Rocking with legends

Published on November 22, 2007

Brothers and rock legends Asanee and Wasan Chotikul rocked at Rajamangala Studium on November 17.

 They've been in the business for more than 20 years and brothers and rock legends Asanee and Wasan Chotikul can still draw the crowds. More than 40,000 hardcore fans packed out Rajamangala Stadium in Bang Kapi last Saturday and despite having to wait for more than an hour for the show to start, were vocal in their enthusiasm for the lads and their guests.

That's not to say there weren't several glitches. The sound system experienced several problems throughout the show, keeping the road crew and the engineers on their toes, and many fans found the GMM Grammy-style show with its karaoke-style monitors and fireworks more than slightly pretentious.

But unlike last year's show in support of their unsuccessful "Dek Lieng Gae" ("The Shepherd Boy") album at Impact Arena, this concert kept the crowd entertained as the sibs sang and strummed their way through more than 30 hits from their two decades in the music scene.

Thousands of fans from three generations sang along to numbers with heart-breaking messages like "Ther Pan Jai", "Kor Koey Sanya", "Yin Yom", "Rak Ther Samer", "Yak Ja Luem" and "Rum Rai" - the show's title.

Accompanying the brothers were their dream team, featuring drummer Kittisuk Kotkam, guitarist Pichet Kuewan, bassist Arkom Nutchnin of Farenheit and keyboardist Anuruk Saelee, with Sawanit Nawapan and Sita Salai doing the honours on back-up vocals.

Between the ballads, they rocked the crowds with electrifying medleys covering a range of numbers that included "Bah Hob Fang", Pla Kradee Dai Nam", "Bang Orn", "Yindee Mai Mee Panha", "Bang Earn Tid Din" and "Khao Yen". They also treated fans to songs from their new album, "Pak Ron" ("On Vacation"), which offers new, acoustic arrangements of their old hits.

After more than 20 tunes, the band played the intro of songs-for-life legend, Carabao's, "Wanipok" and, much to the audience's surprise, Yuenyong Ophakul aka Ad Carabao appeared on stage.

Ad and Asanee alternated on the vocals on this Carabao oldie then segued into "Chewit Sampan", an apt reminder to look after nature and save the world. Dozens of plastic balls printed with a global map were thrown into the audience as part of the global warming message along with balloons which, much to the crowd's delight, contained a few of Asanee's signature guitar picks.

"This was Grammy's idea," Asanee explained, holding up one of the big balloons with the picks inside.

The brothers and Ad then covered a powerful new number, "Song Phra Charoen", a message of loyalty to His Majesty the King and written in celebration of the King's 80th birthday this year. It was a moving moment, spoiled a little - as was the message about the need to save the environment - by the unnecessary display fireworks at the end.

As Ad disappeared in a cloud of smoke, the brothers performed "Yin Yom" and brought the concert to an end with another medley. More fireworks marked the show's end.

But the crowds weren't going to let the brothers off that easily and the brothers returned to the stage for their planned encore, playing "Rak Ther Samer", "Dai Yang Sie Yang" and "Rum Rai" before yet more fireworks were released into the night sky.

Again, the fans stomped and screamed, determined to get more songs and guitar picks.

The brothers returned and this time played "Tham Dee Dai Dee" and "Lakorn" ("Goodbye").

"This time, the show has really ended," said Asanee busily handing out picks.

The strain of the show and annoyance at the problems with his amp showed on Asanee's face several times during the evening, although he managed to keep smiling.

Wasan too must have felt the tension but kept his smile and helped keep the show on track with his acoustic-style tunes like "Tan Kam Nan" and "Nueng Mid Chiod Klai".

Overall, fans had a great time and most were happy enough to ignore the problems with the sound and poor stage design with its overload of sponsor banners.

 Phatarawadee Phataranawik

 The Nation