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^HI e didn't want to be lumped in with
III all the homogenized, auto-tuned
Baf pop-punk stuff," says Atari's lead
9 9 vocalist/songwriter Kristopher
Roe. "We'd been 3round a lot longer than
that... but that's what happens when you do .
something that people kind of relate to and it
catches on as part of a movement—you just
kind of get written off as part’ of that."
Artistically, Roe is never comfortable doing
the same thing twice. The Ataris have gone
through several lineup changes, and Roe has
been the only constant throughout the years.
Roe was essentially the band's only founding
member, as he first recorded homemade demos
to pass out to potential bandmates. Therefore,
in a sense, the original lineup remains intact.
The implications of his band's complicafed
history are not lost on Roe. "On paper," he*
says, "it looks like, 'Man, this band is the most
dysfunctional fucking unit ever.'" The artist
admits to having had several bouts of personal
and professional bad luck—a heroin-addicted
drummer, temporary homelessness, members
who "couldn't hang with the touring lifestyle"
and various other issues—but he's never let
it get in his way. "Basically," he continues, "I
was just always kind of forced to work with
whatever situation I had." .
And deal he did. Despite all these hurdles,
The Ataris amassed a huge underground fol
lowing during their Kung-Fu Records years,
releasing three decidedly punk albums from
1997 to 2001.
In 2003 the band suddenly found itself
in the mainstream limelight. So Long Astoria
went gold and produced hit singles, slick MTV
music videos and plenty of fanfare. By com
mercial measures, the band's attempt to make
a "genre-less, straightforward rock album"
that would reach a diverse audience was a
success. However, Roe became frustrated with
the band's newfound place in the industry.
"I guess, because we'd built this really
good momentum and grassroots following with
our three independent albums, it was just kind
of set to do that," says Roe, "But the thing
that I didn't like was that when I tried to
control the vision of what I wanted to do with
the band, it started being harder and harde r
to steer it There was so much that was just...
fate."
After So Long, Astoria, The Ataris' four
touring bandmembers had an artistic/profes
sional split. "One of them was on the same
wavelength as me," says Roe, "and the other
two wanted to be the biggest band in the
world." Therefore, guitarist John Collura and
Roe decided to take a drastic turn with their
2007 release, Welcome the Night, an album
wherein dark, modern rock sounds provide the
backdrop for Roe's uncharacteristically haunt
ing vocals and poetic lyrics.
"We knew Ataris fens probably weren't
going to like it, but I didn't feel sincere writ
ing another So Long, Astoria... and it's more
punk rock, in essence, than writing another
record you think people would want."
The Ataris sold Welcome the Night to a
label that folded three months after the
album's release. This greatly affected sales
and nearly resigned-the album to the annals
of history.
"So, we regrouped," says Roe, "and now,
years later, I'm finally back to a place where
I'm kind of content and happy, doing what I
want to be doing... at this point in my life,
this is just what feels honest."
Roe took all of 2010 off to write, record
and play solo acoustic shows all over the
world. "This year's all about the band," he
says. The Ataris plan to tour extensively and
release their new album, Graveyard of the
Atlantic—a collection of "organic rock songs
with kind of a middle piece between 5o Long
Astoria and Welcome the Night"—by mid-2012.
At 35, Roe is satisfied simply writing, per
forming and being as sincere as possible in his
work. He's benefited from following his own
advice from So Long, Astoria's single, "In This
Diary": "The only thing that matters is just
following your heart; and eventually, you'll
finally get it right."
Kevin Craig
r - .. “>
WHO: The Ataris, Karbomb,
Burns like Fire, Panic Manor
WHERE: Caledonia Lounge
.! . WHEft-. Saturday, Feb. 4,8:30 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $10
■■ •• ■ J
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Five Points - Athens
1225 S MiOedge Ave
706.548.7225
Mon-Sat 10 am-6 pm
Sun 12-5 dm
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UPS. DOWNS AND HONESTY
14 FLAGPOLE.COM • FEBRUARY 1,2012