Roughly 15 years later, and millions of records removed (almost all of them sold in the late ‘90s - an era that feels like eons ago), John Wozniak is headed back to Olympia.

And he's bringing the band that took him away in the first place, Marcy Playground, with him.

If you came of age, musically speaking, during a similar period in time as this hack writer, you're probably moderately familiar with the Marcy Playground story - or at least the band's "hit," the radio friendly "Sex and Candy." The song came from Marcy Playground's platinum selling, self-titled, major label debut, released by Capitol Records in '97 and highlighted a grunge stained take on folk rock and the occasional children's rhyme. "Sex and Candy" - the record's second single, following "Poppies" and achieving considerably more success - spent 15 weeks atop Billboard's, "Modern Rock" chart, and the album managed to spawn two more singles, "Saint Joe on the School Bus," and "Sherry Fraser."

Which, in a way, brings us to Olympia's place in the story.

Before any of this late '90s success, and even farther before the dry spells and depressions that would follow it, Wozniak was just your typical Evergreen State College student, basking in the creative possibilities that swelled out of Olympia's music scene in the early '90s. His girlfriend was Sherry Fraser, and though romantically the relationship wouldn't last forever, the friendship would. Fraser, as good music fans will note, is also the founder of Two Ton Boa.

When I ask Wozniak what he's most looking forward to about returning to Olympia, the answer comes quickly and effortlessly.

"Seein' Sherry Fraser," he tells me, noting when the band plays the Royal Lounge on Friday, June 11, it'll be Marcy Playground's first ever appearance in Olympia.

In 2009, Marcy Playground released its fourth full-length record, the personal and surprisingly different Leaving Wonderland... in a fit of rage. Initially conceived as a solo effort, and with a writing process that was more of a "therapy" session for Wozniak (who was depressed and going through a breakup) than something ever meant to materialize into a Marcy Playground record, the band's Olympia performance will provide fans a chance to see a side of Marcy Playground never captured on corporate, mega-radio.

Wozniak, a product of alternative schooling and the child of college professors, says he first heard of Evergreen as a sixth-grader growing up in Minnesota. He knew it was for him, even early on, and still credits his experiences in Olympia as major influences over his life and music.

"I only applied to Evergreen," says Wozniak. "I grew up around colleges, and I didn't want to do it if it wasn't on my own terms."

Wozniak arrived in Olympia in '92, as historians of culturally significant underground music can tell you, a time rife with important activity in our state's capitol - and a period when the entire Northwest scene was in the process of exploding. Nirvana had just broke, after all, but what Wozniak mostly remembers about his time in Olympia are things like chumming with Kimya Dawson, before either were even remotely famous, and checking out Unwound shows.

"Huge," says Wozniak, when asked to quantify the influence Olympia has had on him. "It was a musical awakening. There was a musical renaissance going on, and there was definitely a vibe. I had my own style, and people loved it. Different is good (in Olympia).

"I made sure we played there (on this tour)."

In many ways Marcy Playground - or the basis for Marcy Playground - was born in Olympia, so it may seem odd the band has never played there. A funny thing happened, you see; being the liberal arts college it is, Wozniak completed what's known as an independent contract during his last quarter at Evergreen, an experience where, with the help of a faculty advisor, Wozniak was able to create his own curriculum and course plan.

The contract called for Wozniak to secure a record deal by the end of the quarter. You can imagine the look of surprise on his professor's face when Wozniak, after relocating to New York mid term to be closer to Capitol Records headquarters, produced just such a contract, having been signed to Capitol by Clive Davis' son.

"It was obvious I had to leave," says Wozniak, explaining Capitol's interest was contingent on him relocating from Olympia. "They told me they really couldn't sign if I was going to be in Olympia. When opportunity knocks, you have to take advantage of it."

Remarkably, Wozniak hasn't been back to Olympia since - a wrong finally to be righted next week.

"We always felt like we were robbed a little because ‘Sex and Candy' was such a hit," explains Wozniak. "At this point in my life, it's just about proving to ourselves that we're a really fucking great band."

Marcy Playground

Friday, June 11, 7 p.m., $20
The Royal Lounge, 311 Capitol Way N., Olympia
360.705.0760