Features
The Ataris Say ‘So Long, Astoria’
The classic lineup for The Ataris has cooked up a late winter-early spring tour featuring a performance of the band’s classic 2003 album, So Long, Astoria. Kristopher Roe, Mike Davenport, Chris Knapp and John Collura will launch the extravaganza in Arizona in late February.
Featuring hits such as “In This Diary,” “The Saddest Song” and a cover of Don Henley’s “Boys Of Summer,” So Long, Astoria was a pivotal album for the punk popsters from Indiana. Having already sold hundreds of thousands of albums on the small indie label Kung Fu Records, So Long, Astoria marked the band’s debut on Columbia and sold more than one million copies.
While many musicians have been members of The Ataris since the group formed in 1996, the classic lineup disbanded in 2004.
“I’m looking forward to going out and bringing these songs to a crowd and really giving it our all, and hopefully bringing some of these fun memories back to our fans,” Roe said. “I really feel like the most important thing is to be reconnected with three of my best friends. I’m excited to go out and make music with them again.”
Encouraging words, for sure. But maybe drummer Knapp expresses the reunion mood best, saying, “I haven’t seen these guys in forever. It’s going to be crazy.”
Here are the dates:
Feb. 28 – Scottsdale, Ariz., Pub Rock
March 1 – Las Vegas, Nev., Backstage Bar & Billiards
March 2 – Fresno, Calif., Strummer’s
March 3 – San Louis Obispo, Calif., SLO Brew
March 5 – West Hollywood, Calif., House Of Blues
March 6 – Anaheim, Calif., House Of Blues
March 7 – San Diego, Calif., House Of Blues
March 8 – San Francisco, Calif., Bottom Of The Hill
March 11 – Portland, Ore., Hawthorne Theatre
March 12 – Seattle, Wash., Showbox At The Market
March 13 – Boise, Idaho, Knitting Factory Concert House
March 14 – Salt Lake City, Utah, In The Venue
March 15 – Denver, Colo., Summit Music Hall
March 16 – Kansas City, Mo., The Riot Room
March 18 – St. Louis, Mo., Old Rock House
March 20 – Minneapolis, Minn., Mill City Nights
March 21 – Chicago, Ill., House Of Blues
March 22 – Indianapolis, Ind., The Vogue
March 23 – Detroit, Mich., Shelter
March 24 – Cleveland, Ohio, Agora Ballroom
March 25 – Pittsburgh, Pa., The Altar Bar
March 27 – Philadelphia, Pa., Theatre Of The Living Arts
March 28 – Silver Spring, Md., The Fillmore Silver Spring
March 29 – Boston, Mass., Brighton Music Hall
March 30 – New York, N.Y., The Gramercy Theatre
Versus The World appears Feb. 28-March 18. Authority Zero appears March 5-30 except for March 15. Drag The River appears March 5-30. Gasoline Heart appears March 20-30.