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Ataris
7 out of 10 - Enjoyable.
Friday, April 11, 2003
The Ventura Theatre, Ventura, CA
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This wasn’t the Friday night I had planned but known for my spontaneity I felt obligated. My friend had won free tickets on the radio and I was really interested in Further Seems Forever. I also couldn’t believe that the Ataris were playing the Majestic Ventura Theater. It seems like yesterday I was watching them at Creekside and Yucatan.
Yellowcard had just ended when I arrived. I was hit with memories of a high school dance as I walked into the thick wet air of the theater. It smelled of testosterone and hot young bodies. Being that it was a Friday and that time of week for AMS (altered mental status) I bellied up to the bar for a cocktail. That was when it sunk in that I was way out of my league. There were no more that 10 people in the bar area and the rest of the place was packed. As I waited for FSF to start their set I tried to eavesdrop on what the kids of today were talking about. I could hear giggling and screaming again reminiscent of my youth. It was exhilarating to feel the vibe of so many excited kids (or maybe it was my buzz).
Further Seems Forever (FSF) another group of guys from Florida came out sounding very much like Radiohead but then changed quickly into the heavy guitar sounds of today’s top 40. The thing that kept me stunned was the drummer. He had this weird style and rhythm, three drums and three cymbals and played like one of those little monkeys’s that clap the cymbals. It was very distracting and awkward. Apparently the bass player was having technical difficulties and kept walking off stage. At a break the bass player would come up the mic and thank the crowd for being patient and putting up with the troubles. My feeling is just keep going don’t draw attention to it. Even with all his cheerleading efforts I felt the crown wane a little but from the set. I think this freshman effort will need lots of work to complete the sophomore year. The coolest thing that happened was the lead singer had a girl kicked out for fighting. They stopped the set and waited until she was out and then promoted peace on earth and props to the troops in Irawk.
I bellied up to the bar for some more liquor figuring it would take the edge off. They had just decided to let the bartender go home due to lack of patrons. You get the picture.
The thing that really had me annoyed was the Ataris backdrop that hung throughout the entire show. There it was big and ugly hanging behind each band.
The Juliana Theory was not what I had expected at all. Any thing with the word theory in it usually leads me on a goth/industrial trail. The newest thing from Pennsyltucky they came out with the same recipe as FSF, two guitars, bass and drums. Sometimes even three guitars with the singer playing and singing. To me they sounded like Midnight Oil and to my friend they sounded like Motley Crue. Then my friend turns to me and says doesn’t the lead singer look like Dave Gahan??? That completely threw me for a loop and I was fixated on that for too long. Being that I was AMS I found my self-unable to focus too well. The crowd did operate like a late 80’s Depeche Mode show. The fans loved it, clapping above their heads and singing with the songs. I couldn’t get a grasp on the sound these guys wanted. It was all over the board. After the show I met the lead guitar player, a very sweet guy named Josh. When I asked him about their influences and voiced my perceptions he stated that they were schizo and proud of it. Kudos to them, they kept me interested during the whole seists.
Next it was the Ataris turn to wow the crowd. The energy was infectious and I found I was giggling and had a smile on my face just watching the fans. Kris Roe looked like a mix of Mike Score and Kurdt. The kids were frenetic and the squash pit needed a surge protector. After 4 songs I had had enough and wanted to go to my hide out back home. Just as I turned to my friend and yelled “after this song let’s go to the Sportsman” the song ended and Kris announced to the crowd that the next song was for his wife and anyone who hangs at the Sportsman. I felt like it was a sign from above and left immediately.
All in all it was good to see the straight edge, clean cut kids of today out and having a good time. The best part of the entire show was the crowd was so into the bands. The fan base seemed equal for each band and crowd participation was amazing.
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| Kimmerly |
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Read More About: Ataris
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