The Ataris are not the only rock band out there with a complicated history.

But it is probably one of the few that has not let things such as member swaps and label switches get in the way of delivering to fans.

The band will make State College a stop on its current world tour with a performance at 6:30 tonight at SoZo. Joining The Ataris will be touring artists Pull the Pin and local bands Acalasia, On The Run and Shelbyville.

Chris Swinney, guitarist for The Ataris, is one of the three newest members of the band who joined steadfast frontman Kris Roe about a year ago.

Swinney said he feels as if he has been "welcomed with open arms" by long-standing Ataris fans who he described as loyal and passionate, sometimes even displaying band logo tattoos.

"Having them accept us as part of the band has been the greatest thing ever," he said.

Garrett Bogden, promoter for Nittany Booking, said The Ataris is the type of band that manages to keep the same fans for a long time. He added many such fans were at the band's show at SoZo last semester, and seemed to know the lyrics to almost every song.

Swinney realizes he came into the scenario after the band released its platinum album So Long, Astoria in 2003, which he said had success that "shot into the stratosphere." The music then deviated from the band's established style with Welcome The Night in 2007, which he said was "a little bit darker."

"Kris was going through some personal stuff," he said. "A lot of people didn't really get it, but if you keep putting out the same album then you're not really an artist."

But the band's new album, which Swinney said should be released after August's Warped Tour, will be a "return to form" because it melds the group's dark and pop sides.

Bogden (senior-marketing), said this is a good strategy for the group.

"I think when they were most successful it was with more upbeat songs," he said, mentioning hits such as the "Boys of Summer" cover.

He liked the demos from the album he has heard, he added, and they sound more like the material that was provided when the band was at its peak.

The band has decided to release this album independently. Swinney said its past experience with labels such as Columbia Records was good, but The Ataris is ready to get back to being independent.

"For us, we don't want there to be a barrier between us and fans," he said. "Labels made [The Ataris] realize they don't want it to be this big huge rock show with a faceless corporation running everything."

The band began a promotional tour for the album recently, and Swinney said it is trying to "hit every market [it] can."

To do this, the band will go from Pennsylvania to New Jersey -- then hop on a plane bound for South Africa.

"We wanted to find somewhere out of the ordinary," Swinney said. "We wanted to hit places we've never hit before."

Bogden said he believes the band has come a long way, and he especially admires longstanding member Roe for facing everything head-on.

"It says a lot about his passion and drive for his music because it seems like no matter what gets thrown at him, he keeps playing music and touring," Bogden said. "I really admire his dedication."