There is no evidence from recent years that the decent in interior Universiada Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria can be related to another considerable event close to the nature offered by Tangra Mega Rock Night. On one stage, one after another, sang, wildly performed and went crazy heterogeneous bands and formations - starting with not so famous locally as around the world The Bistritsa Grannies (and their granddaughters) and finnishing with one of the godfathers of classic punk and its anarchistic shades, The Exploited from Scotland. For the latter it was not their first visit to Bulgaria and once again not everything went peacefully and quietly...

Such, however, was the mood as the announced for 7 p.m. beginning of the show approached. The spacious venue was inhabited less then half its capacity and many vacant seats opened up the oportunity for anyone to sit there comfortably and take a look at the not yet very rich diversity of people, stalls where you can buy some drinks and both of the side video walls, contributing to perceive the festival in a more hi-tech way. All these parameters, related to attendance and dynamics, went through constant improvement towards the very end.

Now let's go back to the beginning and The Bistritsa Grannies who, with their appearance on stage, formed a view very close to the labels with Bulgarian horo dancing maids wearing national dresses that locally popular liutenica jars have. And in good earnest they took up the traditional Bulgarian song "Mitra Pere na Rekata", which Stoyan Yankulov and Elitsa Todorova offered in a different arrangement named "Voda" ("Water") at the Eurovision 2007 Song Contest. And they didn't stop there, but also really and truly shared the stage with their granddaughters for some more traditional folk singings, while people kindly applaused them during the breaks.

The following change of performers lead to abrupt contrasts of art's ideology and the messages it brought. Ebanizm, lead by Babbata, propagandized eating, dringing and those three things. It was clear they had their adherents, for they were not alone on stage, but in the company of the vivid Tsetso Surmata, who had his hair coloured red especially for the occasion. Side by side with them, one of the main local hardcore guys, Shoota (Brothers in Blood, S.W.A.F.I., Doom Day, ex-Vendetta) brought in some additional vocals. The jamboree consisted partly of "Eatin' & Drinkin'" and "Whiskey Bottle Blues", the slowed down doom metal cover version of Motorhead's "Killed by Death" and other carnal pleasures, served with thick guitar sound.

The next one hour was marked by Mondo Generator and Nick Oliveri's bass and voice, who doubltessly proved his crazy reputation. We were stormed by a series of rock'n'roll energy waves as "Fuck You, I'm Free" and "I Never Sleep". The desert taste of the disbanded Kyuss could also be detected, not to neglect the effect of the half naked frontman and his memorable presense as well.

The German band Harmful (featuring Billy Gould of Faith No More) are an interesting name, which Tangra Mega Rock propagated among Bulgarian listeners. You may find a little strange the fact that they have a whole lot of seven albums behing their backs, and now, after the latest one, the second guitar is handled by the bassist of the legendary Californians. When the band left the stage my initial higher expactations and positive impressions have turned into even an more pleasant satisfaction. Many cliches can be applied to Harmful's music, like "modern crossover", "avantgarde heavy rock with melodic moments", "intelligent metal with Seattle vibes" or slangs like "those guys get in everything and mix it up well" and "they put holes in nothing".

The mature handsome men played in good shape, eagerly and with passion and included in their set the two songs which used to be part of Tangra Mega Rock's Tuborg Top 40 Mega Rock Chart - "Elaine" and the catchy "Hide". Contrary to normal logic, the crowd's turbolency was higher compared to Mondo Generator, who are generally considered as the more noisy act. Closely to the end of their set, Harmful ultimately "killed all the fish" with a super brutal and aggressive composition. I would not skip the unpleasant sights with peasant character which my eye caught - a perky lad was proudly raising his middle finger to the musicians, as if demonstrating a higher state of consciousness...

Upsurt and The Botunetz Torpedo were next and appeared with shining smiles on their faces, kicking up with "Bai Hui" with guitars and drums, "Kolega" with riffs, "Non-Stop" with distortion cutters, and the crowd was catched so astonished that a strange paradox was seen. During the pauses sparks flashed between the band and the audience. During the songs, however, most of the people were one in the (ocationally rude) dances.

The effect of fireworks was achieved with the means of toilet paper rolls throwed by Buch, Vig and Itzo Hazarta, which flied acompanied by the heavy sound oubursts from Nicki Panchev (guitar), Marto (bas) and Marin (drums).

And the time had come for The Exploited. Wattie has always been a punk icon and, what is even better, today he hasn't lost a bit of his "don't give a fuck" aura. It wouldn't be appropriate to expect anything else than noisy, primitive punk wrapped in a legendary oreol and shouts in harsh Scottish accent. And so it was: "Dogs of War", "You're a Fucking Bastard", "Punk's Not Dead", "Beat the Bastards" - not one was missed. What was the athuentic level of the "I Believe In Anarchy" performance I conclude to myself by the disarranged monitors and cables, which a technic immediately came to fix everytime Wattie stepped over them. As a final, after singing along on the microphone during "Sex and Violence", Nick Oliveri jumped into the crowd in front of the stage and stayed among the body forest till the song's end.

And if you want to know whether The Exploited brought the spirit of original punk anarchy with them, as we warned you more than once, keep an eye on the press. Criminal sections, to be more precise...

Words: Simeon Petkov

Photos: Nicki Vassilev / Tangra Mega Rock

Photos of the show are available in the GALLERY.