FOUNTAINS OF pop rock/ Quirky Fountains of Wayne make own splash in

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Nov 14, 2003 | by BILL REED

The guys in Fountains of Wayne are known for their intelligent, quirky lyrics, for crafting stories rather than just ditties, for elevating the 31/2- minute pop song to an art form.

So, naturally, one finds these urbane, sophisticated New Yorkers in a Hooters in Phoenix, where songwriter Adam Schlesinger is stuffing his face with cheese fries.

"We've been to more Hooters than I would care to admit in a newspaper," Schlesinger says, "but I guess I just did."

Fountains of Wayne (named after a lawn ornament shop in New Jersey) are on tour with matchbox twenty, which Schlesinger likes because he's "playing to 8,000 people instead of 800." He'll see another 8,000 when the tour hits the World Arena tonight.

But Fountains of Wayne aren't riding anyone's coattails. This band is making an infectious, sing-along noise of its own in the popular music world.

"Ticket sales kind of dropped off, and then we came back and reminded people and played a little hook of 'Stacy's Mom' and mentioned Fountains of Wayne were coming and the ticket sales spiked considerably for a couple weeks," says Bobby Irwin, operations manager at KKMG (Magic 98.9 FM). "Once we started hyping Fountains of Wayne, we captured a whole different audience."

Until recently, Schlesinger's biggest hit was a solo effort, writing the title tune for the Tom Hanks movie "That Thing You Do!" The catchy tune earned him an Oscar nom for Best Original Song in 1997.

Meanwhile, Fountains of Wayne scored minor hits - "Radiation Vibe" in 1997 and "Denise" in 1999 - off their first two albums. Tastemakers took notice, as MOJO Magazine included their debut album among "The Greatest Albums of All Time" and Entertainment Weekly put Fountains of Wayne on the "It List" in 2002.

With the new album "Welcome Interstate Managers," Fountains of Wayne have finally merged into the mainstream. The song "Stacy's Mom" is a bona fide hit, moving up to No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week, with the video (starring Rachel Hunter as the hot mom) topping the charts on VH1.

Schlesinger says the most surreal "Stacy's Mom" moment so far came during a football game, as the Seattle Seahawks cheerleaders busted out a routine to his song.

"That's when you know it's turning into 'Who Let the Dogs Out'" Schlesinger says. "Which was always our goal. We want to be the Baha Men."

Fountains of Wayne are a world away from the Baha Men, mixing catchy pop, guitar rock and folkie tunes, with a decided lack of Junkanoo. Schlesinger says the band rocks it harder on stage than on record.

"Live, we're more of a rock band than people sometimes expect," Schlesinger says. "In all modesty, we're a really great live band. People who think of us as a jangly pop band are surprised. We can rock when necessary."

As Schlesinger says this, Hooters is buzzing around him, his band mates' laughter mixing into the din. He turns the subject to his plan to open a "Jewters," staffed by pushy, dark-haired ladies from Long Island who keep bringing more food.

"Eat, eat," Schlesinger yells. "And don't be a big shot, put on a sweater."

It's a quintessential Fountains of Wayne moment. Schlesinger marinates in a restaurant that boasts the motto "delightfully tacky, yet unrefined," and then turns the moment into something unexpected. With Fountains of Wayne, things are never exactly as they seem.

A fascinating cast of characters populate their albums: a salesman swimming in booze on "Bright Future in Sales," a quarterback's thoughts during the course of one play on "All Kinds of Time."

Bouncy melodies and fun harmonies belie the messages underneath it all.

"There's definitely something fun about the contrast between a cheery sounding song and darker lyrics," Schlesinger admits. "I don't know why, but that's always fun."