Rock Monsters Romania

I’ve always thought that a truly exceptional band can teach you life lessons through sad songs performed with a smile on their faces. This is exactly what The Mono Jacks are doing.

On May 12th, I was ready for a new milestone in the history of the band. The day marked their first ever concert at Sala Palatului in Bucharest, and the release of their new album “Norul nouă.” It was only my second ever The Mono Jacks concert, the first one being all the way back in 2019, at Fall in Love Festival.

I entered the concert hall feeling emotional and hyped. I was pleasantly surprised to see many children already seated, and it made me reflect on how admired these guys are among the new generation. All I can say is that these children have excellent taste.

The first gong echoed through our souls precisely as the clock struck 7PM. The full equipment was already on the stage, including the flashy guitars that captivate every child, as well as my inner child who yearns to perform with them. The second gong reminded me how much I missed going to the theatre, a thought that was quickly dissipated by the huge crowds that were coming through the entrances.

One more gong remained… and then its resounding sound filled the air. In a matter of seconds, everything plunged into darkness as the lights slowly faded away. The stage looked like a small spaceship ready to take off, with lights from one side to another. The thunderous applause echoed from every corner of the venue as the public was ready for a memorable night.

With the centre of the stage still covered in darkness, the band’s members hopped full of energy. This time they were five instead of four as Doru Trascău (vocals), Andrei Zamfir (guitar), Cristian Chiru (bass) și John Ciurea (drums) were joined by another amazing guitarist, Vlad Cotruș. 

Their energy was immediately confirmed with an electrifying start with “Gândurile,” one of their earliest songs, released more than twelve years ago, in 2011. It was a perfect intro, drawn from their roots, as every memorable story begins.

With a seamless transition, the band returned to 2023 to play the first song from their new album. In a strong red background, “Râuri albe” reminded me that my childhood is not as close as I was thinking before the concert and also made me think a little bit about the past and future. The thoughts were, however, completely blown up by the power of the present. As it always happens, and perfectly timed to the song, Doru had to take a few seconds break to lace his shoes. He was more energetic than he probably expected.

Despite not being exactly 22:22, the band launched into “Caleidoscop,” accompanied by a visual masterpiece. The stage lights created a stunning display, simulating images that mirrored the spirit of the song. Visuals in the shape of windows and pale-yellow backgrounds, reminiscent of aged photo paper, adorned the stage.

The emotions on Doru’s face at every song were undeniably visible even though I felt like he tried his best to mask that with jokes between songs. I enjoyed his story about his friend who married a Japanese girl and I was waiting to hear what song he was talking about. Probably it was clear for everyone else, but somehow not for me. Yes, it was “Tablou.”

Then, “Undeva” debuted with John’s drums, and as the gongs before the concert, reverberated deep within my soul. The end seemed emotional for all of the band members and this feeling continued with “Nemuritori,” the chillest song until that moment, but also the most powerful one. A cute moment followed as there was a small group hug after, but it did not take long as they had a concert to continue. After Doru shared another small story about the song’s origin, the captivating performance of “Călător” began, accompanied by mesmerising stage movements and a truly passionate interpretation.

Three emotional songs followed, and I could see couples from all around the venue hugging each other. You probably already guessed at least two of them. I am talking about “Gloria,” where the audience joined Doru in singing along for nearly the entire duration, and “Aici Acum” and “O fi un vis.”

I’ve talked about the new generation at the beginning, but I have to come back to that idea. At “1000 de Da,” The Children’s Radio Choir joined the band in an unique and memorable interpretation. Their collaboration not only made everyone sing along but also prompted many to film the entire moment, which was probably the highlight of the concert.

“O să încep de luni,” the song that should not be listened to on a Tuesday as everyone around me was saying, became a fan’s favourite only hours after its release as a single and this was clear from the reaction of the crowd. Since we all love to procrastinate sometimes, is there any specific reason to not admit it? After it, Doru took a moment to thank his bandmates and dedicate the next song, “Urgent,” to them.

The following two moments were absolutely mind-blowing from my perspective as the entire concert hall was singing along with them, with their phones’ flashlights and dancing between the seats rows. Of course, it was “Infinit” and also the beginning of a mini streak of their popular songs. That moment and the black and white lights reminded me of what I felt and the vibes from Arctic Monkeys’ concert from 2022, with Doru being the Romanian version of Alex Turner. “Umeri Aurii” and “Un Sfert de Secundă” were equally moving and probably the only moments at a concert at Sala Palatului when everyone was standing up. A myth was busted: YOU CAN DANCE IN SALA PALATULUI DURING A CONCERT!

After a resounding round of applause, the band was back for an encore that ended the story with a throwback, the same way it started. “Push The Pedal,” a song released in 2011, and “Mai stai un pic”. I was a little bit surprised by the first choice as I did not expect to hear one of their English songs that night. However, the second choice felt familiar and it was the best summary of this amazing concert. As the last song played, I believe we all shared the same feeling of wanting this concert to go on forever.

Throughout the concert, The Mono Jacks delivered a flawless performance brimmed with boundless energy. I was particularly impressed by Vlad and his mesmerising solo at the end of the show, which left everyone speechless. The same can be said about the rest of the band’s performance. Doru’s dynamic presence on every corner of the stage was so captivating that it seemed like the Earth’s 71% water was the only thing untouched by him.

This concert ranks among the top three concerts I have ever attended in my life, without any hesitation. It was a long-awaited moment for me to witness the Romanian Alternative scene taking its place on the big stages. The Mono Jacks, you absolutely rock!

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Photos by Raluca Stanescu

Review by Radu Mihai