Fountains of Wayne to perform unplugged at Coach House

Fountains of Wayne includes, from left, guitarist-singer Jody Porter, drummer Brian Young, singer-guitarist Chris Collingwood and bassist-singer Adam Schlesinger.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE

Please note this story was originally published in the Orange County Register on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009.

Fans of melodic and intelligent power pop will want to secure their tickets for an intimate acoustic performance by Fountains of Wayne on Friday, January 23, 2009 at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

Since releasing their first album in 1996, Fountains of Wayne has earned a reputation for crafting rock that is as melodic as it is artful.
Fountains of Wayne was formed by singer-bassist Adam Schlesinger and lead singer-guitarist Chris Collingwood, who met at Massachusetts' Williams College in 1986. The two songwriters then joined forces with guitarist Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young, and the quartet has gone on to enjoy commercial success and critical acclaim.
In addition to the band's 1996 self-titled release, other albums include 1999's “Utopia Parkway,” 2003's “Interstate Managers” and 2007's “Traffic and Weather.”

On a bill that also included Arcade Fire, Travis, and Jack's Mannequin, Fountains of Wayne's appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2007 was among the highlights of the three-day festival.

The power-pop quartet's performances at The Coach House will likely feature material off the DVD release “No Better Place – Live in Chicago,” set for release by Shout Factory on March 3. The DVD features 5.1 “surround sound” and a widescreen picture of the energetic band performing a 16-song set, including hits such as “Mexican Wine,” “Stacy's Mom” and “Bright Future in Sales.”
In addition to the full-length concert shot in Chicago in 2005, the band recorded a five-song set of acoustic material in a New York studio in December that is part of the DVD's bonus material. The alt-country-flavored “I-95” and “Fire in the Canyon” boast the approach that Fountains of Wayne will likely take when performing their acoustic show in San Juan Capistrano.

Fountains of Wayne, Dennis Roger Reed and That Was Then will perform at the Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, at 8 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2009. Admission is $23.50.