Rock Monsters Romania

Text and photos by Ionela Pleșan

It is said that you never forget your first love, right? That’s why on Wednesday, October 11th, I went to celebrate Pistol cu Capse‘s 20th anniversary.

I arrived at Control on a Wednesday evening, ready for some fun. Ready to move, scream lyrics, and have a good time. Control has a special vibe. I can’t forget the concerts I’ve been to at Sala Berlin, with a full house of people enjoying and singing along with the band on stage. Control is energy, and it feels like home.

On this celebratory day, Pistol cu Capse chose to have Jack of all Trades as their opening act. (You can read more about them on Rock Monsters by following this link.)

Jack of all Trades is a band from Bucharest that describes themselves simply and directly by saying they play “alternative rock to jump or meditate, depending on your psychological profile.” They are a band that has toured the country and played in various pubs in Bucharest. Jack of all Trades consists of Alex Teodorescu on vocals and quitar, Gabi Predescu on bass, Mădălin Duca on drums, and their new addition, Adrian Coman  Ex Firma, on guitar. I was curious to see how the guys interacted on stage and how they sounded with Adrian, the new guitarist. Andrei Chirițescu recently left the band to focus more on his family, which is entirely understandable, and I’ve seen him at Control, so the support for Jack of all Trades is still there.

When the concert started, the audience timidly gathered in front of the stage, with Alex Teodorescu encouraging them to come closer. They had a short but balanced setlist, including songs like “Momentul de Acum,” one of my favorites, “Jocă-te Fifa,” and “E ok,” during which Mihai from Breathelast also joined them on stage. I love this collaboration, Jack of all Trades and the main shark from Breathelast, as I’ve been a big fan of the sharks since my university days. At the end of the concert, everyone was encouraging each other to play Fifa and not do drugs. My conclusion is that Adrian integrated perfectly into the band and left a great impression on me. I was eager to see his technique and how he handled things with the guys, and the result was excellent.

After Jack of all Trades, we had to wait a bit before Pistol cu Capse took the stage. This gave me the opportunity to take a pulse on the audience by walking around Sala Berlin. I saw people of all ages, people who literally grew up with Pistol cu Capse, enthusiastic and ready for the show. 

How did I discover Pistol cu Capse?

I found them when I was young, around the age of 14–15, I think, on Hit Music Channel. It was so cool to see and hear someone singing in Romanian on that channel, where I usually only saw Bryan Adams or Lady Gaga on big days. I would listen to “Undeva, cineva” and had a habit of leaving the TV on at full volume, and when I heard the first chords of the song, I would run to the room with the TV and dance and sing along.

Pistol cu Capse has changed their lineup several times in their 20 years, and the current lineup includes Vlad Staricu on vocals and guitar, Bogdan Iureș on guitar, Alexandru on drums, and Costin Danaila on bass.

What does Pistol cu Capse play?

A reggae punk that makes you want to move but also dream, or at least that’s how I like to define it.

They started with the song “Pas cu pas,” and everyone’s hands were up in the air. I saw people smiling, moving, and singing. The setlist was very balanced, with songs from their entire discography, paying attention to details. After an energetic song, they would follow it up with a slower one. They played over 20 songs, and the audience appreciated it. I heard people saying after the concert, “They played a lot; it was great.” It was the kind of concert I had missed. Full of energy and soul. I sang, danced, and had a great time. And I wasn’t the only one. The whole audience felt the same way. I found “my people” in front of the stage to sing along with and others to join in the circle pit that formed. I heard songs like “Spune-mi ce vezi,” “Nopți pierdute,” “Hai la tine acasă,” and the much-anticipated “Ioana.” During “Ioana,” the crowd gave their all and wished Ioana all the best.

Throughout the evening, former members of the band joined them on stage. I loved that very much. Music unites; it doesn’t divide. Members from the band Chester also joined them on stage, with the crowd shouting “Chester, Chester” for a few minutes at one point. Bogdan, aka Chester, got on stage, and with his help, we enjoyed the acoustic version of the song “Ea crede.” With Vlad on acoustic guitar and Bebe ( Costin Danaila) on keys, it was my moment of glory as I screamed as loudly as I could:

Ea crede că știe tot ce-i bine sau ce-i rău,

Și n-are-ncredere-n nimeni,

Pe nimeni n-ascultă când e greu,

Și nu îi pasă.

I used to listen to this song in my adolescence, and it felt like nobody understood what I was going through. I cried, dreamed, laughed, and danced to this song. I like to think that I’ve changed since then. I love to emphasize the line “Nu-i îi pasă” from this song. Why? Because that’s the conclusion I reached after many listens and experiences. Even though I “don’t care” in about 70-80% proportion, there’s still that nagging “what if” in my mind.

The concert was a breath of fresh air in the recent times, and I could feel the same vibe from others. Pistol cu Capse will always be the band I turn to for understanding and nostalgia.

What’s even better? The guys are set to release a new album next year, so we’ll definitely see each other at least one Pistol cu Capse concert in 2024.

The anniversary concert ended with happy people, smiling faces, handshakes, and hugs.

See you at another Pistol cu Capse concert, but until then, you can listen to them on all streaming platforms, follow them on social media, and even buy their anniversary merch. Give them a message on Facebook.