometimes memories or experiences really have a hold on us; those experiences cause us to feel a certain way and impact us for the rest of our life. The pain from the feeling of nostalgia makes us uniquely human,&#8221; he shared.</p>
<p>&#8220;It’s no secret the state of the world isn’t great for how far we&#8217;ve come as a society and species. It seems pointless to try and work hard or be a good person in 2026. The massive fallout from the loss of white and blue collar jobs due to AI seems inevitable. Currently, evil is winning, and we were told as a country we were the good guys when we might be the villains. People are kind to each other when they need something and want to manipulate you; as the chorus of &#8216;Sympathy&#8217; goes, &#8216;Sympathy is never free.'&#8221;</p>
<p>Both songs are premiering today exclusively on NEPA Scene as they reveal themselves on <a href="https://zeu-zeu.bandcamp.com/album/sympathy-nostalgia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bandcamp</a> and all major streaming platforms, including <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7pUryw1B0qfvk0V9QgBVvA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/sympathy-nostalgia-single/1876597174" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple Music</a>. Despite the heavy subject matter covering this rapidly decaying society, the 35-year-old Mountain Top native layered catchy, even upbeat-sounding rhythms underneath the gothic dark wave/neofolk tunes he has become known for in the Northeastern Pennsylvania music scene, creating a vibrant vibration that pulses throughout the 11 tracks on his upcoming record.</p>
<p>&#8220;I have a mullet. I love &#8217;80s music. I love Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Simple Minds, and all of those synth, punk, and new wave bands. A lot of the songs on this new record have more of an &#8217;80s wave feel. As time goes on, I’ve just been enjoying writing catchier music with Zeu,&#8221; he explained.</p>
<p>&#8220;I haven’t released new music in over a year. People were asking when I was going to release something new &#8211; I felt it was time. I’m constantly recording and writing. Sometimes I just have to put a stop to it and release music.&#8221;</p>
<p><iframe style="border: 0; width: 450px; height: 622px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1804731833/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/" seamless=""><a href="https://zeu-zeu.bandcamp.com/album/sympathy-nostalgia">Sympathy / Nostalgia by Zeu</a></iframe></p>
<p>After playing in various metal bands throughout high school, Zedolik debuted his solo project <a href="https://www.instagram.com/zeuovzeu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zeu</a> in 2014 and has gone on to produce singles, EPs, and seven albums while also playing indie and folk rock in local bands like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/americanbuffaloghost" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">American Buffalo Ghost</a> and <a href="https://theordinals.bandcamp.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Ordinals</a>. His latest full-length, 2024&#8217;s <a href="https://zeu-zeu.bandcamp.com/album/body-songs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;Body Songs,&#8221;</a> proved to be his most satisfying release yet, both artistically and publicly.</p>
<p>&#8220;It felt great. I always seem to spend some time writing an album that has a common artistic vision &#8211; sonically, lyrically, and stylistically; it feels good to finally release that piece of work,&#8221; the Avoca resident noted.</p>
<p>&#8220;The reception was better than I could have imagined. It was extremely positive locally, nationally, and online. It did well with the local indie/alternative punk scene I’m currently in, as well as with people I couldn’t picture normally listen to Zeu. [The singles] <a href="https://zeu-zeu.bandcamp.com/track/black-tongue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8216;Black Tongue&#8217;</a> and &#8216;Out of Time&#8217; have been staples of my live shows. I will always write music, but it’s cool to have one of two songs that resonate with a larger group of people.&#8221;</p>
<p>In 2023, in his <a href="https://nepascene.com/2023/08/song-premiere-nepa-music-scene-gothic-dark-wave-neofolk-solo-project-zeu-sticks-out-black-tongue/">first and only interview about Zeu</a> until now, he premiered &#8220;Black Tongue&#8221; via NEPA Scene and has since let the music speak for itself, performing in established and underground venues alike with a wide variety of area artists.</p>
<p>&#8220;&#8216;Body Songs&#8217; put me out there and got a lot of people interested in Zeu. All of the shows have been great. I don’t think I’ve played a show where I was unhappy with the turnout of the performance.&#8221;</p>
