The EP by the Greek band Bulldog caught my attention mainly because I only know the Greek scene very superficially. The bands that come to mind are Bootstroke and Jungle Fever from Athens. Bootstroke in particular had a pretty solid name across Europe around 2008 among fans of Oi! and football. Bulldog, however, come from the northern part of Greece. I couldn’t find out which football club they support, but this EP is generally dedicated to fans of Oi! and the third half — something that’s already clear from the cover artwork. So far, the band has released two records on Randale Records and one EP on Unleash The Dog Of Oi! Records, which is most likely their own DIY label venture.
The band sings in Greek and when I first heard them, my immediate thought was that I would probably guess they were from southern Europe on first listen. Bulldog play a faster style of Oi! with two guitars, and the EP cover shows five guys in their middle years staring back at me. I don’t know what other projects they may have been involved in, but this three-song EP is mainly about sporting activities with friends in the open air — preferably in stadiums, streets, or on empty lots outside the city. The seven-inch is my favorite format. Three songs on vinyl — what more could you ask for.
Hooligans is a song about a relaxed lifestyle filled with educational nighttime walks through the city, refining one’s language skills, and holding scientific discussions with friends who support different football clubs. The second song, Βάζουν φωτιά τις Κυριακές (They Light Fires on Sundays), is aimed at cold-resistant fans of Sunday fires, garden maintenance, and athletic multi-discipline competitions — especially those involving throwing objects of various weights, ideally for distance. The third song, Derby, is dedicated to a fascination with ancient magical rituals connected with fire, flags, mass singing, and synchronized crowd choreography, most often taking place on Sundays — whether at home or on an away ground. Throughout the EP there is also a recurring respect for the work of law enforcement and a commitment to the mental development of the individual through meditative techniques.
I haven’t heard a good EP with a hooligan theme in quite a while, and here — instead of cameras on every corner — you can once again experience that old familiar feeling of collective work on a shared piece of street craftsmanship. Released on Tough Ain’t Enough Records, and it also includes printed lyrics, which allowed me to actually read what the songs are about.
