Live Review: Fountains of Wayne at The Loft, February 11

By Molly Segers

Atlanta power pop junkies, like myself, rejoiced as Fountains Wayne brought their signature verbose pop tunes wrapped up in bouncy rhythms and jangle to The Loft last Friday. Joining them were Atlanta’s own District Attorneys, who had me thinking of bands like The Damnwells and Weezer throughout their set.

As for Fountains of Wayne, despite some apparent throat problems for front man Chris Collingwood and iffy sound, the band made the most of their 75-minute set. Given the cushion of nine years since their uber-hit “Stacey’s Mom,” this was definitely a show for the diehards more so than, “Hey, I like that one song” crowd.

While the set drew heavily from their 2003 breakout Welcome Interstate Managers and their self-title debut, it favored mellower tracks like “Valley Winter Song” and “Richie and Reuben” from last year’s Sky Full of Holes. Other that opener “Little Red Light,” the big rock moment of the evening was the unexpected medley of Wings’ “Jet,” Peter Frampton’s “Do You Feel Like We Do,” and Billy Squier ‘s “Everybody Wants You.”

The stage banter was just as light-hearted as their lyrics, with cracks about the cold snap, Annette Funicello, and why Neil Finn of Crowded House never has a sore throat (fan singalongs). Bassists and songwriter Adam Schlesinger even mused that there choice of covers had everyone in the room under the age of 45 confused.

For my money, the highlight of the night was “Hey Julie,” for which the band invited a few fans on stage to help with percussion and sing along. The bouncy little ditty, which the uninitiated might recognize from shows like “Scrubs,” is a personal and fan favorite, which got one of the most enthusiastic sing-alongs of the night. This was second only to “Stacey’s Mom,” their biggest hit, which kicked off the encore, followed by “No Better Place” and “Sink to the Bottom With You.”

1. Little Red Light
2. Someone to Love
3. I’ve Got a Flair
4. Red Dragon Tattoo
5. Mexican Wine
6. The Summer Place
7. Richie and Reuben
8. Valley Winter Song
9. Hey Julie
10. Road Song
11. Dip in the Ocean
12. Leave the Biker
13. Bought for a Song
14. Radiation Vibe – Jet/Do You Feel/Everybody Wants You

ENCORE
Stacey’s Mom
No Better Place
Sink to the Bottom with You