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It’s exactly as I hoped... two new encounters on the same evening, both incredibly exciting and both experienced without toppling my hallo from its rather precarious position... that’s if you believe I am deemed responsible enough to have a hallo in the first place. Erm, moving swiftly on...

I’d heard about The Silver Church venue. I was intrigued by its name and by looking at its dress code recommendations before arriving; rather curious. The fact that it has rapidly become a new gig hotspot (opened last December) the public outcry for fresh new visionary cutting edge music venues had previously fallen on deaf ears. Well folks. Not anymore. The Silver Church has arrived. Let’s face it if the Ramones performed there after only a few weeks of the venues opening, heck, it’s definitely the place to hang out in!

Its prime position at Calea Plevnei is as close to spitting distance from Eroilor as you can get, bringing easy access to and from the venue. Result. So, those who would rather not brave the traffic (and to be honest who would blame you), it’s relatively easy to get to by tube and bus network.

Confession #1, I love kitsch. Confession #2, I don’t like gothic chandeliers. But, hang on a little moment there’s certainly enough chandeliers here for Quasimodo to trapeze swing Esmerelda 360°. Somehow though, it all adds to its charm and kooky detail. It’s got a slight goth’ atmosphere but without the dank, dark, beer stinking, sticky floor sombreness (ah, brings to my memory many a drunken night in Camden). The Silver Church was the perfect venue for gigging nymphs of the night to be left to rock on to the sounds of Byron. No. Not that British bloke who wrote stuff in the 1700’s... I’m talking about the band Byron!

As usually is the way here in Romania, Latin concept of time rules. Rather than panicking whilst trying to leg it out the door late to a gig with one shoe off and one shoe on, the chances are gigs start a little past the time they’re advertised, well actually, sometimes a long time after! In this case however, Byron took to the stage a respectable ½ hour later than scheduled, which was jolly decent of them I think.

Unlike most of the audience, I hadn’t heard Byron’s music before. No preconceived ideas on my part, just an opportunity to take the full impact head on without barriers. At the first sense of them taken to the stage the audience surged forward and both mind and senses were blasted into Byron territory on the first note of their intro. Video screens simultaneously pronounced logo, images, videos and photos of the band whilst the neon lighting back drop illuminated the celestial rock dominion... the stage.

Byron, have described themselves as ‘alternative rock’. I’d stand in agreement to this proclamation. They are refreshingly different with a seamless marriage of energetic rock of latter day Rush and a subtle, modern take on Jethro Tull.

It’s more than apparent that all members of Byron are craftsman at work. They not only have technical ability as musicians, they are masters of their instruments. Individuality is used to best advantage, without compromise and without fear. They’re slick without losing personality; hold an air of command yet still approachable. Byron, in what they do, who they are and what they’re about, believe, which seeps into audience psyche, guiding them to a joint destination... a great show.

The delectable front man Dan Byron has an extraordinary vocal ability that one doesn’t often come across. There’s a hint of Brian Ferry at times when songs ebb to delicacy. Hints of Ian Astbury too, when songs speed into full whack, power thrashing through the ears. 6Fingers, lives up to his name. Oozing talent and quiet authority his clever keyboard riffs, fillers and stayed foundation of sound is fascinating to behold. Rick Wakeman would be concerned to hear there’s a usurper waiting in the wings.

I’d be sticking my neck out here by saying that the more I hear live music in Bucharest the more I’ve come away exasperated due to listening to the safe mediocre concept of ‘let’s stick to the covers format’. Yeah, it’s ok for the occasional knees up and sing-a-long night in drunken stupor, but if that’s all there is to offer in every pub, club and bar in the city then I’ll seriously considering taking up knitting woolly socks!

Sound the trumpets... Here comes a band that has revitalised my hope in music for this city and indeed Romania itself. It may be a responsibility on their shoulders to cultivate a wave of free thinking, free expressive, original bands and set a precedent for others to follow, but Byron not only are in prime position to take the mantle and hold the torch, I believe they can influence new young artists to do the same.

Key tracks of the evening – ‘Blow Up My Tears’ & ‘Lazy’.

Byron’s currently promoting their album ‘Forbidden Drama’. For more info on the band and gig listings, log onto www.byronmusic.ro / www.myspace.com/byronmusicspace

Dan Byron - vocals, acoustic guitar, flute
6fingers - keyboards, guitar, vocals
Costin Oprea - electric guitar
Ovidiu Baciu – drums
Vlady Sateanu – bass

REVIEW by Lu Cozma www.lucozma.blogspot.com / www.expatromania.ro
19/03/09