Ale house rock

Staff Writer

Published: October 1, 2004 (Issue # 1008)

Spitalul de Urgenta, a band from Romania that effectively combines Balkan folk wedding and drinking songs with western rock and punk, was doomed to be a hit in Russia, where Emir Kusturica and Goran Bregovic are still all the rage. After packing Moscow art and rock clubs on its first Russian tour in February, the band, whose best-known song is called "Long Live Beer," will make its debut in St. Petersburg this week.

Formed in Bucharest in 2000, the five-piece band includes singer, guitarist and songwriter Dan Helciug, electric guitarist Emil Chican, bassist Adrian Chepa and drummer Vladimir Sergeyev, the latter being an ethnic Russian who moved to Bucharest from Chisinau, Moldova. The most drastic change that affected the band since its last Russian visit has been the trading of Vali Craciunescu's accordion to Claudiu Stoica's tambal, or a hammered dulcimer, a traditional Romanian instrument.

"It's a pure Balkan original, with a lot of strings and strange musical sounds," said Helciug in a recent telephone interview from Bucharest.

Spitalul de Urgenta, which recently released its fourth album, "Stupefiant," continues to develop musically, according to Helciug.

"Our style is in permanent state of change," he said.

"[Our] music is mostly rock, Balkan rock, with influences from punk, progressive rock, and symphonic rock, an interesting hybrid, but also very modern. I keep the irony and good mood of the lyrics, making fun of the false values of the society."

Helciug, 29, who has a degree in acting, has been a popular figure on Romanian television for several years, after appearing on a star-search show similar to American Idol. He also spent three years studying psychology at a university.

Apart from fronting Spitalul de Urgenta, Helciug also plays in another, more straightforward rock band called Nod, which he describes as a blend of Rammstein, Depeche Mode and Korn, but found it difficult to get that act broadcast on Romanian radio.

"I formed Spitalul de Urgenta without electric guitars and rock, in order not to scare the radio. But it's still rock at its base," he said.

Despite Helciug's efforts to placate listeners, though, Spitalul de Urgenta ("Emergency Room") remains a black sheep on the Romanian music scene.

"In Romania, it's only the extremes that are popular," he said. "On the one hand there is music for weddings and parties that sounds a bit like Turkish music. On the other there is very cheap house and dance." At home, Spitalul de Urgenta performs at open markets where it might draw thousands and at Club A, Bucharest's one and only rock club, which boasts a 30-year history and rich traditions.

"All the other clubs only host boy bands that cry about their babies on stage," said Helciug.

Spitalul de Urgenta's biggest hit so far is "Long Live Beer" ("Traiasca Berea"), a simple and fun ode to drinking, known to every second Romanian, according to Helciug.

The musician prefers to describe himself as an "underground poet," whose work is a "mix of reality and literature." Lyrically, he admits to the influence of Tom Waits and the French folk-punk band Les Negresse Vertes, which is a frequent local sight.

"It's a combination of different things," he said about his music.

"On one hand, it's a protest about the system, on the other hand, one has a chance to put aside the problems and live in a world made by your friends, not thinking about the rest of the world - fools, rogues, thieves in the government and all kinds of stupid things on the radio and television. Our music is fun, but it makes listeners to reflect on different things."

"We make fun of the fake public personalities, bubbles of poor minds, dressed in high society clothes, artists, TV stars and politicians. I'm fighting for simplicity and sincerity, and brainstorming for a new and modern mentality to be born."

In Russia, Spitalul de Urgenta's music is available on the CD compilation, "Unde e popa?," out on the Moscow-based BAd TaStE label.

Spitalul de Urgenta plays at Platforma at 8 p.m on Thursday.

Links: spitalul.badtaste.ru