POP PUNK LEGENDS THE ATARIS RETURN WITH NEW SUMMER ANTHEM
SINGLE REVIEW: The Ataris – Car Song by Craig Harston
After what seems like the longest time, pop punk legends The Ataris are gearing up for their first full length album in 18 years, following 2007’s polarising ‘Welcome The Night’. Ahead of the as-yet-untitled album, the band are teasing what’s to come, first with a brand new acoustic version of their emo anthem ‘In This Diary’ (from 2003’s excellent ‘So Long, Astoria’) which is available to stream now and will be followed by a fully brand new song.
The Ataris have now been around for nearly 3 decades and to many punks who got into the scene around the late 90s/early 2000s, the bands founding member and frontman, Kris Roe, is an absolute legend, providing an outlet for outcasts and the disenfranchised through his heartfelt lyrics and vocals across classic songs including, but not limited to, ‘Hey Kid’, ‘Teenage Riot’, ‘Angry Nerd Rock’, ‘Giving Up On Love’, ‘Hey Kid’, ‘Song For A Mixtape’, ‘So Long, Astoria’, ‘Teenage Riot’, ‘I Won’t Spend Another Night Alone’, and, of course, ‘San Dimas Football High School Rules’. It’s safe to say that The Ataris’ sound has evolved over the past 30 years, from the thrashy punk rock found on their debut, 1997’s ‘…Anywhere But Here’, through the pop punk years of ‘Blue Skies, Broken Hearts…Next 12 Exits’ and ‘End Is Forever’ (1999 and 2001), the more emo and introspective ‘So Long, Astoria’ and the experimental sound found on ‘Welcome The Night’. The new song, ‘Car Song’ simultaneously moves the band further forward while capturing a little of the feel of their heyday – The Ataris have always looked to the future while wearing their pasts on their sleeves.
Starting slow with a little guitar and Roe’s vocals, the song quickly sets the tone with the juxtaposition of rusting roadside monuments alongside newer Neon signs, soon kicking in to high gear with a bluesy-Americana feel to it but mingled with The Ataris’ classic emo pop punk sound and is fitting for the subject matter. It goes huge on it’s choruses, which are guaranteed to get a great singalong in a live setting (I guarantee Ataris fans old and new will be belting out “I was born in the blizzard of 1977, a southpaw heart with eyes that burned California” along with the band at shows before long) and the lyrics as a whole evoke thoughts and feelings of long drives on California summer nights. Roe’s vocals are as assured as ever and he’s given great back up by fellow long time Ataris member Mike Davenport on bass, drummer Dustin Phillips and newest member Bryan Bonsall on lead guitar.
While it seems to be written about a person, Roe has stated it’s actually about the first car he ever bought (a 2003 Dodge Neon) “and the many travels, stories and visual imagery that we shared on our several years of adventures together”. The song is also dedicated to Roe’s father, who passed away in 2014 and was one of the bands biggest supporters, with his favourite song being ‘In This Diary’, which has been re-recorded for the B side of the 7” release. Roe will also honour his father with a variant pressing of the 7” that will include his ashes pressed into the vinyl, “What better way to celebrate my father’s life than to make him an actual part of the music he always supported and encouraged me to create?”. A portion of the profits for the 7” will be donated to Shatterproof, a non profit organisation dedicated to ending addiction.
‘Car Song’ releases on 2nd May and all versions can be purchased here https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/double-helix-records
The Ataris return to the UK this month to play the Monster Energy Stage at Slam Dunk Festival 2025 with a whole host of their peers from the early 2000s, as well as a Slam Dunk ‘Side Show’ at London’s O2 Islington Academy.
