CULTURE

International acts join Pyx Lax for live shows

Camera flashes flared constantly at the appearance of Greek rock band Pyx Lax member Babis Stokas along with veteran rocker Eric Burdon, and they continued when Greek singer Theodosia Tsatsou joined the two. Something unusual was in the air just days ago when Pyx Lax presented a schedule of shows at the Vox Center of Iera Odos along with major Greek and foreign guest stars. Burdon, the voice of ’60s group the Animals, arrived at the news conference about 40 minutes late, clad in a leather raincoat sporting the words «Von Dutch» on its back. A large bunch of photojournalists were there poised for a snapshot of Burdon as musicians rehearsed and workers were completing the entrance decoration with publicity stands, trying to complete it in time for last Friday’s opening night. Pyx Lax have a history of collaborations with foreign artists, but this time their guest list is much longer; it is not restricted to the six-week shows at the Vox, but covers all their performances until the summer. The first guest star was Burdon, who performed on Friday and over the weekend. Burdon looked pleased to be performing in Greece together with Pyx Lax while the band members stressed that they grew up with Burdon’s hits. The singer announced that he is about to complete a new album and that he will go on tour next month. Last week he also recorded with Pyx Lax. For the next round of shows, tomorrow through Sunday, Gordon Gano of the American indie rock legends the Violent Femmes is set to join Pyx Lax on stage. Gano has collaborated with the band before, on its 1996 album «O Baboulas Tragouda Monos tis Nichtes.» Next week, between March 28 and 30, as well as April 4 to 6, Pyx Lax will be uniting forces with fellow Greek band Onar. The acts share strong ties. Pyx Lax member Filippos Pliatsikas endorsed Onar during its first steps by introducing its debut album, «To Ergo pou Paizoun ta Matia Sou» to the public. For their last two weekends of shows at the Vox, Pyx Lax will perform with Theodosia Tsatsou. Beyond that, the Greek group’s agenda includes what could be considered a rather surprising joint performance with the high-caliber Portuguese band act Madredeus, on June 1, at Lycabettus Theater. Performances have also been lined up with Maggie Reilly, best known for her extensive collaboration with electronic composer Mike Oldfield. Parts of these concerts will be recorded and released in the fall as a new, live Pyx Lax album, «Red Out.» It will include English lyrics of their hits (translated by Tolis Fasois, former member of the Sharp Ties) as well as interpretations of their guests’s best-known songs, with participation from the guests themselves. All shows at the Vox begin at 11 p.m. Vox, 16 Iera Odos, tel 210.341.1000.

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