Interviews

Interviews: The Ataris

Smother: How's Kung Fu Records treating you guys?

Kris: Really well. We definitely can't complain. We've got a split CD coming out in March with our friends Useless ID from Israel. They were on Short Music for Short People (Fat Wreck Chords) with us, they're our buddies. Our stuff on there is going to be b-sides and some older songs. Then, we've got the new CD coming out in October. It's gonna be called "End is Forever." That will be our last release on Kung Fu. We're most likely going to end up on Fat Wreck after that.

Smother: So, what's the story with this tour now?

Kris: We're headlinging all the dates, and we're taking our friend's bands out on the road with us: Bigwig, Apocolypse Hoboken, Beefcake, they're all playing some dates with us. It's basically us with whoever can make the shows. We're playing as many places as we can. Our booking agent really helps us out a lot. I mean, we'll play anywhere. We'll play your house. As long as everything gets worked out with our agent, making sure we get food, a place to stay, some money for gas, and people come out to the show, we'll play.

Smother: What are the plans for after this tour?

Kris: Well, we go into the studio after this three month tour, and we'll do the new record. After that, we're gonna go out on the road again on a big tour, right before the new record comes out. Then in the summer, we're planning on playing Warped Tour.

Smother: Can you predict the next question?

Kris: Let's see, it's either a) why do you play your guitar backwards, b) how did you get signed to Kung Fu or c) all of the above.

Smother: Okay, here it goes: Is this what you expected?

Kris: (laughter) That's really good. Most people ask me something like "what question do you hate being asked the most?" and then they'll turn around the next question and ask it. That's a good strategy you've got there.

Smother: Do you have any great road stories you can share with us?

Kris: Man, there's way too many to mention. You'd need a tape recorder to get it all, your hand would cramp up. Let's just say we've trashed enough hotel rooms to put Super 8 out of business.

Smother: So the Ataris are like the Motely Crue of pop-punk?

Kris: Something like that. It's all in fun, though. We just try to have fun.

Smother: Every girl that listens to pop-punk stuff absolutely loves you guys to death. What do you think about that?

Kris: We think it's really cool. We love girls. We've all got girlfriends, but that doesn't mean we don't love all the girls that come out to see us and support us.

Smother: If you met a guy named Carbomb, what would you say to him?

Kris: I'd tell him he really got the short end of it at birth.