<p>His most memorable show during that time was on June 29, 2024, when he played the DIY venue Spacement Arts in Wilkes-Barre and captured it all for a free live EP he later dubbed <a href="https://zeu-zeu.bandcamp.com/album/the-obsolete-man" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;The Obsolete Man.&#8221;</a></p>
<p>&#8220;I love live bootlegs. I went down a rabbit hole of listening to live bootlegs from The Stooges. Some bands have such a cool sound live, whether it’s less perfect, more visceral, or heavier. Sometimes it’s really hard to replicate it in a studio setting. I was really happy with the way my live sound was evolving. It was heavier, louder, noisier, and just sounded different than the recordings. Brian Emmert from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DasBlackMilk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Das Black Milk</a> recorded [my] set from Spacement Arts and I thought it would be a cool <a href="https://zeu-zeu.bandcamp.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bandcamp</a> treat for fans,&#8221; he recalled.</p>
<p><center><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55105700160_b5e1bba674_c.jpg" rel="lightbox"><img decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55105700160_b5e1bba674_z.jpg" /></a></center>&#8220;It was also my tribute to Spacement Arts; the venue is no longer open. I’ll be 36 in March, and I have been playing music since I was 15. I’ve been around long enough now where I’ve seen venues and scenes come and go. Our area always had such a cool underground music scene that doesn’t get represented or given exposure like it should. Bobby [Robair] at Spacement did such a good job at giving those bands a platform to play and showcase their music. It’s always a battle in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to keep a venue open that focuses on original music.&#8221;</p>
<p>That war begins with writing new music that&#8217;s worth fighting for, which doesn&#8217;t seem like much of a struggle for Zedolik, judging by his ever-growing catalog that continues to build up behind the scenes.</p>
<p>&#8220;I actually started work on new records in March of 2024 before &#8216;Body Songs&#8217; was released. I like to have a recording done and sit for a while before I release it. &#8216;Nostalgia&#8217; was written in March of 2024, and &#8216;Sympathy&#8217; was written in December of 2025. I wrote and recorded around three records of material with slightly different sounds, one of them that features &#8216;Sympathy&#8217; and &#8216;Nostalgia&#8217; with a predominately new wave feel and will have tentative release for spring/summer 2026.&#8221;</p>
<p>The as-yet-untitled album will be 46 minutes of what may be his most accessible work yet.</p>
<p>&#8220;Musically, it’s more synth pop and new wave. Lots of drum machines, synths, and shimmery guitars. Pretty music juxtaposed by sad lyrics. Waves all around,&#8221; he described.</p>
<p>&#8220;The singles represent the album very well. I always prided myself on stylistically diverse albums, but this new one is the most consistent album in my discography. If you love new wave, dark wave, synth pop, or anything with synths or drum machines, this album will be your jam.&#8221;</p>
<p>That doesn&#8217;t mean he&#8217;s losing his edge or cynicism towards the future, however, as he joked about &#8220;just trying to stay alive in 2026&#8221; when asked about his plans for this year. Once the album is out, he hopes to play as many shows as he can, though looking back at that glowing doorway, he could only offer one guess as to what&#8217;s behind it.</p>
<p>&#8220;It seems to be the nightmare world that awaits us.&#8221;</p>
<p><center><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55104440282_94bfcb30ea_c.jpg" rel="lightbox"><img decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55104440282_94bfcb30ea_z.jpg" /></a></center></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2026/02/song-premieres-nepa-dark-wave-artist-zeu-doubles-down-sympathy-nostalgia-troubling-times/">SONG PREMIERES: NEPA dark wave artist Zeu doubles down on &#8216;Sympathy&#8217; and &#8216;Nostalgia&#8217; in troubling times</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://nepascene.com/2026/02/song-premieres-nepa-dark-wave-artist-zeu-doubles-down-sympathy-nostalgia-troubling-times/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Wilkes-Barre metal trio The Virgos sign to record label as &#8216;Pennsylvania&#8217;s heaviest band&#8217;</title>
		<link>https://nepascene.com/2025/12/wilkes-barre-metal-trio-virgos-sign-to-record-label-pennsylvania-heaviest-band/</link>
