It’s not an everyday experience to see such a hype in front of the Hristo Botev Hall in the Sofia, Bulgaria. Neither does radio Tangra Mega Rock celebrate its second birthday every day! So our guests this time came all the long way from Mexico, and they are no other than the phenomenal, hardcore chili Latinos Molotov! The concert featured also Dubious from London, Babyface Clan and Svetlio & The Legends from Bulgaria.

The organization was good - with the compulsory beer stands provided and free washrooms. As time was passing by, the mixture in the hall was getting more and more colorful and crowdie, with the soundwaves of the radio flowing from the speakers.

The show started with the slightly provocative performance of Dubious – the energy of their music came from samples and beats, and the noticeably handsome vocalist was accompanied by two smooth blondes dancing fairy. With these club sounds the atmosphere couldn’t help but start breathing the typical renowned London electro industrial air with some hints of gothic. There were even moments when one would have mistaken this spectacle for some choreographic peaks of Marilyn Manson’s concerts.

Without any disturbing amplitude in sound, Babyface Clan with lead Naso Ruskov took the microphones and shocked the speakers. His presence on the stage was extravagant enough without distracting us from the music. The blondes and DJ gone, now the quartet was in the classical configuration of vocalist, guitarist, percussionist and bassist. The first two groups felt naturally connected, and despite the different means of musical performance, the overall sound seemed truly coherent, and yet totally different from the next band. It’s not a bad idea actually to mix different styles and groups at those concerts...

After Babyface Clan came the Svetlio & The Legends band, grouped after the personage of Svetlio, who’s not yet become a mayor, but he stands quite well on the stage and made a noticeable show-up. Now we’re speaking the language of fun! Smiles and dancing shook the crowd, with the collective thought of beaches, warm weather and peppery shameless language. They played also several Hypodil top-tracks to boost the fun in the hall. When there are a lot of people together united by the idea of having a good time, there’s no reason that this shouldn’t happen, and it seems that we all definitely prefer it than another wordy political discussion about national and international conflicts.

However, it was Molotov that took the party to another level. Really, those Mexican messengers of fun can easily transfer their spirit to the crowds. Spanish texts with dense groove, hip-hop and the viscosity of hot sweat dancing suddenly made everybody move as one with the rhythm. The other special line of the guys was the riffs and blasts that were the reason for the numerous references between Molotov and Rage Against the Machine. You can guess that the common between them is the hot blooded. Tito, Paco, Randy and Micky used mainly two bass guitars for the sake of getting destructive unforgivable soundscapes, and the guys changed their places on the instruments. The ease with which a percussionist holds the guitar or the microphone, and the bassist waves the drumsticks, convinced me once again that these Mexicanos are really damn good at these things.

Whoever had been longing for his favorite track, be it “Frijolero”, “Puto”, “Chinga Tu Madre” (no need for translation, we believe) or some other to give him/her the nitro, he/she has definitely got it. And no, I don't mind Manowar, but the chicks that Joey DeMayo got on the stage in Kavarna last summer were dimmed by the vivant, playful and sexy girls who accepted the invitation to get on Molotov’s stage and dance for everybody. I don't know if the Mexicans gave away their guitars to a blonde or brunette, but at least they let them hang around with and everybody could agree how good that looked.

Let’s also mention the range of playful twists with major Nirvana, Survivor, and Metallica songs that lead to the editor's cut of Queen’s “Rap Soda Y Bohemi”. It was then that Vassil Varbanov of Tangra Mega Rock took the microphone and lent a hand and his voice at the tough parts. Incredible – that could be the next Pop Idol winner!

After the encores came the moment for parting – smile on the lips, sparkle in the eyes, wet in sweat. And while I was finding my way out, I thought, “Isn’t all that the point, after all?”

Words: Simeon Petkov

Photos: Nicki Vassilev

More photos, courtesy of Victor Alexandrov and Elena Nenkova,В are available in theВ GALLERYВ and HERE.