Learn More About Jody Porter and His Guitar Mastery
Jody Porter’s musical journey is nothing short of remarkable. Starting as a co-founder of The Belltower in the early 1990s, he quickly made a name for himself with his distinctive guitar style and songwriting.
But while the smash hit ‘Stacy’s mom’ during his time with Fountains of Wayne is certainly one of his music career highlights, his solo career, music influences and style go much deeper than this mainstream success. Today on Jukebox Saturday Night, we’ll go over the humble guitarist’s lasting impact on the rock ‘n’ roll scene.
Jody Porter’s musical history
Days with The Belltower
In the early 1990s, Jody Porter music career began when he co-founded The Belltower, an alternative rock band known for its indie, alternative rock and dream pop sound, alongside singer guitarist Britta Phillips. During this time, he moved to London, and the band was quickly compared to The Cure and The Sundays.
Though they enjoyed some relative buzz in the UK, Jody has spoken candidly about their touring experience, describing it as ‘nothing good’. Regardless, this established the Jody Porter songwriter and guitarist reputation, which set him up for success with his future band, Fountains of Wayne.
Joining Fountains of Wayne
In the same way Poison Ivy Rorschach wanted to become a musician when she saw The Duchess at a live event, Jody Porter’s entry into the power pop band Fountains of Wayne happened when co-founder Chris Collingwood saw Porter perform at a Belltower gig.
As Porter likes to tell it, he crossed paths with Collingwood and recalls not liking him at first. But despite it, he eventually became friends with Collingwood and his distinctive guitar style found a place in the band.
Together with the late and beloved bassist Adam Schlesinger and drummer Brian Young, the group went on to create five Fountains of Wayne albums. In 2003, they cracked the code for mainstream success with their hit single, ‘Stacy’s mom’.
Unique songwriting process
Jody Porter songs aren’t created from a structured routine. He prefers to keep it organic, having compared his creative process to the unpredictability of weeds sprouting up in a yard. Porter likes to stay adventurous and see what sticks – or which weeds take hold and overcome the entire garden, so to speak.
Like Jon English, who became a huge fan of the Beatles when he was only 12 years old, Porter has also professed his love for the British foursome, as well as John Lennon’s solo work.
He’s opened up about how depression, boredom and other traditionally ‘negative’ emotions actually drive his songwriting. Surprisingly, though, the best Fountains of Wayne songs with Jody on guitar feature bright, almost playful notes – an interesting contrast to the suburban ennui that often peppered their records.
Jody Porter’s best songs
With Fountains of Wayne
‘Mexican wine’ is one of the most ironic Fountains of Wayne songs, straddling themes of death and job loss with heady lyrical optimism – ‘I’ll be yours if you’ll be mine’ – and a nostalgic four-chord repetition.
Jody Porter kept it light by using bright, jangly riffs; to the unassuming casual listener, you could mistake it for a regular pop song if you weren’t paying attention to the words. It’s the surprising duality between guitar style and songwriting that easily makes ‘Mexican wine’ a favourite among the band’s fanbase around the web.
In ‘Valley winter song’, the band tells the story of a man comforting his lover who’s grown weary from dull winters in New England. Porter’s warm acoustic guitar tone and gentle, folk-like strumming create a cosy, intimate feel.
With The Belltower and his solo career
Jody Porter has described his time with The Belltower and his solo career as being more similar to one another than his time with FoW, especially since (in his own words) the music from these areas leaned more heavily towards psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll rather than pure power pop.
While Ricky Wilson (guitarist) was known for his predilection to alternate tuning, Jody Porter often played with psychedelic elements of repetition to take listeners to another dimension.
With The Belltower, ‘In hollow’ is a perfect example of Porter’s tendency to use reverb and delay effects to craft a dreamy, expansive soundscape. Then, you have ‘Outshine the sun’, a song with personal life insights on longing, loss and disillusionment. The song uses hypnotic motifs and riffs to evoke the sense of listlessness felt by the protagonist.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How did Jody Porter start his music career?
Jody Porter’s music career began with the formation of The Belltower in 1990 with singer-guitarist Britta Phillips. They recorded their debut EP, Exploration day, followed by two more singles. While none of their releases made the charts, their 1992 full-length album Popdropper helped cement Porter’s reputation as a talented guitarist and songwriter in the alternative rock scene.
Has Jody Porter collaborated with other musicians or bands?
He fronted the short-lived, New York-based alternative band The Astrojet, recording a six-track EP titled The mile low club in 2002. After disbanding in 2004, the Jody Porter solo career took flight. His collaborations include work with The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr., The Monkees, Brookville, David Mead and Ivy.
How long did Jody Porter play with Fountains of Wayne?
Following a brief hiatus after being dropped by Atlantic Records in 2001, the band reformed and recorded the album Welcome interstate managers in 2003. Porter was a key member of the band for about eight to ten years, all throughout their notable success in the late 1990s and 2000s.
The band continued to produce music and perform until 2013. After the untimely passing of Adam Schlesinger in April 2020, the remaining members reunited for a tribute performance for their bandmate in R‘n’R heaven.
Keeping rock ‘n’ roll alive on Jukebox Saturday Night
Jukebox Saturday Night started as a heartfelt venture by a couple of mates who shared an unwavering passion for music. Our founder, Ken Sparkes, dedicated his time, money, and efforts to ensuring real rock ‘n’ roll maintained its rightful place on TV screens.
Over the years, this little show has flourished, gaining an incredibly loyal fan base among those who want to tune out to Golden Earring hits or reminisce about forgotten ‘70s bands, and more.
Ken’s labour of love is now our mission – to make Jukebox Saturday Night bigger and better than ever and to bring the defiant, unadulterated spirit of rock ‘n’ roll to every broadcast.
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