Rock Monsters Romania

Text and photos by Ionela Pleșan

I attended the sold-out concert of the band Nuanțe at Uzina on December 8, 2023.

Why did I go? I’ve already been to several Nuanțe concerts, and this was my fifth. I was curious to see what had changed. I first discovered them in February at an unplugged event at The Pub, and I was curious to see their evolution. So, the reasons were explained — I was in the mood for music and decided to leave the house even though I wasn’t feeling great.

I arrived at Uzina around 7:40 PM, with the concert scheduled for 8 PM. I queued up for a hot chocolate and patiently waited to get it. Uzina, as a cafe, seemed like a cool place where hipsters gather on weekends. I took my order and went to the “concert hall,” which was basically a basement with narrow stairs, small tables, and tiny chairs. I knew what I was getting into because I had been to Uzina once before for a concert, but I wanted to see what had changed with Nuanțe almost a year later. Even though I knew the place, I couldn’t help but think about how I would navigate those narrow stairs and lots of people in case of an emergency, and I wasn’t the only one with such concerns. I overheard a guy from the first table saying, “We will do it like at Colectiv here if we die,” and I completely agreed with him. It’s an intimate atmosphere, but it’s not worth it. Last time at Rana, I was sitting shoulder to shoulder with other people, and now it seemed that Uzina had realized it wasn’t okay to cram so many people in. There were over 30 people in a basement ready to listen to music, hoping it would end well. At least that’s what I was thinking.

The concert started at 8:30 PM, which was okay according to the people around me who were talking about attending a concert that was scheduled for 8 PM but started at 10 PM. So, no complaints there. When the concert began, a curtain was drawn since there was no door to the basement.

Nuanțe welcomed the audience with free stickers on every table, a gesture I found very nice. “Of all the bands in Romania, these guys are my favorites,” said a guy at the table I was sitting at. I was happy to see such support, especially considering the unfriendly weather outside. More about Nuanțe can be found on Rock Monsters.

These guys from Pitesti who invaded Bucharest started playing, and the hardcore fans began to sing along. There were people who knew every word, which says a lot about the band. Yes, there were many girls, but also guys, so it’s not a band that only girls listen to and cry over every sad song.

What I noticed was that the bass was too low, but how can you play it loud in this basement with a speaker right next to your head? The guys seemed tired, but they still gave their best.

They started with the song “Undeva,” a piece that the fans already knew by heart. I saw people singing, and slowly their voices became heard. Ironically, this song had something special for me at that moment due to the lyrics, “Și dacă aici am să mor. Ar fi doar un vis frumos și nu mi-ar părea rău” (And if I die here, it would be just a beautiful dream, and I wouldn’t regret it). I thought that, in my situation, this didn’t apply.

I can also say that I was a bit disappointed because the drums and bass I was expecting weren’t there. I’ve been to a Nuanțe unplugged before, and it was significantly better. Well, it’s also because of the venue. They continued with “Ecou,” “Deja o Cunosc,” “Cătușe,” and other songs from their albums. To be honest, the atmosphere felt awkward somehow—it wasn’t what it should be, and I don’t think it’s the band’s fault. At some point between songs, a man stood up, looked directly into the eyes of the lead singer, Edi Bolbea, and said, “Edi, play a love song.” The band didn’t understand what was happening; the audience seemed to think it was part of the show, and I was scared because the guy was visibly drunk and could become aggressive at any moment from my point of view. I don’t know where Bolbea gets this quick wit, but he spoke to the guy and tried to calm him down a bit. Nuanțe started playing again, and the man was escorted to the surface.

I really liked the song “Cuib” in this version; the instrumental reinterpretation gave it a solemn and serious yet beautiful feel. Then came my favorite Nuanțe song, “Cea mai neagră zi,” one they don’t play too often, as Edi mentioned, “Prima dată când cântăm cântecul ăsta care încheie ultimul album.” (This is the first time we’re playing this song that closes the last album.). It seems that I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the song because Andu, the guitarist, cried throughout the entire piece.

Why do I like this song so much?

Because it makes me think about people who are no longer with me among us, either because they chose it or because it was meant to be. This song makes me think of my grandmother, Sinéad O’Connor, Chester Bennington, Matthew Perry, or even Robin Williams. Among all the songs from Nuanțe, I think I resonate with this one the most. They continued with songs like “Liberă,” “Eu II,” “Eva,” and “Două Minute.” There was talk about Pitești and FC Argeș. The last song, “Raiul Tău,” made people sing and smile, especially at the part with “Raiul ăsta e al tau unde e doar… foc” (This heaven is yours where there is only… fire). By the audience’s request, the encore was the well-known “Roi de Fluturi.” People seemed very happy and melancholic, singing and holding dear ones close. I got a bit bored with this song, but I have to admit it has its beauty.

In response to the question I had when leaving home, I don’t think I caught the guys in their best condition, and the venue left much to be desired. But I’ve seen them throughout this year, and I know they can be really cool, especially when they have a good day and a proper venue, especially for an unplugged concert.

Nuanțe is set to have their last concert of 2023 alongside Rana in Pitești, and you can find details here. Until then, follow them on social media, listen to their music, and buy the physical version of the album “Cântece Mute.”