Rhythm in the strings

Japanese acoustic guitar duo Depapepe recently jetted into Bangkok, wowing Thai audiences with their tenth anniversary gig at BCC Hall of Central Lat Phrao.

While crowds at acoustic concerts rarely show any reaction other than applause, the Kobe-born Miura Takuya and Tokuoka Yoshinari had the audience up and dancing to the rhythmic instrumentals and screaming their delight.

Depapepe’s guitar instrumentals aren’t based on classical or jazz but on an acoustic style that has Miura and Tokuoka alternating between rhythm and lead guitars. Among the melodies that had the crowd screaming for more was “Kazamidori” (Weaterclock), a number used for a TV commercial.

A student guitar duo from Silpakorn University opened the show with a set outside the hall while guitar outfit Two Flowers entertained inside with instrumental “Rawang Thang”, “Khuen Mued Mid” and “Hai Dokmai”.

The Japanese duo kicked off their show with “Hoshi no Kazu Dake Denai wa Todoku”, “Flow” and “Over the Sea”. Takuya greeted the crowd with  “Hello, Thailand! We are Depapepe. We are happy to be here now. We will do our best” then reverted to Japanese to invite the audience to clap along to “Kimidori” and “Hi-D!!”

The Japanese duo ajammed with Thai duo, Singular on “Some Other Day”, “Bao Bao” and “Share My World”, before Takuya tried his Thai out saying “Pleng tor pai phuea khon Thai” followed by in English, “Everybody please stand up” and segueing into “Life Is A Journey”, “Sky! Sky! Sky!”, “Dunk” and “Rosy” and introducing his keyboardist and percussionist to the audience.

For their encore, Dapepe played “Union” and “One” and quit the stage with a promise to come back.

From the thunderous applause, that can’t be too soon.