Melvins bring the punks out and into the heat in Athens!
It was July 3rd and the weather has started getting really hot in Athens, Greece around this time but it hasn’t stopped Punks, Goths, and Metalheads of all varieties from coming out of their cooler homes at 7 PM for doors. They immediately packed the industrial venue of Technopolis to catch Pigs at 7:30, and of course to have a good spot for Melvins.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs or also known as Pigs x7 opened the show literally with full force while the sun was still high in the sky and a crowd of fans all in black, happily melting between the music and the sun as their heads bobbed along. Singer Matt Bity came on stage dressed accordingly to the weather in short shorts and barefoot, making a real statement. As their set was coming to a close, the weather finally started cooling down, as more people quickly trickled in.
Vodka Juniors, a popular local Athenian punk act, performing during the dusk brought out the lights, the guitarist Kostis Jr. in his greaser best, and the angry vocals of singer Dirty Harry, got the crowd riled up accordingly before The Melvins came on next.
Once the sun had set and the moon started rising, more stage lighting came on, preparing the fans for the night’s headliner. Technopolis was classically lit up and added the stage lighting, and it made for a beautiful spectacle. The Melvins came out and opened the show with Snake Appeal, singer-guitarist Buzz Osbourne and bassist Steven Shane McDonald decked out in their famous outfits and jumped right into the action. Shortly into the set, they performed a cover of the Beatles’ early hit “Hold My Hand,” and the crowd beautifully sang along with beers in hand.
As the night progressed, they performed favorites “A History of Bad Men,” “Honey Bucket,” and “Night Goat” as they proceeded off the stage only to return for an encore and closed the night with “Boris.”
Melvins have just completed a European tour with US dates coming up this early Fall with Boris.
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WORDS AND PHOTOS BY ANNIE ATLASMAN