Rock Monsters Romania

There are certain bands in everyone’s life that hold a special place, from childhood through adulthood. For me, these are the bands I enjoyed listening to on the radio as a child, even though I didn’t know much about them. One such band was VUNK, and after I watched Cornel Ilie’s panel at the Mastering the Music Business conference in early September, I saw it as a wonderful opportunity to attend their concert from Hard Rock Cafe.

As I entered, I was delighted to see the tables removed from the front of the stage. This provided people with the opportunity to get closer to the stage and enjoy a better view. Considering that Hard Rock Cafe is a venue that, even when sold out, doesn’t feel as crowded as other concert venues in Bucharest, it created an intimate concert atmosphere.

From the very beginning, one thing that grabbed my attention was the intense flashing of lights. These lights were so powerful that, at times, they even prompted me to briefly close my eyes, as they made me a little dizzy. However, everything turned out well in the end. It helped that the colours and background were truly amazing.

The band effortlessly moved from heavy, powerful performance to tender, emotional songs and it felt like they could stay on stage and sing along with the crowd forever. The connection between the band and the audience was truly exceptional. What made it even more remarkable was the diverse age range of the crowd, which really shows the impact of VUNK’s music.

The night also featured some noteworthy debuts, one of which was the electric version of “De azi încep să te uit,” a song well-known from the band’s acoustic album “Numai la doi,” released in 2021. A lighthearted moment occurred at the end of the song when a member of the band’s crew hopped onto the stage and handed a Coca-Cola bottle to Nicu Sârghea, the band’s drummer. This small gesture not only highlighted the band’s hard work on stage but also underscored the importance of the crew in such moments.

Another heartfelt moment occurred during the performance of the song “Deja Vu,” featuring Alex. You might be wondering, “Who is Alex?” Well, he’s a lifelong VUNK fan who has been attending their concerts since he was just 3 years old. Over the years, he “grew up among the rows of spectators.” Now, at the age of 14 he’s a guitar player at the Voltaj Academy, and was invited by the band to perform this song with them. Throughout the performance, the screens displayed photos of Alex with the band members from all the concerts he had attended. I believe he did an outstanding job, and I have high hopes for his future in music. 

The final part of the concert felt like a time machine. “Mi-e dor de tine,” “Așa, și?,” “Scapă-mă de ea,” and of course the inevitable “Pleacă” were songs I grew up with, and I caught myself singing along with the band so loud that I lost my voice for a few minutes after the show.

The encore was once again a highly anticipated moment, with people shouting out their song preferences. To be honest, I was expecting to hear “Vreau o țară ca afară,” especially considering the new taxes imposed on the private music industry and the lack of improvement in the country’s situation after the pandemic. However, it didn’t happen. Instead, I was pleased to discover some new songs, including “Prăjitura cu jeleu” (even though it was released in 2001 when I wasnțt even one year old, if I compare myself to Alex here). Additionally, I had the privilege of hearing “Iar și iar” performed live to conclude this amazing concert.

After the show, I also had the opportunity to meet Cornel and Onel and engage in a brief conversation with them. They stayed behind for autographs and to meet the people who attended the concert, and this confirmed a theory I’ve held for a long time: to be a successful artist, you must also be a good person.

Text and photos by Radu Mihai