The band has been present in Hungarian popular music since 1999.
As an alternative to today's fashion music trends, it offers the captivating musical sound and deep world of thought that is unique to Ismerős Arcos, which makes the band stand out from the camp of contemporary Hungarian rock music.
We talked to Attila Nyerges, the frontman of the band celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, about their symphonic concert tonight, which will be performed at the Budapest Congress Center with the participation of the Zalaegerszeg Symphony Orchestra, and about the other programs of the anniversary year.
Attila Nyerges' precious thoughts raise the band's clean, refined melody to the high level that has characterized the work of Ismerős Arcok for years. In their music, in addition to the traditional rock sound, you can also discover stylistic elements of blues, jazz, pop and world music. Among the themes of their songs, the most characteristic ideas are family and patriotism, respecting and protecting our culture and values, as well as the importance of being in the community. All their compositions are a musical imprint of the soul of the six artists.
The anniversary concert of Familiar Faces
Attila Nyerges sees this concert as a worthy opening of their 25th anniversary year.
"This is the show we started preparing before Covid," the singer begins. – Previously, we prepared two of these performances, and they were well received. One had to be canceled due to Covid, and the other had to be held indoors instead of the main square in Zalaegerszeg due to the weather. So most of the people missed it. We are very happy to be able to renew this material. We spent last week in Zalaegerszeg and prepared for the concert to be held in the Congress Center with the Zalaegerszeg Symphony Orchestra.
As he said, the songs were selected in such a way that they sound really special with symphonic accompaniment. István Cseh, the conductor of the symphony orchestra, is a good friend of theirs, he created the symphonic version of Nélküled, and he arranged these songs as well.
– It is not possible to play everything from our 25-year repertoire with such an accompaniment, but what we put together is a great experience for us as well, the way they sound. It's rare for a rock musician to sit in the middle of a 30-piece band, play there, and hear what comes out of the songs, he adds.
Their surprise guests are Misi Mező and Gyuri Ferenczy, who have been good friends since the beginning. Attila Nyerges emphasized that they would like this year to be about their 25th anniversary. They will have many opportunities to perform in the Carpathian Basin again this year, and they want to make a publication, which they will make unique with previously unpublished photos and images. They also release their film and make it available to everyone.
They are planning a big concert on September 21 in Barba Negra, which will close the anniversary year. This will be a decidedly rock concert for those who prefer this genre.
Looking back on 25 years, I feel that in order to be like this, we needed this difficult path - the singer remembers. - I often think of how much easier it would have been and how much more we could have delivered what we think is important to larger masses if this was not the case. However, we know that there are no coincidences, and I am not upset about it. I feel a lot of strength in the band, and the many difficulties that limited our career may have already disappeared. The problem is that the world has also changed around us, and we are looking for our place in it. Many times I don't even understand what surrounds me, I need more energy to overcome the obstacles that arise more easily. But we stick together, as we always have, and move on. Thank God, there was never a lack of love from the audience, and in fact, their number is growing. It has been proven that hard work and the determination that we have not become cloak-and-dagger and that we value what we have for 20-25 years will pay off.
Attila Nyerges summed up his thoughts.
Featured image: MTI/Zoltán Balogh
