Release Athens Festival 2024 - Duran Duran

A lot of people were listening to Duran Duran back in the 80's. Most of them however are reluctant to admit it now, mostly because of the bullying they received about it, mainly from "rock" fans. That's why, when they first came to Greece in 2005, I didn't expect that a lot of people would go to see them. However, a lot of them did, so many of them in fact, that a venue change was needed. Although, I had seen them live before (back in 1989, at the inauguration of the London Arena), I missed my chance. Taking into account though how successful their first Greek concert was, I predicted that they would come again. And they did. The following year at the Olympic Fencing Hall. And that was the first time that I saw then in Greece. They came again, but only to Salonica (I think it was 2012), and finally, this year, they returned to Athens. And not only did I go, not only was I in the company of the admin of their Greek unofficial Facebook page, but I was also in the company of other artists' fans and members of their respective Facebook pages: U2, Pet Shop Boys and Bruce Springsteen (that last one is, as you've probably guessed, me!).

There's wasn't much in terms of support for this particular date. The original support act, Sofi Tukker, pulled out at the last minute and JC Stewart was drafted in. There was no other support act before him, only a DJ set by Spyros Pagiatakis, which was very enjoyable, I must admit, as we got to hear many familiar and beloved 80's tunes.

Next up, as I have already mentioned was JC Stewart who was warmly and favourably received by the audience.

And then it was finally time for Duran Duran! I kept following their setlists on social media all these years, and because I had seen that there was a certain pattern to them, I had a suspicion that their set was going to be predictable and maybe a bit short (But definitely not boring!). Nothing could have been further from the truth, though. Although certain songs (eg "Hungry Like The Wolf") are always performed at specific points in the set, there was a lot of variety (including surprises) and for once, emphasis on their latest album was more than welcome. In this case, the album in question was their Halloween special "Danse Macabre" which features reworkings of certain songs of theirs, cover versions, and new songs as well. We even had a preview of the deluxe version of said album which hadn't yet been released at that time (namely the new version of "New Moon On Monday" entitled "New Moon (Dark Phase)"). Another noteworthy fact was the emphasis on their debut album from which they performed five songs. And yes, there was an encore, and yes, the last song was "Rio" as it usually is, but nobody was taking note of all these, because by then, the concert had turned into a big 80's and 90's party. And no, kids, they didn't play "U Can't Touch This". That was in fact "Super Freak", part of "Super Lonely Freak"!

In short: We can't wait for them to be back! 

SETLIST:
01. Night Boat
02. The Wild Boys
03. Hungry Like Τhe Wolf
04. A View Τo Α Kill
05. Invisible
06. Notorious
07. Black Moonlight
08. Super Lonely Freak
09. Friends Of Mine
10. Careless Memories
11. The Chauffeur
12. Is There Something I Should Know?
13. Ordinary World
14. Come Undone
15. New Moon (Dark Phase)
16. Planet Earth
17. (Reach Up For The) Sunrise
18. White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)
19. The Reflex
20. Girls On Film / Psycho Killer
Encore:
21. Save A Prayer
22. Rio

Release Athens Festival 2023 - Primal Scream, The Prodigy

 

On what would turn out to be a five day marathon of concerts and trips, I went to my last Release Athens Festival date for 2023. I chose it for just one reason: Primal Scream. The Prodigy were however a welcome addition. 

There were not many acts on that date. I arrived early, just as the doors were opening and the first act was not a live gig, but a DJ set from George Michalopoulos. That was a funny coincidence seeing as my last night out the previous week had also been a DJ set (from Fatboy Slim).

 

 

The first live act came next and this was Lip Forensics, an electronic music band from Greece. I had heard of them, but I had never heard them (or listened to them to be more precise). Their show became much livelier with the addition of female vocals courtesy of Kit Kido.

 

Then it was time for what for me was the main act: Primal Scream. Several people were maybe expecting a set full of dance tracks and loops remembering them in the very early 90's. And indeed that was probably the reason they were chosen to play the festival on this specific night among DJ sets and electronic and dance acts. But let's not forget that before (and after) that phase, Primal Scream were first and foremost an indie band. The set started with a gospel choir giving us the intro to "Movin' On Up". And yes, they played a very special version of "Loaded" but we got so much more, such as "Rocks", "Country Girl" and my personal favourite from their latest era, "2013" with its saxophone solo.

 

Finally, it was party time with The Prodigy. I remembered they had played on the 4th Rockwave Festival, back in 1999, but I had chosen to go on the previous day featuring Garbage and Patti Smith. Now many people would say they wouldn't want to see The Prodigy without Keith Flint, however when I discovered Prodigy back in 1991, Keith Flint, although he was an original member, did not yet sing. And he did not sing until 1996 and "Firestarter". Anyway, it was indeed a party and although it was live, it felt more like a DJ set with each song playing only for three minutes , usually followed without a pause by the next one. That's why it ended quite soon. But we did see a graphic representation of Keith on the screen.

I was out of Water Square and on my way home quite quickly, because on the very next day I was going to attend a concert of a very different kind: Guns N' Roses at the Olympic Stadium...

SETLISTS:
PRIMAL SCREAM
01. Movin' On Up
02. 2013
03. Can't Go Back
04. Big Jet Plane
05. It's Alright, It's OK
06. Suicide Bomb
07. Come Together
08. Jailbird
09. Loaded
10. Country Girl
11. Rocks

THE PRODIGY
01. Breathe
02. Omen
03. Light Up The Sky
04. Climbatize
05. Everybody In The Place
06. Voodoo People
07. Omen (Reprise)
08. Firestarter
09. Roadblox
10. No Good (Start The Dance)
11. Their Law
12. Get Your Fight On
13. Poison
14. Smack My Bitch Up
Encore:
15. Take Me To The Hospital
16. Invaders Must Die
17. We Live Forever
18. Out Of Space

Fatboy Slim live in Athens July 2023

As you probably know by now, I rarely go to see DJ's play live unless they are one of my favourites. So, after Tiesto in 2009 (and let's not forget Little Boots 10 years later - but that was after her live gig) it was now time for Fatboy Slim. (We could also mention here The Chemical Brothers in 2018 which was a dance music "live" gig). I wanted to see one of his sets especially after listening to his "Live On Brighton Beach" albums and watching the "Big Beach Boutique" DVD

He played at The Stavros Niarchor Foundation Cultural Center home of the Summer Nostos Festival. And what's more it was free (as the Summer Nostos Festival usually is). The support DJ set was by Hank K and what made it memorable for me was that he finished it by playing "Fired Up" by the Funky Green Dogs, one of my favourite dance tracks from more than 25 years before.

 

 

As I was getting my beer, Fatboy Slim (aka Norman Cook) was up on stage and he started by playing "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen! What followed was two hours filled with favourite dance tracks from the past (some of which were his own) and more with a spectacular projection and light show.

 

The photos and videos I have posted here will give you just a taste of this amazing experience!