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ATHENS, July 4-- The popular American band Calexico performed live on Tuesday night before a fully packed Odeon of Herodes Atticus, as part of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. The influential band, that is currently on their summer European tour, presented to an enthusiastic audience of 5,000 people some of their biggest hits, along with songs from their latest album, "The Thread that Keeps us", released this January. Named after a town on the Mexico-California border and originating from Tucson Arizona, Calexico has established an entirely new musical sub-genre. Their unique idiom, described as "desert noir", is a blend of traditional Latin music influences (mariachi, conjunto, cumbia, tejano), country, jazz and post-rock. In their 23-year career, Calexico has gained both critical acclaim and a growing number of devoted fans all over the world. The band has staged several concerts in Greece and is particularly loved among their Greek fans, who don't miss the chance to fill the venues where they appear. As Tuesday's tickets were quickly sold out, the organizers announced a second concert for Wednesday. According to guitarist and frontman of Calexico Joey Burns, the loving feelings are mutual. "(When in Greece) It feels like I am back home... The blending of cultures where I live reminds me of that Greek spirit," Burns told Xinhua in an interview before Tuesday's concert. Calexico is no strangers to the Greek culture and music, either. Their 2017 album "Edge of the Sun" features, among others, a guest participation of the traditional Greek instrumental group Takim, whom they met again with last night on stage to present an interesting take on Calexico classics, such as "Stray". | 