					<comments>https://nepascene.com/2025/12/wilkes-barre-metal-trio-virgos-sign-to-record-label-pennsylvania-heaviest-band/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[NEPA Scene Staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:34:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Doug's Board Room]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kingston]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[metal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Olyphant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wilkes-Barre]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nepascene.com/2025/12/wilkes-barre-metal-trio-virgos-sign-to-record-label-pennsylvania-heaviest-band/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>From a press release: Declaring themselves &#8220;the heaviest band in Pennsylvania,&#8221; The Virgos are ushering in a new age of &#8220;true heavy metal.&#8221; In 2017, after 10 years of setting the standard for hardcore and metal with Bad Seed, Harm’s Way, and Nails, vocalist/guitarist Andy Saba met his spiritual sister in sound, vocalist/bassist Danni Crockett [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2025/12/wilkes-barre-metal-trio-virgos-sign-to-record-label-pennsylvania-heaviest-band/">Wilkes-Barre metal trio The Virgos sign to record label as &#8216;Pennsylvania&#8217;s heaviest band&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>From a <a href="https://www.season-of-mist.com" target="_blank">press release</a>:</p>
<p>Declaring themselves &#8220;the heaviest band in Pennsylvania,&#8221; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theevirgos" target="_blank">The Virgos</a> are ushering in a new age of &#8220;true heavy metal.&#8221;</p>
<p>In 2017, after 10 years of setting the standard for hardcore and metal with Bad Seed, Harm’s Way, and Nails, vocalist/guitarist Andy Saba met his spiritual sister in sound, vocalist/bassist Danni Crockett (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/RosaryGuild" target="_blank">Rosary Guild</a>). A shared love of off-roading, firearms, anti-imperialism, and the discography of Bathory gave root to a philosophy and a purpose. The two found another kindred spirit in drummer Eli Gerrity, who joined their pursuit because he truly just wants to rock.</p>
<p>&#8220;We decided it was time to let the apocalyptically loud horses of metal run free again and shine a light on every color of the dark rainbow of metal,&#8221; Saba said, utterly sick and tired of all the posers out there.</p>
<p>Channeling thick Sabbathian rhythms, Crowbar’s skull-splitting sludge, Manowar&#8217;s majesty, and the hypnotic ass-shaking grooves of Queens of the Stone Age, the Wilkes-Barre power trio unleashed their third and finest full-length album, <a href="https://thevirgos.bandcamp.com/album/lord-have-mercy" target="_blank">&#8220;Lord Have Mercy,&#8221;</a> on Aug. 22, delivering 38 minutes of headbanging fury.</p>
<p>&#8220;&#8216;Lord Have Mercy&#8217; is a triumph in multiple heavy musical styles,&#8221; Swim into the Sound wrote in a recent review.</p>
<p>&#8220;Fans of everything from melodic hardcore to goth rock to stoner metal will be able to find something to love here.&#8221;</p>
<p>While familiar to lovers of Heaven and Hell, Into Glory Ride, Type O Negative, Corrosion of Conformity, and Lucio Fulci, the album&#8217;s full-throttled blast of psychedelic pyrotechnics and hallucinogenic worship music was recorded by Joe Loftus at <a href="https://jl-studios.net" target="_blank">JL Studios</a> in Olyphant, then mixed by producer and engineer Taylor Young at The Pit in Los Angeles, sounding unlike anything else coming out of Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nLPvBv9HoUY?si=ouTNacLV8Q4i3H8S" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>&#8220;The theme of &#8216;Lord Have Mercy&#8217; is that we missed out on the future,&#8221; Saba shared.</p>
<p>&#8220;Utopia isn&#8217;t happening. We&#8217;re going backwards now. Superstition, devilry, war, plagues, revolution&#8230; it&#8217;s the Dark Ages again, so let&#8217;s get with the times. Medieval times call for medieval responses. If you want to understand the headspace I was in while writing this album, watch Fulci&#8217;s 1983 movie <a href="https://amzn.to/4j9J6w1" target="_blank">&#8216;Conquest&#8217;</a> several dozen times. It&#8217;s all in there.&#8221;</p>
<p>Following a run of singles from 2021-2023, the triumvirate vowed to release a new album every year, starting with 2023&#8217;s <a href="https://thevirgos.bandcamp.com/album/pennsylvania-death-trip" target="_blank">&#8220;Pennsylvania Death Trip.&#8221;</a> They kept their promise with a live record, <a href="https://thevirgos.bandcamp.com/album/road-to-noxen-live" target="_blank">&#8220;Road to Noxen,&#8221;</a> in 2024, followed by &#8220;Lord Have Mercy.&#8221;</p>
