Published on November 29, 2005

A concert this Saturday at Thosaphak Arena promises music and performance art in a ‘cocoon’. Pop-rock outfit Pru takes to the stage at Bangkok’s Thosaphak Arena on Saturday for “Pop Life” – their first-ever solo show in a career that’s spanned four years. The band, featuring guitarist Kamol “Sukie” Sukosol Clapp, his brother, vocalist Krisada “Noi” Clapp, bassist Yodtao Yodying and drummer Kanin Chandrasma, shot to fame in 2001 when their self-titled debut album became an overnight success and landed them awards from MTV Asia, Season magazine and Kom Chad Luek newspaper.

But somehow they never found time for a full-length show, though they did play a few small gigs.

Then in April, they came out with the much-anticipated follow-up “Zero”, which turned out to be an appropriate title because it was a commercial disaster.

“Most of our fans said they found ‘Zero’ hard to understand,” says Sukie, adding that he read the feedback on popular community websites, including Pantip.com.

Compared to the platinum-selling debut, which featured lyrically pleasing, commercial rock tracks, “Zero” revealed the band’s darker side, expressed through complicated music and poetic language.

“The second album is more complex and emotional with a lot of metaphors in the lyrics of ‘Khon Phueak’ and ‘World War IV’,” explains Kanin. “We’re not upset that it wasn’t successful but we would like to think that people listen to our music.”

“The first album was like a popcorn movie while ‘Zero’ is like an indie film,” adds Sukie. “It’s more alternative.”

But he’s still confident that “Pru Pop Life” will attract fans and is pleased that sponsors have come forward despite the low album sales.

“We’re really looking forward to the concert and we think it’s a good way of celebrating ‘Zero’.”

“I think that Pru, like other former Bakery artists, have a passion for performing, much more I think than a mainstream star.”

Noi agrees. “Look at the concerts by Thee Chaiyadej or Soul After Six. Even though their albums weren’t as popular as mainstream artists, their shows are always sold out.”

And they certainly entertained their fans when they joined former Bakery label mates Moderndog for “Pru-Dog” and during last December’s “Bakery the Concert”.

The title “Pop Life” is taken from Prince’s best-selling song. It also, says Kanin, matches the concepts of both of Pru’s albums – pop from the debut album and life from “Zero”.

They’ve adopted the circle-of-life theme in designing the tickets and in decorating the venue.

The Bt300 tickets feature photos of the band as children, the Bt600 seats have pictures of them as they are today and the Bt900 ones as they think they will be in the future.

“For the photos of us as futuristic elders, we were made up and redesigned by computer graphic. It was really cool,” enthuses Noi.

The Thosaphak Arena is being wrapped in paper so it resembles a cocoon.

“Everything is life is like a cocoon,” says the drummer. “Even the stage will be designed to harmoniously slope with the hall and the audience.”

“We would like our fans to enter our world,” Noi explains. “They’ll feel like they’re at the movies.”

The concert is being divided into separate segments and will feature songs from both albums. In keeping with the circle-of-life concept, a selection of photographs will be projected on the monitors.

The audience will also receive concert booklets.

“It isn’t a musical, more of a performing arts piece,” says Sukie.

“We want to explain all the things people say they don’t understand about our second album,” adds Noi.

Right now, the band is busy working on their third album. They’ve written four new songs so far and Sukie is thinking of renting a house outside Bangkok to develop the music.

“It should be released in the New Year,” he muses.

Tickets for the show are available at Thaiticketmaster. Call (02) 262 3456 or log on to www.thaiticketmaster.co www.thaiticketmaster.com for details.

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

The Nation

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