Warped Tour have added The Ataris and Mest to several dates this summer. 3OH!3 have extended their run of dates as well. Check out details below after the jump.
We’ve been having more fun than ever with our PropertyOfZack Friday Discussions lately with The Best Album Openers and Closers, so we thought we’d throw one more rad category out there with The Best Cover Songs. Covers can be tough; Some fans like the covering band to spice up the original’s song in their own way, and some fans don’t. To each their own. We put a list of covers from bands in our scene that we love in an Rdio Playlist to listen to as you read the Discussion as well (though not all covers were present). Check out our list below and feel free to reblog with some of your favorite covers!
The Ataris - “The Boys of Summer (Don Henley)”
Okay: raise your hand if upon hearing The Ataris’ cover of “The Boys of Summer” back in 2003, you thought it was actually their own song. You can’t see me, but my hand is definitely up. In fact, I had no idea it was a cover for a whole two years, until one fine morning when I was in eighth grade and my mom made a comment about how much better it was than the original. Without question, it absolutely is.Everything from the sped-up tempo, to the progressive, much-improved instrumentals, to Kris Roe’s smooth-to-rough vocals, sounds like this is an Ataris original. Even though So Long, Astoria also boasted “In This Diary,” another mega-hit, this cover certainly did the album and band an entire world of good, receiving oodles of radio air-time and even making it to the top of the ever-infamous MTV music video countdown TRL (R.I.P. childhood). This song is a pop-punk classic, and by far outdoes its original not-so-pop-punk predecessor’s classic status. It’s hard to even think that someone before this band uttered, “My love for you will still be strong/after the boys of summer have gone” into a microphone. No offense, Don Henley, but this cover is so good that it pretty much puts the original out of existence. - Brittany Oblak
All Time Low - “Umbrella (Rihanna)”
It can be a little hard to remember nowadays, but there was a time when All Time Low brought the pop and the punk in equal measure, and they never did it better than on this cover of Rihanna’s mega-hit “Umbrella”. Marrying snarling guitars with sticky-sweet vocal harmonies that only soar bigger and brighter as the song progresses, “Umbrella” is such a natural fit for All Time Low’s strengths that you’d be forgiven for thinking Terius Nash helped pen it with the clown princes of pop-punk in mind. It’s a prime example of what can happen when a great song finds its way to a band at the peak of their creative powers. - Jesse RichmanBayside - “Be My Baby (The Ronettes)”
Bayside has always produced good covers – so good, in fact, that the songs are sometimes mistaken for originals by less knowledgeable fans (see: “Megan” by The Smoking Popes). With their first covers EP, the band stepped into new territory, choosing to cover songs they had grown up listening to, and perhaps introducing a whole new generation to the likes of The Ronettes, Elvis Costello, Del Shannon, Van Morrison, and Billy Joel.
Of the five tracks on the EP, “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes, is the only one originally performed by a female band. However, between Anthony Raneri’s distinctive vocals and Jack O’Shea’s gripping guitar solo, the transition into a Bayside song is all but impeccable. Though Bayside has never been particularly known for love songs, the harmonies and vocal overlays that give this track its old school, swoon-worthy feel suggest that maybe the band should try it more often. - Becky KovachThe Early November - “The Power Of Love (Huey Lewis & The News)”
I’m a sucker for cover versions that are truly transformative, and I’m not sure I can think of one that flips the script as radically as The Early November does on their cover of Huey Lewis & The News’ bombastic pop-cheese classic, “The Power Of Love.” By trading the skronking synths and pulsing drums of the original for laconic, hypnotically repetitive acoustic arpeggios and whisper-thin vocals, Ace Enders and company gingerly excavate the love that’s long been buried underneath all that power. I’ve written about it before, and I’m sure I’ll write about it again; it’s an obscure gem that deserves to be heard. - Jesse RichmanKevin Devine – “Holland, 1945 (Neutral Milk Hotel)”
“The only girl I’ve ever loved was born with roses in her eyes / But then they buried her alive.” If I didn’t know any better, the cinematic lyrics to “Holland, 1945” could have been written by Kevin Devine. It’s no surprise that Devine chose to cover this Neutral Milk Hotel song, but what is slightly surprising is how he could change so little about the arrangement and still offer a completely different spin on the tune. Devine has a knack for making woeful songs sound like a celebration, and this cover is far from being an exception. - Alyssa McKinley
The Ataris are taking Mike Herrera of MxPx for their UK tour in April. Check out the dates below by clicking “Read More.”
