Rock Monsters Romania

It seems like 2023 is the year of premieres in many fields, including for me. Even though I have known about byron for around 10 years, I only managed to see Dan at his special songwriting panel at MMB 2022. It was at that moment when I said to myself, “Am I really a rock journalist if I’ve never seen them live?” and set one of my musical goals for 2023.

On the 12th of April, I was entering Hard Rock Cafe Bucharest really hyped, but at the same time a little bit clueless, thinking of what I should expect, considering their diverse setlist. All I knew was that I was ready for a beautiful night and it seems like I was right.

Like a Swiss watch, the concert started exactly at 9PM with a wonderful and powerful intro. It was “Anima”, one of my favourites songs from the band.

After a short break for vocal exercises, jokes, applause, and some sound adjustments, the show resumed with a series of chill songs, including some of their most popular tracks from “Eternal Return”. I was truly mesmerized by the seamless transitions between the Romanian and English songs.

Of course, “Marea” was in the setlist and it reminded me that it was the 12th of April, even though the weather was not showing that at all, so summer was close, yet so far. “Monstrul de sub pat”, “Granita-n ranita”, “Perfect” (what a perfect song to be fair) and “XX” followed it. All with different vibes, sometimes I felt like I was listening to multiple bands at the same time, all so perfectly combined and transitioned.

During the concert Dan Byron announced that the band would be releasing a new album this autumn, which made everyone enthusiastic. They even played a song from it. Shortly after, they played “Consumatori de vise”, their most popular song and also my favorite one from the band due to its special and emotional lyrics and a bit of heavy riffs. It was a moment that everybody enjoyed and sang along to, and I would say that it was also the most recorded and shared moment of the show.

The bis consisted of two songs, “Melancolic” and “Cu Capul In Nori”, where the public left their tables to dance and sing along with the band in a few minutes that showed their close relationship between on and off the stage, things that I always remarked in this location.

What I loved the most beside the music at this concert? The people and their vibes: the crowd (sometimes led from the back of the bar by the one and only Robin Proca) was amazing as usual, the band members were so relaxed and at the same time enthusiastic and the unique moments like Andrei’s drums solo and Dan’s flute playing, which gave me chills down my spine.

What a night it was, just before the Easter holiday. I hope to see them again soon, and I encourage you to do the same!

Text and Photos by Radu Mihai