tain’s two previous releases con-
tained minor hits like “Radiation
Vibe” and “Leave The Biker,” this
was their masterpiece and it took
many people by surprise.
The band was named after a retail
store called Fountains of Wayne
that sold outdoor furniture, lawn
ornaments, and freaky Christmas
decorations on Route 46 in Wayne,
NJ for more than 40 years, before
closing in 2009. Adam Schlesing-
er, who co-founded the band with
Chris Collingwood, grew up near
the store in Montclair. The two met
as freshmen at Williams College
in Williamstown, MA. They re-
corded Fountain’s debut as a duo,
later adding Jody Porter and Brian
Young to the band.
New Jersey’s influence appears
not only in the band’s name, but
often in their songs as well. The
quirkiness of the Garden State has
proven to be a perfect source of in-
spiration for their lyrics. Schlesing-
er has even shown a little Jersey
Pride by wearing t-shirts that salute
rest stops along the New Jersey
Turnpike while on stage.
w
Listen to “Hackensack” by Fountains of Wayne
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 70
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