This gig was part of the celebrations for the 17th birthday of the Athenian squat. I arrived pretty early so I had enough time to hang out before the gig started and to look through the squat’s distro and bookshop. A lot of people have gathered due to the occasion but it took a lot of time for the gig to start. After a couple hours of waiting, Βαλπουργία Νύχτα [Valpourgia Nihta] got on stage. It was the first time I saw them live after the addition of violin and I must say that their sound was excellent and they gave a very good show. Next band on stage was the unnamed one [the now finally have a name: Avgrund Livet]. I was waiting for a long time to see them live since I’ve heard very good things about them it was verified. They play a mix of From Ashes Rise, Kylesa and the like hardcore and they really blew me away. I can’t wait for a release. Next to play were Χάσμα [Hasma], the highlight of the evening for many, since it is considered as the most popular DIY band in Greece at the moment. Their show was amazing as always. They majority of the people was dancing and singing and almost everybody knew the lyrics word by word. The atmosphere was very beautiful and the band was active and cheerful. During the set of Hasma, the gig space was packed, since I everybody who was hanging outside came in. The last band to play were Kill the Cat, the only ska band of the bill to play. Most of the people who came in for Hasma went outside again so they had to start their set with only a smaller number of people. But after a few songs people started to getting back in and soon the place was full again. Kill the Cat were very cheerful and delightful. They played the songs from their new ep played games with the audience and everybody had a great time and a lot of dancing. After the show, various members from the bands and also people from the crowd got on stage and jammed live. They played covers of favorite greek punk songs and although they fucked up in most of them it was much fun for everybody. I left around 3.15 because I was exhausted but as I later found out, they continued to play until 4 in the morning. It was a great night, not only due to the bands that played but also because of the great atmosphere and people’s participation.
Χάσμα [Hasma], Βαλπουργία Νύχτα [Walpurgis Night, Valpourgia Nihta], Kill the Cat, Avgrund Livet – 17/03/07 – Villa Amalias, Athens
Ωχρά Σπειροχαίτη [Ohra Speiroheti], Μαύρακόρντα [Mavrakornta], Incognita Sperans – 23/03/07 – Thisio Square, Athens
This gig was organized in solidarity to and for the financial aid of the arrested for the clashes that took place at student’s march in March 8th on Athens. Unfortunately I arrived late at the place so I completely missed Incognita Sperans and half of the Μαύρακόρντα [Mavrakornta]’s set. It’s hard to describe the music style that they play. It’s a mix of rock, punk, traditional greek music and more with social and political lyrics. The sound of Ωχρά Σπειροχαίτη [Ohra Speiroheti] is very similar and both bands gave nice sets. I am not going to focus on the music side of the event because I think that the cause was more important. It was co-organized by a big number of collectives in order to get as much people as possible. It took place in an open space, in the centre of the city in a place and time that there were many passers by which were informed about the event’s cause and flyers were handed out and there were boxes for the financial contribution of the arrested ones. The attendance was pretty good, a lot of people showed up. During the gig there were many references from the bands about issues like the arrests, police brutality and the army and the crowd shouted slogans against the state, the army and in solidarity to the many people that are kept in prisons, hostages from the state. The event finished at midnight that there was a lot of people stayed and hang out for many more hours.
Wasted UTD, The Shocking Pills – 29/03/07 – After Dark Bar, Athens
Although I prefer to go to shows that take place in social spaces, open spaces and squats, an old friend of mine played his first gig so I went to see his band. After a couple of hours of waiting for the soundchecks and the for the place to get full, The Shocking Pills started the show. They played a small set, since they are a new band, only 4 songs that they have and 4 covers including Too Drunk to Fuck by the Dead Kennedys. Old school punk with ska influences is what they do and their sound was pretty good although they have a new lineup they did pretty well. Wasted UTD got on stage after a while. Wasted UTD have been playing together for 10 years, so they were more “professional”. They play a mix of Oi and ska, not exactly my style but I still enjoyed their set. Lots of skinheads and mods have arrived to watch them play and everyone seemed to have a good time.
Kill the Cat – #2
Kill the Cat is a ska-punk band from Athens, Greece. It is a very active band in the greek DIY scene and along with bands like Valpurgia Nihta, Hasma and more operate around the Villa Amalias squat. This CD EP is their second official release (third if you count their first demo) and it is completely self released. The CD featuring 5 high energetic punk ska tunes, with male and female vocals and greek lyrics comes in digipack with a nice booklet.
The Assassinators – s/t 7″
I always thought that when it comes to melodic and catchy punk rock with female vocals, La Fraction is the most representative band of the kind. And then I heard this band which blew my mind away! I found online and downloaded four tracks from their (sold out) demo which I was listening on repeat for days. And then came this 7” to prove how amazing this band is! Coming from K-Town delivering the greatest punkrock I’ve listened in a very long time! It will make you sing along in a language that you don’t even speak and it won’t leave your roundtable for a long time, I promise. I know this is not the most objective review but what the hell, if you don’t like this 7” I’ll buy it from you and give it to a friend cause this one is going to be a classic…
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