The Ataris/Authority Zero/Gasoline Heart/Drag the River

This SoCal pop-punk band recently reunited for no particular reason other than that the guys missed playing together. Gotta admire that approach — it's not like they're trying to cash in. For this tour, they'll play their 2003 album, So Long, Astoria, in its entirety. It's the band's most complete album as it features pop-punk/emo songs that tap into timeless theme of growing up. The guys were often compared to Jimmy Eat World and that comparison rings true here as songs such as "Takeoffs and Landings" and "In This Diary" start slow with chunky guitar riffs and parched vocals before turning into hearty sing-alongs. Good stuff. The band's enthusiasm is infectious and will undoubtedly come across clearly at tonight's show. (Niesel)