MILENA 25 YEARS ON STAGE
28.11.2009, Universiada Hall, Sofia - Bulgaria
words by Nikola Shahpazov, photo: Ivaylo Tchilingirian - digitalartsbg.com

When SME announced this was going to be a monstrous 5-hour concert I instantly though it was a good (for you can’t expect Milena to celebrate 25 years of musical activity with just any live) but somewhat risky idea. Because a 5-hour long gig is like a epic Asian movie complete with flashing swords and thousand strong armies marching out – the idea is fine, the movie starts promising but the main thing is, will you make it to the end.

Not only did we make it but we found ourselves screaming for more in the midnight hour despite of the fact that we had listened to more than 50 tracks by that moment. I can’t be sure what made the concert so smashing – the good organization, the fine sound or the wide selection of cult Bulgarian bands. The fans certainly had a lot to do with the great atmosphere in the venue – they came in their hundreds, tightly packed inside Universiada Hall, singing loud and proud Review, Era and Milena songs. 

This was much more than a usual gig and its length had little to do with that – this was a night to celebrate Milena’s musical carreer but it was also a who’s who in Bulgarian rock – everyone was present - from local heavyweight champions Era and Ahat to blues rock hero Vasko Krapkata, ska pranksters Wickeda and classic rockers BTR and Kiril Marichkov.

Still, it was Milena’s songs that were the main attraction – everything from the post punk Review period to acoustic ballads and heavier stuff presented alongside her old buddies Era. And while her performance was impeccable it was the one time only collaborations that stole the show – Kontrol’s Kolio the Gillan made a surprise appearance with Wickeda, SME’s owner and former Era frontman Funky screamed “Fuck it!” dressed in a giant nightgown while wearing a Kiss-style makeup and Panican Whyasker’s Nufri sang “Otgore” with Milena while the pogo was raging in front of the stage.

All in all, this was a fiting celebration, louder and certainly better than all house parties at Yalta club and all sweet and cheesy pop songs around put together.

ГАЛЕРИЯ