Thursday, November 21. Stereo Alicante, 21:00
Messer Chups performs live.
Messer Chups blends instrumental surf with lounge textures, pulp cinema vibes, and the daring diegesis of cult horror. The core concept centers on a knife theme, with the band’s name echoing the sound of a blade entering flesh. This project draws from the colorful cast of Russian horror cinema, offering a cinematic soundtrack to a night in Alicante’s Stereo room.
The group’s distinctive sound grew from Saint Petersburg’s underground scene, where raw energy met cinematic ambition. Early work was crafted in churches and venues that added a haunting reverberation, while collaborations echoed the genre’s history. Notably, Lydia Kavina, granddaughter of the Theremin’s inventor Leon Theremin, contributed ghostly textures to horror and sci‑fi visuals, enriching the band’s atmosphere with an eerie and unmistakable timbre.
As the years passed, Messer Chups expanded beyond its origins with constant touring and a prolific record output. The music consistently lands near the top of global surf and instrumental lists, earning a reputation as one of the most recognizable voices in the genre.
From a duo formed in 2005 to a dynamic trio by 2007, Messer Chups has evolved through lineup shifts and bold collaborations. The lineup has seen Oleg Gitarkin and Svetlana Nagaeva at the core, joined by drummer Denis Kuptzov when the project briefly expanded. Later changes brought new members into the fold, each contributing to a continually evolving sound. Today, the collective is widely regarded as a driving force behind a modern imagineered soundscape that blends horror, humor, and high-energy riffs. The band remains a formidable presence live, delivering a soundtrack that feels both terrifying and jubilant, perfectly suited for a night of unapologetic surf horror energy.