After landing in Bucharest we were picked up at the airport and taken to the Czech Centre next to the Embassy. The drive in from the airport is impressive as we proceeded down the large boulevards into the centre of the Paris of the East. Bucharest’s architecture is Eclectic (lots of different styles). But as we talked to the driver he pointed out that the drive into the city was the nicest part of the city. The rest of it was very eastern block . We didn’t have the time to go and see it though although we had been met at the airport by three shabby looking young gentlemen who were insistent on helping us with our luggage and were obviously from the poorer side of town (Bengali in platforms).
We arrived at the club at around six and were impressed. The Silver Church is a spectacular club well designed , good sound system and a pleasure to be in. It has been open for just over a year and the owners have made it into the second best club in Bucharest. The manager Jiji, a well known actor and organiser of various underground events was very welcoming.
The sound engineer in the club was well prepared. All the items in the back line that we had asked for were there. Not like the night before when we had had to cancel a gig in the Jam club in Opava because they didn’t have any equipment at all in the club even if they knew we were going to play there for over a month and in the end handed over the cash without us even playing and then had to explain to a number of angry fans why we were leaving.
Most of the guys that were playing that evening were in the club. We met Stefan from Les Elephants Bizzares (original name Les Femmes Bizarres, when the boys thought the name would attract girls but in one drunken night changed to Les Elephants Bizarre because if you take the insides out of your trouser pockets open your zip and pull out…. well elephant bizarre emerges, which in a drunken state is obviously the best way of attracting les femmes bizzares 
We also sat around chatting to the drummer Bogdan a cool relaxed guy from The MOOod and Gopo/Oliver the vocalist a very intense young man worried about the future, worried about the music scene, having a bad time with his girlfriend … the perfect combination for a vocalist. I don’t like comparisons so check them out for yourself. They are great live and have an intensity and stage presence which a lot of young bands are looking for ……. but are not desperate enough to find.
The MOOod came on stage and rocked the shop. After the MOOod followed AB4 who are also probably sort of a Romanian Lavagance (oops I made a comparison) They also went down really well when they had finished is was about one thirty in the morning and we were really tired so our show was probably not the best. Anyway I google-translated the MOOod’s blog entry from Romanian to English so you don’t get a false impression:
“Funk Rock Hotel 6, which dom’ne concert that bands, many girls! I would like to thank the ladies attending the concert that I remembered why I love Adidas from Korn. Saturday in Silver Church (bathrooms there and draw a Gopo! It’s a must!) I had the best concert so far, what was rock’n'roll! Sound insightful, Mircea I showed it can play solo from Mighty Man with eyes closed, destroyed Gopo microphone stand, I’ve knocked down and Horia cinelele has shown us once again why his nickname should be Voyoshel. For me, the series has been an attraction The Prostitutes. Up to listen, I was not synth’s fan but these guys have convinced me! Dark parts, a random voice Joe Strummer / Johnny Cash, an unbelievably good drummer (forget that it can be rock and metronome), very good guitarist, synth dubious hard bass line and a simple and very groovy. I can say that I became a prostitute after I saw, and, I invite you to prostitutes and you. That said, see you at the next concert! Spread The MOOod!”
Filed under: bucharest, gig, photo, romania, silver church, traveling | 1 Comment »
