One of our region’s most popular bands, Wreckless Marci, is performing at the third annual Zombie Fest scheduled Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park, located at 145 Front St. in Owego, N.Y. Taking the stage from 3:45 to 5 p.m. and again from 5:30 to 7 p.m. are from bottom left, lead guitarist Craig Palmer, lead vocalist and guitarist Sonny Weeks, bass player Mark Sedlock and drummer Matt Jensen. (Provided photo)
One of our region’s most popular bands, Wreckless Marci, is performing at the third annual Zombie Fest scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24 from 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant and Draper Park located at 145 Front St. in Owego, N.Y.
Owego’s Zombie Fest, a free event for all ages, will feature three live bands and a professional dance studio performance, along with face painting, a haunted house and the not-to-miss “Zombie Walk” around downtown Owego. Taking place at Draper Park and the Parkview Hotel and Restaurant, which is registered on New York’s Haunted History Trail, Zombie Fest will bring the undead out of the woodwork for a howling good time.
A Southern Tier favorite for 15 years, Binghamton-based Wreckless Marci will take the stage from 3:45 p.m. until 5 p.m. and then again from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The headliner for Owego’s Friday Night Strawberry Festival Block Party earlier this year, and self-described as “The Craziest Party Band” in our area, Wreckless Marci is staged to deliver two extremely high energy and interactive sets for Zombie Fest-goers.
Wreckless Marci is comprised of lead guitarist Craig Palmer, drummer Matt Jensen, lead vocalist and guitarist Sonny Weeks, and bass player Mark Sedlock.
Palmer, a founding member along with Jensen, was trying to put together an Allman Brothers Tribute Band when he first met Jensen more than 15 years ago. The duo instead opted to pair their talents and go in a different direction, which in the end paid off.
Eventually, two more members were added to form the four-member band now known as Wreckless Marci. Named by a previous band member from California who suggested the band name from west coast surfer slang, the name was unique, and it stuck.
The name Wreckless Marci is now well known around the Southern Tier music scene, and is becoming more familiar with fans of all ages at major events like Zombie Fest. Palmer said that today, with the culmination of talents of each member, the band is the best it has ever been.
Palmer shared, “We’re playing the best we’ve ever played, and we get along with each other, too.” That aspect is a positive one, Palmer commented, and he added, “It’s not always the case for every band.”
A native of Northeast Pennsylvania, Weeks has been with Wreckless Marci for three years, and Sedlock, a Binghamton native, has been with the band for five years. Palmer and Jensen are also Binghamton natives. More proof that they are playing better than ever, the band took home second place out of 40 bands in last year’s “Battle of the Bands” at the Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs.
Now playing nearly every Friday and Saturday night to packed venues, along with other special events, Wreckless Marci has also proven to be one of the Southern Tier’s most sought-after bands.
Performing an eclectic mix of songs from rock to rap to songs that bring the audience to their feet and out on the dance floor, Zombie Fest-goers will hear Marci play covers from Tom Petty, Neil Young, 3 Doors Down, Green Day and Pink Floyd, to name a few, but will also be amazed at their delivery of songs from the likes of Miley Cyrus and Miranda Lambert.
“We play to please the crowd, and we like to see them up and dancing,” said Palmer.
Also performing at Owego’s Zombie Fest are the Recycled Zombies, Gri Eli featuring Eli Van Shephard and Kathy Hansen’s School of Dance performers. Separate entertainment feature stories will showcase each band and performers.
For more information, find Wreckless Marci, Owego Zombie Fest and Owego’s Parkview Hotel and Restaurant on Facebook. To learn more about the haunted history trail, visit www.hauntedhistorytrail.com.
