Concert Recap: Fountains of Wayne

I finally had the chance to see my favorite band from my high school days. Power-pop quartet Fountains of Wayne played a stellar set at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, N.C. To my surprise, my friends and I were some of the youngest people there, surrounded by a lot of 40+ year-old couples who weren't afraid to headbang lightly when appropriate. Opening for FoW was the less than exciting group, The Stars Explode. My friends and I showed up late, anxiously awaiting FoW and attempting to miss the opening act.

After The Stars Explode cleared the stage and many excruciating minutes of waiting, FoW took the stage. Surprisingly, I quickly found myself wondering if I had wasted my money. Lead singer Chris Collingwood's guitar pedals were not working and his guitar was inaudible. A roadie worked quickly to resolve the situation and Collingwood had to repeat a verse of "I've Got a Flair" from their self-titled release (1996). After a few songs, the band settled in and proceeded to rock out, playing a good mix of newer and older material. Even without the synthesizers that are present in so many of their recorded songs, the band managed to present a full sound, and Jody Porter, lead guitarist, didn't miss a note in his solos.

Notable numbers include "Radiation Vibe", where FoW showed off their ability to play measures of classic rock songs, then quickly return to the original tune. "Hey Julie" from Welcome Interstate Managers (2003) featured the percussive work of three members of the crowd. "Valley Winter Song" was befitting for the evening, given the bitter, blustery cold weather outside. In the encore, "Stacy's Mom" was rearranged into a slow, jazz piano-infused tune, perhaps taking a stab at the crowd members who came hoping only to hear this one-hit wonder. All in all it was a great show, but one can only hope for a better opening act if they return to the area.