Rock Monsters Romania

By Beatrice Ghidarcă

Over the last six months, I’ve felt my body to be little more than a shell for emotions that had cemented themselves so deeply – turning into sandcastles that had hardened into heavy stones – that I could no longer take long, steady, confident strides. And since I’m always looking for a way to release the emotions that threaten to tip me toward madness, the listening party for KVLT, the new release from the band The Groovy Bastards, became the moment I truly connected with the music; the album took shape as the catalyst for my own musical liberation. But before I tell you about the range of states this album stirred within me, without giving away too many spoilers about their latest musical creation, let me share with you what my eyes and ears experienced on the first day of November at Bazar de Muzică: they were restless, constantly on alert, at once timid and full of excitement.

As I drew closer to the Bazar, my steps became less uncertain; I grew careful, watching out for the uneven, rounded shapes- puddles brimming with water- so as not to misstep, sink my hard plastic soles, or slip on the sticky, yellowed leaves. In my mind, I felt I had to arrive there in perfect form. Though, truth be told, when I listen to The Groovy Bastards, it isn’t perfection that strikes me, but rather the authenticity, the determination, and the sheer fun that these four charming musicians pour into every note, every lyric, the energy of their live shows, into everything they do.

Upon entering the venue, one part of me knew what to expect, while the other wasn’t quite so sure. This holds true musically, too: from their latest album, The Groovy Bastards have released four singles: KALM, VSFP?, LAMENTABIL, and TABU (a little wordplay here: the initials of these tracks spell out the album’s title!). I felt a bit disoriented as I stepped into this musical boutique… until I spotted Ioana, Andrei, Șerban, and Theo. They greeted me warmly. And not just me, but everyone who crossed the threshold of this intimate space. It was a unique feeling, much like a family reunion: the kind where you haven’t seen your favorite cousins ​​for five years, only to finally catch up with them around the Christmas table. And that is what I appreciate most about The Groovy Bastards: you can truly sense their openness and closeness to their fans- even without spending the whole evening chatting away, or, as is the case here, simply by listening to their music. To make this musical feast truly authentic, one of the band members would be waiting at the counter where you paid for your albums, ready to serve you a glass of red wine (I can’t offer a review of the wine itself, but I’m sure it was good), or, if you aren’t much of a drinker, a non-alcoholic, berry-flavored champagne.

The Groovy Bastards are the kind of band that defies categorization into a single musical genre- as Ioana, the band’s lead singer, once remarked when I was interviewing them for my journalist thesis: “We can’t be pigeonholed into any specific niche. We’re sort of on a path of our own… going everywhere and nowhere at once.” The same could be said of their new album, KVLT: it resists being pinned down to a specific niche, because it is simultaneously everywhere and nowhere. Compared to their debut, there is a clear shift in musical direction. Their sound is far more brutal, more defined, even, despite the “chaos” of genres at play. To draw an analogy, I can’t help but liken KVLT to a seashell: Ioana possesses a knack for stringing words together that might, upon a first listen, leave you wondering, “How do all these words actually fit together?” Meanwhile, the “shell” encasing this pearl of lyrics, crafted by Andrei, Șerban, and Theo, is a blend of progressive metal, alternative rock, jazz, funk, R&B, and hip-hop that never once misses the mark. As unexpected as it might seem, the album gets under your skin quite quickly: it’s catchy, a touch dramatic, fit for both tears and dancing, an invitation to reflect on your own inner and outer worlds, as well as those of others.

After a half-hour warm-up featuring red wine and fruity champagne, it was time for the album preview to begin. Before the first track from the album, KALM, began to play, Theo took the floor to share a few thoughts on the album’s creation process- a journey that was far from easy, reaching its final form only after two years of intense work. He also announced an upcoming tour, set to kick off on November 5th- the very day before the album’s release. His words carried no hint of shyness, even as his voice drifted all the way to the room where I stood- dozens of paces away, surrounded by others who, like me, were waiting with eager anticipation to hear the as-yet-unreleased tracks. From my corner, I watched these four figures standing side by side- much like students presenting a school project- reaching out to every excited, curious soul in the room through their words and simple, knowing glances.

“It sounds just like at Quantic”, I hear a deep voice say beside me, followed by a chuckle, as the volume on the CD player is turned up so that no one misses a thing. I can feel the vibration of whispered comments- kept quiet enough not to be a distraction- and I see awkward, shy smiles, fingertips resting on the plastic cases of the CDs people have bought to listen to later (I did the same). People move past me, pouring themselves another glass of wine or champagne, or picking up a CD. Some were intrigued, others already won over by the KVLT vibe.

I spot a few familiar faces- many of them musicians, others friends of the band members, who occasionally pull the band members aside for a few moments to share their thoughts on the album; or simply people who are just enjoying the moment. When the track LAMENTABIL comes on, Ioana wanders through the room, improvising lyrics about looking for a trash can. During the song VSFP?, I hear Andrei, standing right next to me, vocalizing the rhythm, to which Radu Bădilaș (who handled the album’s mix) replies jokingly, “Is that how you wrote it in the tab?” By this point, Bazar de Muzică is filled with music, laughter, and good spirits, a mood that lasts until the very end, when a burst of applause erupts. A well-deserved ovation, given with genuine admiration.

Then came perhaps my favorite moment: those of us at the listening party rushed to get a head start on autographs, which Ioana, Andrei, Șerban, and Theo handed out tirelessly. In that instant, I felt the sum of all the emotions in the room, and I told myself that this Sunday couldn’t possibly have been any more beautiful.

I arrived home with raindrops on my jacket and my hood still damp. I managed to avoid stepping into any puddles and didn’t slip on the sticky, yellow leaves. But I did discover an album that spoke volumes, covering all the things left unsaid over the past few months. I’m listening to it right now, in its physical form, as I write this to you; and I’ll keep listening to it on repeat once it’s released online on November 6th. And since I haven’t shared any spoilers about the unreleased tracks, I invite you to listen to the album yourselves. And, of course, to catch them in concert, wherever you happen to be.