Fontaine James

Rank #23 New York, NY Americana / Intellipop / Chamber Pop

About

Members: Produced by Adrian Holtz

Sounds Like: The Divine Comedy, Harry Nilsson, Paul McCartney, Rufus Wainwright, Lyle Lovett

Bio: Fontaine James is not from a musical family per se but his Dad sang a lot of Johnny Cash around the house and his Mom would hum along to Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 while passing hors d’oeuvres at their soirees. It wasn’t long before Fontaine was standing in front of a mirror using a tennis racqu... See Full Bio

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Status

: The untucked oxford is today's kaftan for the modern middle aged man.

Press

“The Odd Fellows Hall has a charm and honesty that seems to be the cornerstone of Fontaine's music. In fact, the album on the whole is like a collection of short stories, rich in character and deep in narrative. And all that is tied together with a wonderful melodic bow, adding to the rich texture of the collection. After I have listened to this album time and time again, I am still excited as I listen. This album is a great addition to my music collection. The music manages to do something rare, which is to be hard to categorize, yet remain truly memorable.”

— Howard Stump, Soundtrack to My Day

“Fontaine James' album is called The Odd Fellows Hall. It is such a good record. It's not like anything else you're gonna hear right now and that is the best possible endorsement because we have enough of everything else. People say what's fresh? What's new? Well guess what? What's fresh and new is a record that goes back to basics. A record that goes back to the fundamentals of song craft, great lyrics, of melodies that you'll remember for hours and days after you've first heard them. And what a great singer as well.”

— Larry Flick, The Morning Jolt

“What Fontaine James seems to be attempting here, is to capture the scope of American music in all its glory. Following no real chronological order, we get bits of the U.S.’s musical history from Johnny Cash to the Beatles, from vaudeville to American Bandstand, and melodies from the 50’s and 60s infused with a bit of country and graced with a nostalgic bent. This is a feat in itself; to be able to tackle the American musical landscape, while keeping the record clever, cohesive, and the sound relevant to modern as well as classical music-lovers. This is quite an accomplishment. ”

— My Nguyen, Review You

"THIS is American music. It’s modern but certainly informed by America's richly complex and rugged past - like Arlo Guthrie and Aaron Copeland had clandestine, passionate sex behind a circus tent in Oklahoma and conceived a baby, with the help of the bearded lady, which they named Fontaine James. The narratives in every song paint such a vivid world of, well, odd fellows and ladies whose sheer weirdness is captivating. These lyrics practically kidnap you and hustle you off to a parallel land with the most peculiar inhabitants that somehow speak a language that you understand. The music sets you dreaming and transports you to a delightful Fontaine-tweaked wonderland - quirky, creepy, melancholy, hopeful, and happy all at once. Silly, very cool and shockingly earnest at the same time."

— Ron Norsworthy, The Norsworthy Fund

“What makes this musician a special joy to listen to are his crafty and brilliant songwriter's skills and massive vocals.”

— Isaac Davis Jr., Junior's Cave

"A mixture between Johnny Cash and Pop/Rock music. This great musician from NY will get you to fall in love within seconds."

— RJ Frometa, Vents Magazine

“Imagine Scott Weiland lost on the Yellow Submarine...need I say more?”

— Holly Hutchison, soundhere

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Recent Blogs

Fontaine James visits Larry...
Dec 3, 2012
I had a blast with Larry Flick and Keith Price on Sirius/XM's The Morning Jolt. ... [more]

First Radio Interview on PXR
Jul 18, 2011
My first radio interview is on "Searchlight" which is part of "In Search of a So... [more]

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Songs

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Heading to the Moon

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Cigarette

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Shelly Okay

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Barely There

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Mellow

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Shows

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2011
Apr 22

The Birds Nest
Washington, CT, US | 8:00pm
Private Show: The Birds Nest
Washington, CT, US
Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:00pm
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Comments

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Ciro Amaral
Stopping by to listen some more! I like "Heading to the Moon". I'm a fan! I little different from what I do but I still like it. All the best! Ciro Amaral
BadgerStatic
Cool Work!
Pace Ride
Fabulous tracks!!!!Pure delight!!!!
Xenophanes Productions
Excellent.
Last Day On Earth
This is sheer class. Heading to the Moon is superb, cinematic folk/americana with brilliant lyrics.