<p>That record’s heavy, hard, and horny single “Yes,” which has a music video directed by Kyle Barber that just premiered two weeks ago, attracted international record label <a href="https://www.season-of-mist.com/bands/the-virgos/" target="_blank">Season of Mist</a>, who signed the group and re-released their discography on all major streaming platforms ahead of their forthcoming fourth album. Known for being an innovative and wide spectrum label that explores and develops new artists and bands, Season of Mist represents well-known acts such as Heilung, Rotting Christ, and Cryptopsy, as well as rising stars like Eihwar, Sylvaine, and TEMIC.</p>
<p>After opening for Superheaven and White Reaper in Maryland, New Jersey, and New York this month, The Virgos are ready for a hometown gig that will also serve as a &#8220;Lord Have Mercy&#8221; vinyl release at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Dougs-Board-Room-100085469303898/" target="_blank">Doug&#8217;s Board Room</a> (310 Market St., Kingston) on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planningforburial/" target="_blank">Planning for Burial</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ifkansashadtrees" target="_blank">If Kansas Had Trees</a>, Powers That Be, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/1800bitchhhhh/" target="_blank">1-800 BITCH</a>. Admission is $10 at the door.</p>
<p>They are also set to headline &#8220;A Night of Evil and Speed&#8221; at <a href="https://songbyrddc.com/event/the-virgos/" target="_blank">Songbyrd Music House</a> (540 Penn St. NE, Washington, D.C.) on Friday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. with Funeral Dancer, Troncale, and Ninth Realm. Tickets, which are $19.32, are on sale now via <a href="https://dice.fm/partner/tickets/event/avy89x-the-virgos-9th-jan-songbyrd-washington-dc-tickets" target="_blank">DICE</a>. More 2026 dates will be announced soon.</p>
<p><em>Photo by Kyle Barber</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2025/12/wilkes-barre-metal-trio-virgos-sign-to-record-label-pennsylvania-heaviest-band/">Wilkes-Barre metal trio The Virgos sign to record label as &#8216;Pennsylvania&#8217;s heaviest band&#8217;</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://nepascene.com/2025/12/wilkes-barre-metal-trio-virgos-sign-to-record-label-pennsylvania-heaviest-band/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Scranton Skalidays picks up bigger lineup and venue for 4th annual festival on Dec. 20</title>
		<link>https://nepascene.com/2025/12/scranton-skalidays-picks-up-bigger-lineup-venue-4th-annual-festival-dec-20/</link>
					<comments>https://nepascene.com/2025/12/scranton-skalidays-picks-up-bigger-lineup-venue-4th-annual-festival-dec-20/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich Howells]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2025 05:36:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clarks Summit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dickson City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[music festival]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Jersey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[punk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ritz Theater]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scranton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ska]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Union Vapors 570]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://nepascene.com/2025/12/scranton-skalidays-picks-up-bigger-lineup-venue-4th-annual-festival-dec-20/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>To most people, the holidays mean Christmas trees, Santa Claus, snow, manger scenes, and other traditional symbols of the season. To Ray Meoni, it means upbeat rhythms, brass sections, skanking in a circle, and a music festival that has become a new Scranton tradition. The 29-year-old West Side native is the founder of Skalidays, an [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2025/12/scranton-skalidays-picks-up-bigger-lineup-venue-4th-annual-festival-dec-20/">Scranton Skalidays picks up bigger lineup and venue for 4th annual festival on Dec. 20</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>To most people, the holidays mean Christmas trees, Santa Claus, snow, manger scenes, and other traditional symbols of the season.</p>
<p>To Ray Meoni, it means upbeat rhythms, brass sections, skanking in a circle, and a music festival that has become a new Scranton tradition.</p>
