The print version of this blog was kicked into gear from an interview i was lucky enough to do with Brett.My good friend Jay hooked it up.I have said enough awesome things about Jay on here before,he'll get a big head, so just check out his blog.Brett was also awesome and entertained my stupid questions.Everything about this band is awesome.As such i have been meaning to do a blog entry focussing on their records.They always seemed to put extra effort into what they put out.From the screen printed covers to the different sleeves they did.Be it stop gap solutions cause other shit didn't get done in time or just special releases like the last show and the Double Decker sleeve(which i am currently missing in my collection.If any one of the ten people who follow this blog has it please get at me) it just felt special.
Then of course there was the fucking trading cards that were included with the 'too tired to drive home' 7"!They just rule.It was something that appealed to me and bands just dont do shit like anymore.Control said they would.Lets just see if they do.I also happen to have in my posession three Brett Bartos.If anyone wants to trade get at me.
Too Tired To Drive Home
My knowledge of pressings are somewhat limited so what i know for def i have noted down.
Click for bigger pics.Apologies in advance for shitty quality of pics.
Canadian tour press /200
Last show press 23/25
I kinda lucked out on this.I got it from a dude who was selling his Atari collection cause he was moving.I talked with him while i was saving up to buy his stuff.He super awesome and had the same enthusiasm for the band i did.He had some records that i couldnt afford at the time and in the mean time he moved to Malaysia i think.Im so bummed cause i know ill probably never see those records again.Marc,if by some freak occurance you are reading this get in contact.
this is what definitely sums up this band
Atari/Carpenter Ant split
I had heard the name Carpenter Ant from some blogs as they were a skateable band but hadn't heard them.When i found out they did a split with Atari it was only a matter of when i was going to own this record.The Thrasher cover 7" came in the crucial package i got from Marc.He really helped me out with my collection.Much love dude.
Thasher cover /25
regular cover /400
And to follow in true Double Cross style i thought i would throw up a part or two from the interview Brett was kind enough to help me out with for my zine.(of which there are still some still available.Get at me tootiredtodrivehome@gmail.com)
Ok first off, on the discography is it Andrew or Nate who asks the crowd to dive the other way?
haha. that was actually the sound guy getting on mic and saying all that stuff. since the show was being recorded for a live release, he had all sorts of equipment there. people were diving into and off of his speakers. things were definitely getting knocked around so i can't say i blame him. oh man, i wonder how many people thought it was one of us bitching like that?
It would seem every incarnation of Atari met at KU. did any other bands come out of there?
yeah there were tons of bands based out of Kutztown. when Atari was active some of the other bands in the Kutztown scene included: the Jazz June, Rain on the Parade, Bobbycork, Grieving Eucalyptus, Regular, Javelin, Lanyard, Stillwater and the Ick. Rain on the Parade and Regular were really the only other hardcore bands. the others spanned the musical spectrum from "emo" and noise to indie rock and pop punk. some bands had 2 or 3 or even 4 overlapping members including Atari and the Jazz June. at a basement show off campus, ALL the members of Atari and the Jazz June played a short set together. we called ourselves "Voltron Super Band" and we had 2 drum kits, 4 guitars, 2 basses and 3 vocalists. we played an intro, an original and covered the Misfits' Some Kind of Hate. a lot of the shows on campus were really varied music-wise which i always thought kept things interesting. there would be 2 or 3 local bands and then 1 or 2 touring bands. the whole scene was great. we'd have hardcore kids, crust punks, skaters and hippies all crammed in a basement. it was just cool to see everyone supporting live/local music. k-town mosh krew pride!
Do you feel like you lived up to your plan of having the Turning Point existence as a band?
yes i do. actually if you review what i wrote in the discography liner notes regarding this "plan" you'll see we executed it to a T!
I never knew you were around before Rain On The Parade. What was it like having them as contemporaries?
well while the "idea" of Atari may have been around a year or two before Rain on the Parade, i believe they were a fully functioning band slightly before we were. i met Ronny Little through Nate my freshman year at Kutztown. they knew each other for a few years by then from going to shows in their hometown area. I thought ROTP was awesome. they definitely had a distinct sound that set them apart. i really dug Ronny's lyrics too. their '95 summer tour demo and the Body Bag ep are my favorite material by them. since both ROTP and Atari were based out of Kutztown, we got to play tons of shows together which was always cool. both bands recorded at Signal Sound Studios in Quakertown, PA quite often and on occasion we'd attend each other's sessions to lend a hand with backing vocals or just hang out and give support.
Tell me about your honorary #1 fan from Las Vegas.
Bobby Francis! we just loved his name and the fact that he was from Vegas and i think his letter just said, "Please send me a demo - Bobby Francis". we made him a limited edition demo layout and recorded some extra stuff at the end of his tape. just us sitting around bullshitting talking about random topics. actually, we did that with a few demos but Bobby was always our favorite. we all hope he is doing well and enjoying life.
Like this post Chris. I did some of the Label Art for these records. What is your email man?
ReplyDeleteDude im only seeing this now.
ReplyDeleteMy mail is inxtime@gmail.com