Everyone’s a critic, and man, are we a tough crowd. When it comes to high-profile albums, us fans are quick to let rampant anticipation shoot our expectations sky-high. But unfortunately, we’re just as quick to turn that excitement into sheer disappointment when records can’t meet their lofty expectations. When expectation and reality butt heads, we don’t exactly give some albums fair shakes.
So here’s a look at ten albums from Editor-in-Chief Erik van Rheenen that took a fan beating when they came out, but really just deserve a break. Feel free to reblog with any albums you think need to be championed as underrated masterpieces too!
Say Anything - Anarchy, My Dear
Anarchy, My Dear took a fan pummeling for not being …Is Still a Real Boy, and fans got up in arms over “Admit It!” getting sequeled. But besides the pent-up furor behind “Burn a Miracle,” Anarchy, My Dear finds Max Bemis at his romantic best and in sync with his pop sensibilities. Love-struck tunes like “So Good” and “Say Anything” aren’t songs of youthful rage and rebellion, but then again, this isn’t the same young and angry Max Bemis singing these songs. This is a happily married Bemis with a baby girl on the way, so forgive him for not writing “Futile” all over again. Just take Anarchy, My Dear at face value: a quirky collection of pop-rock jams.
The Ataris - Welcome The Night
So Long, Astoria is the landmark pop-punk album no one remembers: thirteen tracks of achingly nostalgic teenage anthems, gift-wrapped in soaring sing-along choruses and crunchy guitar riffs. After four years of silence, Kris Roe and company released Welcome the Night, a fuzzy, bleak contemplation on life. It pulled a 180 on fans, swapping energy for an ambience of rainy day despair. But it works. Roe turns in an absolutely heartbreaking performance, and it’s perfect listening for hazy winter nights. Don’t expect any road trip sing-alongs like “In This Diary,” and sink right into Roe’s troubled mindset with him.
Yellowcard - Lights And Sounds
If Welcome the Night came out before Lights and Sounds, Yellowcard would’ve suffered from a good case of Ataris-itis. After the feel-good juggernaut that was Ocean Avenue — and all of its bright-eyed youthfulness and beach-soaked power chords — the band dropped the simple melodies of pop-punk and wrote a straightforward alternative rock album. Much maligned as it is, the album was Yellowcard’s coming-of-age story more than Ocean Avenue ever was. Ryan Key’s voice is both fragile and polished, and his lyricism is on point. It stacks up surprisingly well against Yellowcard’s stellar discography.
New Found Glory - Coming Home
Unlike their pop-punk compatriots in Yellowcard or the Ataris, New Found Glory didn’t stray from their roots to sound serious or dark. They diverted from their well-worn pop-punk formula to write a simple pop album. There are no gang vocals, no chunky guitar riffs, and no fast, furious punk songs. Instead, Jordan Pundik is at his most vulnerable, sounding equal parts sincere and heart-on-sleeve romantic, especially on “It’s Not Your Fault” and “Boulders.” It’s not popular opinion, but another album in the Coming Home vein would be more than welcome in New Found Glory’s catalog.
Brand New - Daisy
Daisy was the album every Brand New fan wanted, but not the album every Brand New fan expected. Whereas every last detail of Deja Entendu and The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me felt calculated and mapped out, Daisy cried havoc, opened the creative floodgates and let slip the dogs of war. The venom on Daisy — the aggressive “Sink,” blockbuster single “At the Bottom” — seeps into Jesse Lacey’s vocals, Brian Lane’s frenetic drumming, and Vin Accardi’s unbridled guitar riffs. The pop sensibilities fans missed aren’t gone; just hidden.
The Ataris will be touring the UK in April. Check out the dates below by clicking “Read More.”
The Ataris have announced a tour in Europe this spring with Cancer. Check out the dates below by clicking “Read More.”
