Bike Night fills the streets of Owego; Black Sabbath Tribute band to take the stage on Wednesday

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky for Bike Night last Wednesday, bringing hundreds of motorcycles to downtown Owego and for a performance by Wreckless Marci. LaBella Rae Bridal and The New York Tanning Spa sponsored the standing room only event. 

Other sponsors for the event include Southern Tier Harley Davidson, who was also on hand last Wednesday with some motorcycles; Allstate Insurance Lounsbury Agency, who serves as the presenter of Bike Night in Owego; The Owego Pennysaver; Armstrong House of Music; The Haircolor Café; and Upstate Shredding. Area businesses also support the event by advertising in the Bike Night program guide, which is available, for free, at each event.

On Wednesday, Bike Night will welcome Band of Doom, a Black Sabbath Tribute Band, for a 6:30 performance.

Band of Doom originally formed in 2013 under a different name and with a different line-up. Following Black Sabbath’s recent retirement, they decided to remount a Black Sabbath tribute band, this time calling it Band of Doom.

Freddy Villano (bass player) first met Wayne Arthur (guitarist) through an ad on Craigslist after Freddy moved to Ithaca and was searching for new members to play with. Freddy and Bo Matheson (drummer) already knew each other from Long Island, which was their hometown, and where they started to get involved in the music business. 

Sean Monroe, the band’s Ozzy, was soon recruited by Wayne through Craigslist, and Band of Doom was born. The band tends to focus on the Ozzy-era, emphasizing the swing and jam-band elements that made Sabbath so unique.

They immerse themselves in Sabbath’s early 70’s hippie vibe more than the black leather heavy metal shtick they’re most commonly associated with.

Band of Doom has never played at Bike Night and they are excited to entertain everyone attending on July 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

In addition, the Tioga County Historical Society and Museum, located along Front Street where the motorcycles at Bike Night are prominently displayed each week, will be opening their doors for two hours to offer guests a viewing of the Monarch Motorcycle.

Built in Owego from 1908 to approximately 1917, the Ives Manufacturing Company began production making what historical documents noted to be an experimental, lightweight automobile that was nicknamed “the cycle-car”.   

The motorcycle, at a weight of 115 lbs., is currently on display at the museum, and carries with it an interesting history. In 1901, the Owego Business Men’s Association was formed to induce manufacturing industries to locate in Owego by helping to defray some of the costs of moving. The Reliance Motorcycle Company moved from Elmira Heights in December of 1907 and opened in Owego in August 1908 at 444 Main St.

You can view the Monarch Motorcycle at the museum between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m.

To learn more about Bike Night at Owego’s Parkview, you can follow them on Facebook.