Fountains of Wayne

Fountains of Wayne were an American power-pop band formed in 1995 in New York City by singer-guitarist Chris Collingwood and bassist Adam Schlesinger, who met at Williams College. The lineup was rounded out by guitarist Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young, and the band took its name from a lawn-ornament store in Wayne, New Jersey. Their sound blended crunchy power-pop guitars with wry, novelistic lyrics about suburban American life, drawing comparisons to Cheap Trick and Big Star while carving out a distinctly witty, character-driven niche.

The band built a cult following through the late 1990s before breaking through commercially with «Welcome Interstate Managers» in 2003, whose single «Stacy’s Mom» became an MTV staple and earned a Grammy nomination. Songs like «Hey Julie», «Mexican Wine» and «Bright Future in Sales» showcased Schlesinger and Collingwood’s knack for hook-laden storytelling. Beyond the band, Schlesinger was a prolific songwriter and producer, co-writing the Oscar-nominated song «That Thing You Do!» and working extensively in film, television and theater.

Fountains of Wayne released five studio albums before going on hiatus in the early 2010s. Adam Schlesinger died in April 2020 from complications of COVID-19, effectively ending any prospect of a reunion. The band is remembered as one of the sharpest power-pop acts of its era, praised for marrying catchy melodies with deceptively literate lyrics.