It’s time for The Weekly Tour Round-Up! There are a ton of great tours going on this fall and winter and more are getting announced each week. Below you’ll find all the tours going on over the next few months, with newly announced tours listed above previously announced tours. So check out all the tours if you’ve missed any of them and make sure to mark them down on your calendars!
New Tours:
POZ Sponsored Shows
TeamPagano New Years Eve Show
POZ Tour: The Acoustic Basement Tour [02/01-02/23]North America
JT Woodruff, Mark Rose [01/02-01/27]
K Será [01/10-01/19]United Kingdom|Mainland Europe
The Ataris [04/16-05/11]
Asia
Sleeping With Sirens, Pierce The Veil [02/16-02/20]
Previously Announced Tours:
The Ataris will be heading out on tour in Europe this spring. Check out the dates below by clicking “Read More.”
Fat Mike of NOFX recently commented on The Ataris’ recent drama. Check out what he had to say below by clicking “Read More.”
Related Stories:
Drummer Posts Video In Defense Of Ataris Incident
The Ataris Release Statement; Band Claims Drummer Was Inebriated
The Ataris Frontman Throws Tantrum On Stage; Throws Drum Equipment Off Stage
- American Football’s unreleased songs will be surfacing.
- Underøath announced their farewell tour with mewithoutYou and As Cities Burn.
- Kris Roe of The Ataris had a meltdown on stage that resulted in the throwing of a drum set.
- Andrew McMahon has begun recording new solo music.
- The Wonder Years’ photo book was delayed.
- New Found Glory and Relient K members started a suburban punk band.
- The Maine had to push back the release of their new DVD.
- Taking Back Sunday are playing an extra long TAYF Tour set list.
- Shai Hulud are searching for a new vocalist.
- Tonight Alive are recording their new album this winter.
- Forgive Durden announced a Razia’s Shadow cabaret show.
- Daylight will begin recording their new record in December.
- Anthony Green and Geoff Rickly announced a solo tour.
- Man Overboard released a covers EP.
- One member of Pussy Riot was freed from prison.
- ex-D.R.U.G.S. members have started recording a new album.
- Glassjaw’s frontman started a new band.
- The Hush Sound are writing new material.
- Mayday Parade released a clip of their Gotye cover.
The Ataris have released two new songs from The Graveyard Of The Atlantic. Stream them below by clicking “Read More.”
Related Stories:
Drummer Posts Video In Defense Of Ataris Incident
The Ataris Release Statement; Band Claims Drummer Was Inebriated
The Ataris Frontman Throws Tantrum On Stage; Throws Drum Equipment Off Stage
Rob Felicetti, who is now a full time member of Patent Pending, has released a very amusing video in defense of what occurred on stage as he was filling in for The Ataris earlier this week. Watch the video below by clicking “Read More.”
Related Stories:
The Ataris Release Statement; Band Claims Drummer Was Inebriated
The Ataris Frontman Throws Tantrum On Stage; Throws Drum Equipment Off Stage
Rob Felicetti has been filling in for The Ataris on drums for years now, but his main job has always been as the guitarist of Patent Pending. Following this past week’s incident with The Ataris, Patent Pending frontman Joe Ragosta spoke out on behalf of his bandmate on The Gunz Show. Listen to the full interview here and check out part of what he said below by clicking “Read More.”
Related Stories:
The Ataris Release Statement; Band Claims Drummer Was Inebriated
The Ataris Frontman Throws Tantrum On Stage; Throws Drum Equipment Off Stage
- One Direction: We’re Like The Beatles
- The Ataris Release Statement; Band Claims Drummer Was Inebriated
- Underøath Confirm Farewell Tour; Release Song Clip
- Anthony Green, Geoff Rickly Solo Tour
- Man Overboard Free Acoustic Covers EP
- All Time Low Cover Eminem, Journey
- Transit Continue Writing New Music
- Green Day To Provide Soundtrack For CSI Episode
- All Time Low On Evolving From Pop-Punk
The Ataris have released a video statement regarding Kris Roe’s tantrum on stage a few nights ago, which Roe admits was a mistake, but also claims that their drummer was beyond intoxicated and was ruining a good portion of their set. Watch the response below by clicking “Read More.”
Related Stories:
The Ataris Frontman Throws Tantrum On Stage; Throws Drum Equipment Off Stage
