INTERVIEW: The Atom Age are ready to ‘Walk Through Walls’
Photo: The Atom Age’s new LP is called Cry ‘Til You Die. Photo courtesy of the band / Provided by Earshot Media with permission.
The Atom Age, the rock band based out of Oakland, California, has been gigging along for the past decade, and with each new release they have expanded their musical scope and gathered more and more listeners. Their latest recording effort is titled Cry ‘Til You Die, featuring lead single “Walk Through Walls,” and they plan to take the new songs on the road to Evel Pie in Las Vegas (Oct. 17) and the Yucca Tap Room in Tempe, Arizona (Oct. 18).
Ryan Perras, vocalist and guitarist with the band, recently exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox about the new recording and the band’s live sound. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
When did you realize it was time to head into the studio and record a new LP?
We’d been supporting our last record, Hot Shame, for a few years while always working on new songs in between tours. Once these were demoed and we had played them all live on a couple tours, we knew we were ready to lay them down.
Was it difficult to capture the band’s live energy on the recording?
Yeah, it’s always been a challenge to capture what goes on live with this band. Each of our previous records felt increasingly better but not completely. When Dave Schiffman signed on to produce and record we knew we’d finally get it right. He had us knock the songs out as live as possible and play them on the road before we ever recorded. It made a huge difference, and he was able to really capture our vibe. It’s the first record of ours that has felt totally right to us.
What inspired the song ‘Never Looking’?
It’s inspired by not feeling totally comfortable and understanding that maybe that’s how you will always feel, and to just embrace it. We are always looking for some perfect answer to life’s problems, and there’s no such thing. So don’t spend all your time looking for that kind of answer.
Do you feel the band has changed a lot since its early days 10 years ago?
Yes, it’s completely different in so many ways. The lineup is significantly changed, and our sound has evolved constantly. It still feels really fresh and like there is still a ton of stuff to do.
Who were some of your musical influences growing up?
Anything coming out of ’50s or early ’60s rock ‘n’ roll always caught my attention. I got into punk through skateboarding, and that really blew the doors open for me. It made me feel like something I could do, and I valued the community it created.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Atom Age’s new LP is called Cry ‘Til You Die. Click here for more information.
