and what we feel,” and said that in Astoria,
34 SEPTEMBER 2 0 1 7
the band is embraced “for daring to
show who we are.”
Combining a rock ‘n’ roll presence with
intense vocals and absorbing rhythms,
Zoe Over Zero is a puzzle that came together
piece by piece.
“The lineup of Zoe Over Zero originally
began with me and my cousin Panagiotis
‘Peter’ Sotiropoulos and closely thereafter,
Luis ‘Louie’ Arichavala, who would
fill our sound by accentuating the
rhythm with his unique percussion and
drums,” Karantzikos explained. “Two
years later, I saw Phil DiFranco playing his
left-handed bass. I asked him if he was
interested in sitting in and playing bass
with Zoe and it was one of the best decisions
I made.” He fit in with the band,
so “we had a drink and toasted to the
future.”
Zoe Over Zero’s connection to Astoria is
profound: “From the early years, growing
up, we have been deeply rooted in the
heart of Astoria,” explained drummer Arichavala.
“Through our brotherhood, our
passion in music has grown collectively
throughout bittersweet times.”
The band has enjoyed playing at The
Irish Whiskey Bar, Doyle’s Corner in “the
early days,” The Quays, McCaffreys, Bohemian
Hall and Beer Garden and on top of
the hill in Astoria Park.
The band has recently suffered a small
setback: their bass player, Astoria veteran
Philip “Snake” DiFranco, fractured his leg.
But the band should be performanceready
again soon, so look for their gigs at
your favorite Astoria venues.
Karantzikos considers the entire Astoria
music scene one big family:
“Every musician in this town is an integral
and eclectic being that manifests into
this union, and, therefore, becomes eternal,
becomes, without knowing, a family,”
he said.
ZOEOVERZERO@GMAIL.COM
AKARANTZIKOS@AOL.COM
Zoe Over Zero
Zoe Over Zero is one of the most polished,
“alternative rock” bands I have
come across in the western Queens music
scene. The band’s distinctive sound generates
an experience that transcends the
venues where they perform.
Andreas Karantzikos, songwriter and
frontman of Zoe Over Zero, describes
his band’s intentions as “expressing ourselves,
by nakedly showing who we are
ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
Photo by Manhattan Shade _ Glass
Photo by Wendi Gueorguie
Photo byTriantis Family
