LUCID FORGE

Normally a 5 piece band, The Ataris founder and permanent member Kristopher Roe is on a solo tour all over giving their audience a intimate taste of the bands indy sound. Back in New York the remainder of the band is busy mixing and recording for the next album which is predicted to be released in early 2009 for their ever devoted fans. With 5 albums under their belt, this one is yet another anticipated release to give something back to the old fans, and for new fans, something new.

The rest of the band usually changes from tour to tour and line up to line up because they run a studio in New York called Silent Owl Studio’s, so they tend to spend their days there recording and readying the upcoming album. The last record line up consisted of John Caloura, Paul Carabello, Shain Shecellous, and Eric Dunnas and of course Kris Roe. Kris is a traveller, loves going everywhere, experiencing everything and is a do it yourself type guy. He books everything himself and has fun doing it. Recently he was in Hamilton at Club Absinthe for a acoustic show where fans from around the area came to enjoy a good time and listen to good laid back acoustic music. Prior to the event, I had a chance to talk to Roe, who was excited to see that they still attract bran new fans from all around the globe who want to hear live music and enjoy a good show.

Lucid Forge: Explain the name, the Ataris, where did you get the name?

Kristopher Roe: You tell me!

LF: Well I’m assuming it has to do with the old video game system!

KR: Of course! I’m 31 now and when I was 19, everyone can relate to pop culture, that nostalgia of being a kid and it was something that represented fun and a good part and time in our lives. It just stuck, and was something that now feels slightly dated, but you get so much of a brand with a name and with the Ataris you can relate a sound to our name so go forward with it regardless. We are 5 albums deep so we can’t go back now.

LF: Right now you are travelling solo?! KR: Ya, me and my car, I am getting shows off of the Ataris Myspace page. It’s a labour of love. Getting paid to travel and playing for 100 or more people a night. It’s good I just did a solo acoustic tour in South America, Japan, Mexico City and the States. I booked it all myself. It felt good, doing it your own way that I grew up on, and that’s what the Ataris is kinda built on. LF: Speaking of the Ataris, what’s your favourite video game? KR: Man, it’s been so long. I have not played any video games in a long time. When I was a kid, probably football, all those games seem so primitive because you can get the emulator for your Mac book or something and you can literally download every first round of a video games and the Atari games and store them on a video stick. Makes you feel dumb because of that.

LF: What’s your least favourite?

KR: I was never a fan of any sports related anything, so any sports. Plus the heads and balls were square. Atari was just not ready to make anything cylindrical or anything that was round.

LF: Who would you compare yourself to musically?

KR: Well, growing up we were into a lot of bands, the Replacements, Jawbreaker, Sam I am, The Decedents, Clash, there were a lot of bands that were full of energy that were doing something daring and different and just not following any trends, creating some kind of art that challenged your audience. I think now for me I have gravitated towards indy rock bands, that to me is the new punk rock where a lot of the punk rock bands have become a fashion show of playing the safest songs I could ever imagine so now I think I’m more into post rock bands from Montreal or Toronto. Do Make Say think, God Speed you black emperor, The Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene.

LF: What do you like or dislike about being on the road constantly and traveling around so much?

KR: Well, there is always so many things to say that I love. I take photography, so taking photographs, meeting people, those are the things I love. Things I hate, well money orders, cash distribution, combining two things so I can make a quick easy payment could be so much easier, just to pay my mortgage. Things like that bum you out on days that it’s a hundred degrees, but really there is nothing I don’t like about it. I enjoy driving, I love driving by myself all day long.

LF: What should we expect from you guys next?

KR: A new record next year, which is along the same lines as our last album and more touring after we get the album out. That’s about it. If anyone wants to keep check of what we are doing check out our myspace page which is just www.myspace.com/theataris.

LF: Right on, thanks so much for the chat Kris!

KR: Thanks so much Lisa.