It was a cold, windy New Year’s Eve in Chicago. The streets were buzzing with activity. Some were preparing to attend Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve along the Riverwalk. Others were heading to bars and nightclubs, ready to dance the year away. As for me, I was at the Vic Theatre to see one of my favorite bands: Fountains of Wayne.
A year ago, I never would have thought this was possible. The band broke up in 2013, and since the passing of bassist/songwriter Adam Schlesinger in 2020, a reunion seemed unlikely. But to my surprise, they reconvened in 2025 to play a handful of shows with the blessing of Schlesinger’s family. Original members Chris Collingwood and Brian Young were joined by keyboardist Steven M. Gold (who toured with the band from 2003-2013), bassist Max Collins stepping in for Schlesinger, and guitarist Joe Guesse filling in for Jody Porter, who was unable to join due to health issues.
As I expected, no tour dates were announced near me (everybody always skips Birmingham). But not knowing if I’d get the chance to see them again, I decided to book a flight to Chicago. I’d never been there before, and it was probably the worst time of the year to visit weather-wise, but the reward felt far greater than the risk. So, off I went!
Inside the Vic Theatre, the mood was warm and lively. Fans of all ages were scattered around, eager to hear their favorite songs. I ordered a drink and got to my seat on the balcony (even at 31, the idea of standing in General Admission for four hours makes my bones ache). About thirty minutes later, the show kicked off with opening act Child Seat from Los Angeles, followed by Chicago locals, Fig Dish. Both bands put on solid, energetic performances, but my anticipation for the headliner couldn’t have been higher.
The house lights dimmed for Fountains of Wayne around eleven. It was time. They opened with a one-two punch of “Bought for a Song” and “Denise”, and the love from the crowd was immediate. It felt different than an average rock show. This was a reunion with an old friend… a warm hug you didn’t realize how much you needed. I sat back and let the music wash over me, trying to soak in every moment.
The band brought along a few special guests. On fiddle and background vocals was Gina Romantini, who added a flavorful new texture. They were also joined by numerous background singers throughout the set, which gave the vocal harmonies a massively lush sound. The band undeniably sounded tight, but the absence of Schlesinger loomed large. It didn’t detract from the experience, but it was hard to shake the feeling that something was missing. Admittedly, I got misty-eyed when they performed numbers like “Valley Winter Song” and “Hackensack”.
After crowd-pleasers “Stacy’s Mom” and “Sink to the Bottom”, the band’s main set ended a few minutes shy of midnight. When they returned to the stage, they came armed with beachballs to throw into the crowd as the clock struck twelve—a choice they may have regretted. The balls inevitably bounced back onto the stage, leaving Collingwood to spend much of the encore kicking them back out.
They closed with a cover of “A Simple Game” by the Moody Blues, and it felt like the entire show had passed in a blink. I stayed in my seat, wishfully expecting a second encore that never came. It was hard to complain, though. As I stepped back out into the cold to wait for my Uber, I knew I had witnessed something special. It was a New Year’s I would never forget.
Conventional Relations 