After numerous lineup changes, bassist Bryan Nelson said pop-punk band The Ataris is all looking forward to getting out and being on tour again. Their remake of Don Henley’s 1984 hit “The Boys of Summer” will still be in tote along with a new song from their forthcoming album.

The band, originally from Anderson, will be playing 7 p.m. Friday at Doc’s Music Hall. The show will warm up “Boys of Summer” for their tour that kicks off Feb. 18.

“Kris Roe of The Ataris, being the only original member, has always written solid pop-punk records,” sophomore and Ataris fan Cory Sean Davis said. “He is a real hometown hero and a genuine guy if you ever get the chance to meet him.”

Last year The Ataris played Doc’s, where it sold more than 150 tickets. The current lineup is Kristopher Roe, Aaron Glass, Bryan Nelson and Jake Dwiggins.

“We have a lot of friends that live in Muncie still. We played Doc’s last year and we had a good crowd, so hopefully it’ll be a good crowd this year,” Nelson said.

Junior Sarah Dalton is looking forward to enjoying the live show at Doc’s.

“I’m pretty stoked about the show because I used to really like their remake of ‘Boys of Summer,’” Dalton said. “I thoroughly enjoy live music. I think there is going to be a really good turnout for them, and I’m pumped to be a part of that.”

Following the Friday show, the band will continue its tour in the Midwest, East Coast and Southern states.

Throughout the last year, the band had been keeping busy. In December, Roe played alongside MxPX’s Mike Herrera and The Summer Obsession’s Chris Wilson for four MxPx All-Stars shows in Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Roe is also featured as a guest singer on two of the tracks from local band Cowboy Angel’s debut full-length album, “The Burden of Love and Sin.” Nelson just finished a two-week tour with Cowboy Angels as well.

The Ataris is currently wrapping up vocals and lyrics for its upcoming album titled “The Graveyard of the Atlantic.” The album is the fifth album release for the band.

“It’s different than the last album; the last album was different from the album before that,” Nelson said. “This album gets back to what The Ataris were doing before. I like to call it the missing link between [past albums] ‘Welcome the Night’ and ‘So Long Astoria.’”

When asked if the band had any weird tour traditions, Nelson said the band is pretty laid back and ends up spending too much time on the Internet before they set up and play.

“We’re pretty dorky and really calm; no weird rituals,” Nelson said.

Tickets for the show are available at Doc’s Music Hall and are $5 presale and $7 the day of show.

For more information on The Ataris visit: myspace.com/theataris

Who: The Ataris with Tax Brandywine
Where: Doc’s Music Hall
When: Friday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.
Cost: $5 advance/$7 day of show

Discography:
1997: “Anywhere But Here” (Kung Fu Records)
1999: “Blue Skies, Broken Hearts…Next 12 Exits” (Kung Fu Records)
2001: “End Is Forever” (Kung Fu Records)
2002: “Anywhere But Here” reissue (Kung Fu Records)
2003: “So Long, Astoria” (Columbia Records); peaked at No. 44 on Billboard Hot 100
2007: “Welcome the Night” (Sanctuary Records); peaked at No. 85 on Billboard 200

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Heather Collins | Staff Reporter