Rock Monsters Romania

Text and photos by Ionela Pleșan

Remember the editorial I wrote at the beginning of the year where I told you that E.M.I.L. is definitely one to watch this year? Well, that’s why they are still worth watching in 2024.

PS: I’ve had the album on repeat for almost a month in my headphones.

On January 25th, I landed at Expirat for the launch of E.M.I.L.’s 5th album, titled MELANCoOLIC. I also attended the pre-release party, where they played a few songs from the new album. However, Vlad’s dog stole all the audience’s attention.

I’ve been anticipating this album since last year when they announced they were working on new material, and I was very curious about the themes they would address and how E.M.I.L. has matured or not.

E.M.I.L. is a punk rock and ska band founded in March 2000 with 5 albums under their belt: Cocktail verde (2002), Rom, Fum și Vanilie (2005), Știu, ți se pare absurd… (2009), Imens (2015), and the newly released MELANCoOLIC (2024).

The current lineup consists of Sorin Bădulescu on vocals, Vlad Staricu on rhythm guitar and vocals, Gabi Georgescu on lead guitar, Adrian Toea on bass, and Alexandru Guță on drums.

I grew up with Green Day in my headphones and then discovered ska music along the way, so I had all the ingredients to like E.M.I.L., and I think that’s one of the main reasons that I like them. I discovered them years ago, but I still love them.I adopted my scandal attitude and headed to Expirat.

I arrived around 9 p.m., which would have been perfect because the boys were supposed to take the stage at 9 p.m. Unfortunately, they got on stage at 9:40 p.m., and while we waited, I heard voices from the crowd saying, “What are they waiting for? It’s already full.” I was glad to see familiar faces in the crowd, from people I often see at concerts to people I only see at E.M.I.L. concerts. I even found some members of Vița de Vie in the crowd, so support from other “underground” bands was also present. The setlist was prepared along with some lyrics, a new album, and new lyrics to remember.

The boys took the stage and started playing the song Gânduri Vii (Strălucitor și Roșu Chin), the song that opens their new album. This song talks about addiction and is inspired directly by the reality that we all live in, where you have betting shops next to pawn shops everywhere.

They continued with one of my favorite songs from the new album, namely Printre Zei. I love everything about this song. The lyrics, the instrumental, the vocals, and how Vlad screams at times. The fact that it’s not exactly a ballad or a slow song so it’s a getting into the mosh pit song. I like Vlad’s part because it comes so hard and is supported by the instrumental, and it’s somehow deep. I also like the chorus. Yes, I like everything about this song.

PS: “Numai noi, numai noi doi ştim

Zi de zi deziluzii depășim

Numai noi, numai noi și ei

Ne luptăm să zburăm printre zei.”

E.M.I.L. had a balanced playlist at Expirat, with songs from the new album but also songs from their other albums or just singles such as Promisiuni, Da Vrei, Suntem Peste Tot, Octombrie, Încrederea e un joc, they even played Rom, Fum și Vanilie, a moment when everyone in the crowd woke up to a truly melancholic vibe. Raised glasses of Cuba Libre in the air and lyrics sung with passion. The moment was just everything. 

From the new album, they sang songs like Noi Doi, Împreuna, Separat, Nu Ska EI, Iartă-mă or even Am Încercat să Pun Titlu de Piesă cu AI Dar Tot “Cântă și Tu Melodiile Vechi” a Ieșit.

On the songs AltUnivers and Aer, Satoshi joined them on stage, and the crowd started to scream and film. Everyone was curious about the guy from across the Prut River and what he could do. Even though it’s not my style, I liked Satoshi, and I liked even more the fact that you could see he enjoys what he does and feels good on stage. Nu vreau să pleci, the single and the first release from the 5th album, was also sung with Ell. She was very emotional, and you could see that.

How did Ell appear on this song? Ell is the sister of Cosmin Olteanu, E.M.I.L.’s producer for the new album. It seems they found each other at the right time, and they came up with a cool song that has been stuck in my head for weeks. 

To be honest, I found this alternating between fast-paced songs and slower ones somewhat annoying, but I understood people’s need to calm down; after all, we’re getting older. Although I would have enjoyed more scandal,. At one point, I felt like the youngest person in that crowd when a guy yelled, “This little one wants to move,” after they started playing another ballad after a song ready to start a mosh.

E.M.I.L. has its charm. To me, it still seems cool to listen to E.M.I.L. It’s the closest thing we have to ska/punk, and it saddens me that I don’t see many bands tackling these genres. 

Adi Toea seems to have integrated very well into E.M.I.L. Barbu’, E.M.I.L.’s former bassist, leaving the band last year. I know Adi from Breathelast, so I knew what he was capable of, and he did not disappoint at all. I have nothing more to say about Gabi; I don’t know how he always has so much energy and lives every moment. Vlad, with his guitar and “his screams,” conquered once again the little punk in me who loves a growl or some pronounced lyrics. Sorin always seemed serious on stage, but serious in a cool way where he always enjoys the moment, but somehow, with his feet on the ground, I somehow had the vibe that he doesn’t allow himself to fully enjoy the atmosphere. I don’t know; maybe it’s just my opinion. Alex on drums made a sensation, and of course, I played my air drums too.

In the end, after so many encores, they played Pisica, the moment when a cat, aka Puss in Boots, entered the mosh pit and did crowdsurfing. Here I argued with a friend who said that was a squirrel all day and not a cat. For those who were at the concert, what was it? A cat, right? It was a fun moment where everyone was happy to hear Pisica again, a song that is always shouted from the crowd at every E.M.I.L. concert.

The concert ended with Supradoză de Vise and everyone jumping and singing.It was a balanced concert with energy and lots of smiles, but honestly, I still had energy to jump for another hour and scream lyrics, but I’ll do that at the next E.M.I.L. concert.

E.M.I.L. continues to promote their album throughout the country, and you can find more information about it here. Follow them on social media, and let’s see where else we’ll meet in front of the stage.

See you next time!