Live Report: Planet of Zeus & Στίχοιμα, Bulls in A China Shop Tour

We headed to Τεχνόπολη Δήμου Αθηναίων to check out the gig by Planet of Zeus and Στίχοιμα. The two acts brought the house down as part of the Bulls in A China Shop Tour. 

A gorgeous summer night!

Sunday, June 5, 2022. It was a scorcher of a day, temperature-wise. So, as I made my way down to Τεχνόπολη, all I could think about was how badly I needed an ice-cold beer. Walking into the venue, and after taking a look at the merch stand from the bands (perhaps the most meaningful way we can show our support), I grabbed a frosty beer and waited patiently! 

As for what I was expecting, I can say that when it came to Planet of Zeus, it wasn't my first rodeo! Having studied their music quite a bit and having caught them live before, I already had a picture of what they could pull off on stage! For me, Στίχοιμα were the mystery, the ones who really piqued my curiosity. Having only heard a few tracks and never having seen them live, there was a sweet veil of mystery around these artists…

The journey kicked off with Πλανήτης Δίας!

And somewhere around the middle of my first beer, Planet took the stage and the crowd erupted in cheers! Known for their high-energy style, the Athens-based band did everything they could to get the Τεχνόπολη crowd going. Playing the best tracks from across their whole discography. From 'Your Song' off Faith in Physics, to 'Macho Libre', ‘Leftovers' and 'Vanity Suit' off Macho Libre, right up to my own personal favourite, 'The Great Dandolos' from Vigilante. The crowd showed real enthusiasm! Flares went up and everyone sang along at the top of their lungs! 

The Planet of Zeus were, once again, excellent. Simple, stripped-down and unpretentious. With a powerful sound, gorgeous riffs and a vibe that truly got the crowd fired up. So much so that when Babis announced, in his own particular way, the last three songs of the setlist, the crowd was begging for more! But what followed was set to be just as powerful…

Greek hip-hop with lyrics that actually mean something.

So we arrive at the moment when Στίχοιμα took the stage and the crowd had started to change face. The rock riffs gave way to rhythmic beats. Wherever I looked around me I saw hands raised, heads banging and people singing the lyrics of the songs at the top of their lungs. Στίχοιμα is a band with a huge fan base. Even more so in the city they come from, Athens. And from the first minute they proved to us that This is Athens!

If I wasn't a fan of Στίχοιμα when I walked into Τεχνόπολη, I can say they won me over completely with this performance. Their songs can't be called 'easy'. They're tracks with heavy lyrics and vivid depictions of reality. Through their eyes you'll be able to see an Athens, and more broadly a Greece, that's different. All they ask is that you have an open mind and a strong stomach! Right up until their next live performance, I'll definitely be counting down the days. 

The band has all those elements that will win you over! If you don't believe me, let's go, Στίχοιμα!