Have you seen what's going on at New Hope Winery?

"We're more than just a winery" is what they like to say at the New Hope Winery. In fact, they're a bona fide concert venue, with some really compelling shows. Cy Cumrin of The Fixx played a solo show recently, and some upcoming highlights include a solo show by John Ford Coley -- as in the easy-breezy '70s sounds of  England Dan (Seals) & John Ford Coley -- Jeffrey Gaines, Tom Chapin, Led Zeppelin tribute group Kashmir, Fleetwood Mac tribute Tusk and Rolling Stones tribute The Glimmer Twins.
Anne and I went to see Fountains of Wayne, whom I famously wrote about in The Reporter in 2003, there. The band is touring behind a new album, "Sky Full of Holes," which is actually available as a vinyl LP.  They brought their power pop A-game, including "Stacy's Mom."


In a pure happenstance stroke of luck, we blundered into the band's backstage party, which involves the ritual of breaking a red dragon pinata filled with gum, Tootsie Pops, liquor, condoms, "personal lubricant" -- and somewhere in there --  a Post-It Flag Pen and a baggie of shredded currency from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Here's what we snagged from the pinata breaking:

HOW COOL WERE WE THAT NIGHT?
Now we get the significance behind the FOW song "Red Dragon Tattoo."

Fountains of Wayne -- although the store in North Jersey that bears your name has closed, and we had some "interesting" observations about guitarist Jody Porter-- we are one!

Oh, and I didn't even say anything about the wine! Should probably save that for another post.

Rock on, Rob!

Coming Tuesday to The Reporter's Lifestyle section, the intriguing story of 1985 Souderton grad Rob Bonfiglio (bon-feel-e-o), the husband of Carnie Wilson and co-star of Game Show Network's "Carnie Wilson: Unstapled."

The couple's musical passion brought them together, and now you can watch them trying to balance their music, Carnie's TV schedule, their two young daughters, and alone-couple time every Thursday night.

It's downright upsetting that Bonfiglio's band, The Skies of America, didn't hit it huge, probably due to being on the indie label Damask Records. The title song of their disc, "Shine," was on the "Bridge to Terabithia" soundtrack. It also features a cover of Badfinger's "Come and Get It" and a bunch of satisfying Beatles-inspired power pop. It's what Fountains of Wayne would sound like if they stopped screwing around so much with the humor of their lyrics, and got down to business.

Don't get me wrong, I have much love for Sellersville product and FOW singer and songwriter Chris Collingwood. But have a listen for yourself.
www.myspace.com/theskiesofamerica

In 2009, Bonfiglio put together a solo album called "Bring on the Happy." The title says it all because these are the kind of songs you ought to put on at the end of a hectic day.
www.myspace.com/robbonfigliomusic

Although he likens it to Paul McCartney's "McCartney" album, the only similarity I observe is that McCartney and Bonfiglio played all the instruments and wrote all the songs on their respective solo works. Unlike the hurried, work-in-progress vibe that's present on most of "McCartney," Bonfiglio's songs on "Bring on the Happy" are actually thought out.

Then again, Bonfiglio wasn't bickering with John Lennon and George Harrison at the time he was making his "record."
Here's a link to sample the McCartney disc.
www.amazon.com/McCartney-Paul/dp/B000002UC5

One of the times we really connected in our conversation was when Bonfiglio recalled having a social studies class with Mr. Rossnagel in a migraine-headache-yellow, basement classroom in the 1930s section of the former Souderton Area High School building. Here I thought I was the only one that remembered that dungeon-like classroom.