<p>The 29-year-old West Side native is the founder of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/4106166112956378" target="_blank">Skalidays</a>, an annual concert that packs as many lively local and touring ska punk bands into one cold December day as possible. It started at The Keystone Stage and continued with renting spaces like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClarkysBillards/" target="_blank">Clarky&#8217;s Billiards</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stmcscranton/" target="_blank">St. Mary&#8217;s Center</a>, turning pool halls and old ballrooms into mosh pits. For its fourth go-round on Saturday, Dec. 20, they’ve picked up enough steam to upgrade to <a href="https://www.theritztheater.com" target="_blank">The Ritz Theater</a> (222 Wyoming Ave., Scranton), a true music venue equipped to handle all eight bands, including headliners <a href="https://www.catch22official.com" target="_blank">Catch 22</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/follynj/" target="_blank">Folly</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;The first three years were held to bring ska shows back to the area more regularly, have more local bands of the genre shown in the spotlight, and make an experience for all ages to enjoy. I am happy that I can still continue to do this year after year, building it to now being able to bring it over to The Ritz and having national acts on the lineup,&#8221; he enthused.</p>
<p>&#8220;Ska music, for me, was something that I got into when I was young and it never left. It takes me back to when I first started going to shows in general. Ska shows specifically were some of the first shows I went to see. It’s also where I met the majority of my friends. Two shows that really stick with me are Queeftober Fest and seeing B-Side Bastards in the basement of <a href="https://www.everythingnaturalpa.com" target="_blank">Everything Natural</a> [in Clarks Summit].&#8221;</p>
<p>Meoni is the kind of promoter who attends more shows than he books, making music a lifestyle rather than a profession. Wanting to see more hardcore, punk, metal and, of course, ska shows in the Scranton area led to him starting <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DiavoloBooking" target="_blank">Diavolo Booking</a>, which has hosted events throughout Lackawanna County since 2022. He has always relied on friends and connections he has made over years in the scene to make it all happen but, in particular, the increasingly ambitious Skalidays have required many more elves working overtime to produce this festive gift to music fans of all ages.</p>
<p>&#8220;None of it would be possible just doing it alone. I would not be anywhere near where I am now without some of my best friends, Kyle Johnson from Amplified Backline Services and Justin Goreschak and Teresa Whitehouse from <a href="https://ionicdevelopment.com" target="_blank">Ionic Development</a>,&#8221; he emphasized.</p>
<p>Admittedly, it took Johnson yelling at him last time to realize that he needed way more help if a fourth time was ever going to happen, so he teamed up with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/riotsquadmedia/" target="_blank">Riot Squad Media</a>, the independent powerhouse behind <a href="https://www.camppunksylvania.com" target="_blank">Camp Punksylvania</a>, to make this one for the books.</p>
<p>&#8220;Last year was an eye-opener on how I can’t be the only one organizing something like this and I need a team to help me. This venue will make you feel that you are actually at a music festival, more than past years,&#8221; Meoni noted.</p>
<p>&#8220;Working with Riot Squad has been the best experience I could ask for, needing the help to start bringing on bigger bands and making Skalidays the biggest it’s ever been. None of this would be possible without [CEO and co-founder] Laura Rose.&#8221;</p>
<table class="image" align="center">
<caption align="bottom"><strong>Ray Meoni performing with Noskaratu at Skalidays in 2023.</strong></caption>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54991917267_d83bfb96ec_c.jpg" rel="lightbox"><img decoding="async" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54991917267_d83bfb96ec.jpg"></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p></p>
