The Ataris

For their major-label debut, So Long, Astoria  (Columbia), the punk-popsters in The Ataris took a back-to-basics, straightforward rock approach, resulting in their most powerful release to date.

The group – which also includes bassist Mike Davenport, guitarist John Collura and drummer Chris “Kid” Knapp – got its start in 1997 when Roe’s demo tape landed the band a deal with Kung Fu Records. The Ataris’ three Kung Fu albums each sold over 100,000 units in the U.S., eventually leading to a major label deal with Columbia.

A relentless touring schedule in support of such outfits as Jimmy Eat World, Social Distortion and Blink 182, as well as high-profile appearances on the Vans’ Warped Tour, cemented the group’s relationship with its increasingly rabid fan base. 

So Long, Astoria also includes “Unopened Letter,” a detailed examination of the artistic merits of both Emily Dickinson and Kurt Cobain, centered on the observation that many artists receive their true due only posthumously. Lest one think that The Ataris are all gloom-and-doom, however, the album includes the band’s rollicking hit cover of Don Henley’s  “Boys of Summer.” www.theataris.com