Marcy Playground formed in New York City although the band members were all from the Midwest. John Wozniak moved to the city from Minneapolis and developed a musical relationship with fellow Minneapolis native Dylan Keefe. Both had attended high school at the same time but did not know one another. Keefe’s friend from college Dan Rieser filled out the new group on drums, hailing from Ohio.
Wozniak cites being intimidated by other students during his time at Marcy Open, an experimental elementary school as a foundation for his future self. The band takes its name from the school and the playground, which ultimately Wozniak refused to visit due to his issues with other students.
Marcy Playground released their self-titled debut album in February 1997. Several months after the album’s release, rock radio picked up on the group’s single Sex and Candy, which pushed the album up the U.S. charts and, eventually, to platinum certification.
Marcy Playground was unable to avoid the sophomore jinx that affects so many bands who have a big success with their first release, but they were ultimately susceptible to the aforementioned “curse,” as the resulting album, 1999’s Shapeshifter, was widely panned by critics and sank from sight shortly after its release. The group shrank away from the spotlight but continued releasing albums.
During a hiatus, Wozniak bought a recording studio, Keefe went to work for NPR and Rieser went on tour with Norah Jones. By 2009 Wozniak had a new solo record, but that eventually morphed into a Marcy Playground album titled Leaving Wonderland. They then invited fans to remix the songs, releasing Remixes from Wonderland with the fans sharing in the royalties.
