A Review of “White Whale” And “PONCHO” By Penny Fountain

Have you heard of a band called Penny Fountain?  No?  Well, it’s time to take notice.  This young band is about to take off.  Just wait and see.

Hailing from Tampa, Florida, Penny Fountain consists of:  Xavier Wilkinson (lead vocals/bass); Tony Massaro (backing vocals/guitar); and Joel Lopez (drums).  These young men started the band in 2018 when they were still in high school.

If I had to describe Penny Fountain’s style, I would call it “good vibes music”.  Simply put, listening to it makes me happy!  Penny Fountain cannot be labeled as one genre of music – they combine elements of punk, EMO, modern rock, hard rock, and alternative.  Because of this, their music would definitely appeal to a lot of music lovers.  They write from the heart about topics that we can all relate to. The whole band contributes to writing and creating the music – therefore, all of the band’s songs are credited as being written by Penny Fountain instead of individual members.

The last two Penny Fountain singles, “White Whale” and “PONCHO”, were recorded at the Del Couch Music Education Foundation studio.  The foundation is located inside the Manatee School For The Arts in Palmetto, Florida, where the program founder and director Del Couch conducts four levels of classroom training in music recording and production and provides performance opportunities through events and mentorships. Through the foundation, young musicians gain experience and knowledge about the music industry.  It offers free access to music education and recording equipment.

“White Whale” was released in April 2023.  It was mixed and mastered by Kyle Jeffcoat of Chasing Airplanes.  The lyric video was done by Matthew Jacques of AnuvaMedia.  The song “evokes longing for something that can never be obtained. The vocals and guitar riffs create a desperate plea to gain back what was lost, while the synths generate a haunting, ethereal melody and a dreamlike ambience”.  This song starts out slower with a mellow vibe, but it picks up in intensity as the song progresses. It’s a song you can get lost in, which is something I personally love about music – it takes you to a different place and time and makes you forget about life for a while. The lyric video for “White Whale” incorporates the haunting feel of the song, and includes spooky graveyard scenes, which is what the band envisioned as they were deciding on the concept for the video.

The latest release, “PONCHO”, dropped in early September 2023.  It was produced by Jeff Rolandson, and the music video was made by Bobby Keegan of Afflux Studios. This song “embraces the consuming waves of nostalgia for a love that was lost as you continue to live as if nothing ever happened”. “PONCHO” is a more upbeat track than the previous single.  It definitely has those alternative vibes that I mentioned before.  The guitar riff in the verses is catchy.  Xavier’s vocals are unique and charismatic. The music video for “PONCHO” features the band in a small room covered with colorful graffiti.  The video is a perfect reflection of Penny Fountain’s energetic on-stage presence, and it portrays that punk/EMO style of their music.

Penny Fountain is not slowing down anytime soon.  The band recently filmed two new music videos at Afflux Studios in Palm Springs, Florida with Bobby Keegan.  The videos were for a reimagined mix of their song “Brainz” and a new upcoming single called “Goth Girl”.  They will simultaneously be released, fittingly, on October 13th as a “creature double feature”.

The next upcoming live performance for Penny Fountain is the EMO vs. Y2K Mansion Party in Homestead, Florida October 14th. This event sounds like an amazing time!  Here’s the description:

“The Emo vs. Y2K Mansion Party is at a stunning mansion venue in Homestead, Florida. Enjoy music from DJs playing late ’90s and 2000s hits along with EMO anthems from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. An alternative market of 10 vendors, including a Mexican food truck and 420 vendor, will also be hosted on the property. Participate in the outfit contest for a chance to win $100 in both categories Y2K and Emo, respectively. Experience the talents of nine local artists and headliners, Audio Crisis, EX-LUDO, and Ascendance. There will also be a pool with other festivities available so make sure to bring a change of clothes.”

Penny Fountain can be found on Facebook, Instagram, LinkTree, the band’s website, and YouTube.