Rock Monsters Romania

It’s a special moment for any band to release their first album, and that was the case for The Strizzers, a special urban rock band from Bucharest.

They marked this event with a special concert on the 11th of November at I-auzi Una, a place I had never been to for a concert before. I had a tough time finding the entrance, climbing up the stairs and questioning if that was the right place. However, after hearing the sound of Marius Barbu’s guitar, who was a guest of the show that night, and spotting the trademark Christmas lights from past The Strizzers‘ performances, I knew I had arrived in the right place.

The concert room was cooler and less crowded than I had anticipated as the performance hour approached. Based on the brief soundcheck, I anticipated the music would be quite loud, so I opted for a spot towards the back initially. As the minutes passed, the audience steadily grew, and I recognized some familiar faces, such as Irina Marinescu from RockFM. It was cool knowing that her review would introduce The Strizzers to more people who didn’t know the band. Equally delightful was the sight of friends from the industry, including Radu Bădilaș from Heartbreak Cinema, Mădălin Duca from Jack of all Trades, Paul Tihan, Andra Andriucă, and many other underground artists. Witnessing small bands supporting one another is truly wholesome.

The show began approximately half an hour later than anticipated, but the venue was already filled with many people, including children in the front of the stage. Those who had listened to the album the day before were eagerly anticipating some memorable moments. “Some Kind of Hero” is an album that takes you on a journey through a range of emotions and feelings. The high-tempo songs, accompanied by Monica‘s powerful vocals, inject a substantial dose of energy into the experience.

The same electrifying energy translated into their live performance as The Strizzers kicked off with two powerful and “explicit” (if we take Spotify’s content flag seriously) songs. These two tracks, “Life Is a Bitch” and “It Makes Me Mad,” are really popular at their concerts.

After a powerful start, the atmosphere took on a more emotional tone as Vali Mihnea from Bodark joined the stage for a special cover of one of my favourite songs, “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons. Vali was just the first of several guests that night. Following his performance, another close individual to the band graced the stage – Teodora from Omnis, a folk band that includes Monica. Teodora brought a wave of emotion with her violin performance and provided exceptional backing vocals on “Free,” offering valuable support to Monica. Teodora continued to enchant the audience on “You Can’t Say We Never Tried,” a song that also featured another special guest, Mihai Tacoi (:umbra).

The performance of “Take Me Down” with Naomi Prie and Adrian Scrab from Marsquake was undeniably a highlight of the show. The chemistry between Monica and Naomi was palpable, and witnessing their chemistry was amazing and I can’t wait to see if there will be a future song featuring Naomi on the next album.

“The Chain” and “Run From It All” were next. I’ve always said that “Run From It All” is my favourite song from the band, and I still hold this opinion after the show. Radu Harsulescu from Lunatic was a guest on this one, and I saw everyone singing the song in the crowd. The most energetic person, of course, was Irina, who was taking photos for her review from the front of the stage, screaming along with the lyrics and dancing.

“The River” followed shortly after, featuring a powerful performance with Costin Teodorescu. It was another highlight due to the energy they evoked and the nostalgic throwback to Monica’s performance on The Voice of Romania.

“Find Your Pieces,” “This Cannot Be The End,” the band’s first-ever released song “See The Lights,” and “Please Leave Me Alone” were heard next. Following these tracks, the last two songs were played alongside a prominent figure and friend, Marius Barbu. “Just a Fool” and “I Am A Winner” concluded the night in an extraordinary manner.

I left the venue as ecstatic as I was back in July when I first saw the band at The Pub. The band’s chemistry is amazing, likely the real key to their future success. Their ability to collaborate seamlessly with anyone only adds to their appeal. Witnessing their journey over the next few years is genuinely exciting. I am eagerly anticipating their ascent in the Romanian rock industry, ready to see their lights shining on the big stages.