PHOTOS: The Ataris, Clever Clever, E57, and Condition Oakland at The Leonard in Scranton, 12/01/16
Just before two sold-out back-to-back shows at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia with MxPx, pop punk band The Ataris kicked off their winter tour at The Leonard Theater in downtown Scranton on Thursday, Dec. 1, marking the first time in years that a national touring band without local ties has graced The Leonard’s historic stage.
Ashland folk punk band Condition Oakland and two Scranton-based acts – alternative rock group E57 and post-punk band Clever Clever – opened the night to show how the local music scene does punk rock in a diverse and impressive display.
The Ataris are best known to the general public for their hit cover of Don Henley classic “The Boys of Summer,” but fans that night were happy to hear anything from their 2003 major label debut “So Long, Astoria,” including “In This Diary” and “The Saddest Song.” Wirth five full-length albums and a new six-song EP, “October in This Railroad Earth,” released in June, the band had plenty of music on tap for fans new and old. It was a special concert for many who grew up with The Ataris as teenagers and those who hadn’t seen them live since they stopped a few miles away at the now-defunct Eleanor Rigby’s in Jermyn back in 2010 or Tink’s Entertainment Complex (now Levels on Linden) just a block over in 2009.
Presented as a partnership between Meat & Potato Entertainment, the guys who founded the annual Electric City Music Conference, and DamnMillennial! Promotions, the promotion company of The Leonard executive director Steve Masterson, this show is hopefully the first of many to come (back) to Scranton.
