Rock Monsters Romania

What’s the best thing you can do on a Friday? Well, of course, go to a concert at Quantic. This time, though, it wasn’t just a concert. It was the anniversary of one of the artists who has grown over the years into a big name in Romania’s alternative culture.

On November 14, I went to Jurjak’s ten-year anniversary concert. To be honest, I had always wanted to see him live but never had the chance. Sometimes concerts don’t happen on the days you want, but this time I said, “Okay, let’s cancel everything.” It was time to live a little, we only have one life. I had seen him live before with The Schnitzels, but never with his main project.

I entered the concert hall at Quantic a few minutes after the doors opened. At first, it felt surprisingly empty, and I thought that maybe people were just waiting to come in later. Still, since the tickets were almost sold out online, I was hopeful that the venue would fill up and that it would turn into a great anniversary show. After all, every artist deserves a special concert that celebrates their achievements and career.

As expected, around the start of the opening act, the hall began to fill up. The first act featured The Schnitzels, which is also Jurjak alongside Narcis Axinte, but with swapped roles as Narcis is the vocalist here. I imagine it must be hard for them to perform two shows in one night, even with roles switching between band members. Having to change dynamics like that can’t be easy. Still, the night started with a strong alt-punk energy, which was probably the best possible choice for an opening act. The energy levels were already high, and it was clear they were enjoying themselves. They even had a small glowing skull on stage that looked like a weird Christmas decoration.

I had seen them before in 2022, just before the Arctic Monkeys show, and I can honestly say that their performance this time was even better. It felt like the project had evolved a lot. Back then, it was still in its early stages, and that showed in the lack of repetition and cohesion. Now, everything felt natural and well put together. The vibe they gave to the crowd was perfect preparation for the main act. They also played songs from their latest album, released this summer at Expirat. It’s clear that every concert makes them better, and I’m happy to see one of the newer bands in Romania gaining more popularity. I’d love to see them headline a full punk show someday.

After them on the stage came Ana Coman. Everyone expected an electric show, but due to some technical and logistical issues, it turned into an acoustic performance. She looked a bit nervous, which made sense since she had rehearsed for an electric set with the full band and only had one rehearsal for the acoustic version. This was one of the few times I’ve seen her slightly unprepared, and it was noticeable, especially since it was already the eighth time I had seen her live.

That day also marked the release of her new single, which she mentioned had never been performed acoustically before, only electric. It wasn’t her strongest performance compared to others I’ve seen, from small shows to big festivals like Summer Well. Still, unless you’re a music critic or someone who attends her concerts regularly, you probably wouldn’t have noticed. Given the circumstances, it was a solid performance, and the crowd clearly enjoyed it. She played both her most popular songs and her newest release, and of course, she ended with her famous “Până Mâine,” a song everyone waits for and sings along to every time.

After that, there was a long break because Jurjak couldn’t start with an acoustic setup due to technical issues. The team had to repair the equipment, and I even heard that someone went home to get a replacement part. The show was delayed by about 25 to 30 minutes, but despite this, the crowd only became more excited for the final act.

When the show finally started, it did so in full force, with a children’s choir singing in the background, something really not specific to Jurjak’s concerts. This moment felt carefully prepared, as if it had been planned for years. As the show went on, Jurjak became more emotional with every song. Despite the technical problems earlier, it was clear that the concert was turning into more of a celebration than a regular performance.

Even though his music travels through different periods and styles, that evening felt like a perfect ambiance. The concert flew by, ending with the entire crowd singing along to both his most popular songs and some newer releases, which I unfortunately didn’t know very well. Still, I loved them so much that the first thing I did when I got home was replay the best songs on Spotify again.

The ending was especially emotional. The people who work with him surprised him with a cake to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the project and his career. In the end, everyone was just happy that the technical scare was only temporary and that the concert turned out so well. He thanked everyone involved – from the audience to the band members and the children in the choir. They closed the show with an encore featuring one of his most popular songs, “București,” which the entire crowd sang along to.

Even though I looked for merchandise, there was no stand, which was a bit disappointing. Still, I was lucky enough to get the concert’s setlist. Usually, I analyze performances song by song, but this time it felt more about the atmosphere than technical perfection. It was a performance to be remembered and a reminder that if you like an artist, you should see them live. It means a lot to them, even if they don’t always say it. Their growth depends on the people who support them and show up for their music.

Honestly, I’m really looking forward to what’s next for Jurjak. He mentioned wanting to explore new musical directions and hinted that a new album is on the way. Hopefully, it will be released in 2026. Until then, you should definitely see him live, both with his main project and with The Schnitzels. It’s a performance you should experience at least once in your lifetime, especially on a relaxed evening after a long day of work.

You can see Jurjak live in his next show at Control on 5th of February, tickets are available here.

Review by Radu Mihai
Photo by Cătălina Kiru