<p>In addition to &#8220;ska legends&#8221; Catch 22 and Folly, he said <a href="https://keepflying.band" target="_blank">Keep Flying</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/workingclassstiffsofficial/" target="_blank">Working Class Stiffs</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thechemicalimbalancenj" target="_blank">The Chemical Imbalance</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheWhatNows" target="_blank">The What Nows?!</a> will be returning for their second year as &#8220;fan favorites&#8221; alongside festival newcomers and &#8220;heavy hitters&#8221; <a href="https://www.stopthepressesmusic.com" target="_blank">Stop the Presses</a> and <a href="https://pinkslipska.com" target="_blank">Pink Slip</a>. Doors open at 4 p.m., and the music starts at 5 p.m. General admission tickets, which are $43.78 (all fees included), are on sale now via <a href="https://www.tixr.com/groups/riotsquadmedia/events/circuit-breaker-scranton-skalidays-157124" target="_blank">Tixr</a>. Use promo code RIOT25 for 25 percent off.</p>
<p>Unable to contain it all in one day, Riot Squad and Diavolo added a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/846834918088557" target="_blank">Scranton Skalidays Pre-Show</a> at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unionvapors" target="_blank">Union Vapors 570</a> (1945 Commerce Blvd., Dickson City) with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Farfromaugust" target="_blank">Prize Fighter</a>, <a href="https://www.thesquanches.com" target="_blank">The Squanches</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RatfightPA/" target="_blank">Goblin City Rat Boys</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Fire-Set-By-Kings-61568005224507/" target="_blank">Fire Set By Kings</a> on Friday, Dec. 19. Admission is $10 at the door.</p>
<p>&#8220;Choosing the bands for me is always the fun part. I always love to bring something new every year or even try to get a reunion from a band that hasn’t played in a while. This year specifically, with it being four years of doing this, I wanted to bring in a bigger band that lot of people in this area haven’t seen in a while. On top of that, my love for hardcore will always stay somewhere in the lineup, as well as some two-tone and the mozzarella sticks-loving ska everyone enjoys. I want to present something where everyone can have their little slice of whatever they like, and it’s nice to break up the genre a little bit,&#8221; he explained.</p>
<p>&#8220;There’s a ton of surprises in store for this year &#8211; a lot of things can’t be said. Just know this year is going to be completely insane, so if you’re sleeping on tickets, I recommend waking up and grabbing a ticket now!&#8221;</p>
<p>Meoni may wear his love of ska like a black-and-white suit with a checkerboard hat, even fronting his own short-lived band <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089087441462" target="_blank">Noskaratu</a>, but he isn&#8217;t doing all of this just for himself.</p>
<p>&#8220;There’s a ton of people that will come up to me at Camp Punksylvania, letting me know how much they love Skalidays and saying they can’t wait for the next one. For a lot of people, this is a yearly thing for them. A lot of people drive five hours or more just to come to Scranton for a ska fest, and I just think that’s awesome. I’m sure there’s a few people who have been to the festival in the past, loved it, and now they secretly love ska, which is so sick to me,&#8221; he beamed.</p>
<p>&#8220;My favorite thing is being able to see all of my friends I met along the way showing up, and it’s almost like a family reunion. A lot of my friends that work with Camp Punksylvania that I don’t really get to see that often, they all make it down, and just being in the same room and enjoying something you put on is an experience unlike anything else. Also being able to see some of my friends who are parents actually able to go out to shows and bring their kids is awesome. They get to show their kids the experience they had when they were younger, which that is why I started Skalidays to begin with. I missed seeing my friends being able to go to shows, so I took it upon myself to throw a festival right around the holiday so they have something to do with their kids.&#8221;</p>
<p>Learn more about Meoni, Skalidays, and his former band Noskaratu in Episode 182 of the NEPA Scene Podcast:</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QOzpbLY8fNY?si=4ZIefBJFW8FcLaDk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><em>Photo of The Chemical Imbalance by <a href="https://jasonriedmillerphoto.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jason Riedmiller Photography</a>, photo of Noskaratu by Rich Howells/<a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://nepascene.com/2025/12/scranton-skalidays-picks-up-bigger-lineup-venue-4th-annual-festival-dec-20/">Scranton Skalidays picks up bigger lineup and venue for 4th annual festival on Dec. 20</a> appeared first on <a href="https://nepascene.com">NEPA Scene</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://nepascene.com/2025/12/scranton-skalidays-picks-up-bigger-lineup-venue-4th-annual-festival-dec-20/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
