Back to the future

Despite a star-studded cast featuring Rock Ampan, Thanapol “Suea” Intharit and Hin Lek Fai, the return of the popular rock concert series “Short Charge Shock” last Saturday to Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani was far from great, as sound problems once again failed to do justice to the music.

“It sounds terrible,” complained one music guru during the set by Rock Ampan, a duo featuring Hi-Rock frontman Surat “Pe” Thapwang and Pisut “Jiab” Sapwijit, while another member of the audience muttered curses at the quality of the venue.

And yes, it did sound terrible. The first part of the set had me wincing, and not only because of the sound. Understandably perhaps, Pe’s voice doesn’t have the strength or pitches that made him famous more than 20 years ago and bringing his protegee – a young female drummer – to be part of the backing band was not a good idea. While certainly not unskilled, her drumming technique was far more appropriate to a pub gig rather than a major concert.

“This kid was born after the first ‘Short Charge Shock’ show and watched it on and DVD and YouTube. Now, here she is taking part in what promises to be a legendary rock concert,” said Jiab as he introduced her to the audience.

“As the last concert took place 20 years ago, I’m pretty sure that some of our fans are here with their families.”

The sound glitches notwithstanding, the audience enjoyed singing along with Rock Ampan’s set and also with separately the Pe’s solo session, which included “Kwa Ja Roo Suek” and “Krajok Rao”. They also joined in with Jiab during his solo segment, singing along to “Rak Ther Pen Wan Sud Thai” and Jaew Jing”.

The sad love ballad “Phis Rak” was a particular favourite with the crowd, opening with the piano and segueing into melancholy guitar before getting grungy and distorted in the catchy melody.

After a short intermission, Suea Thanapol came out on stage playing a set that featured songs from his first and only album, “Tee Khong Suea” released in 1994 by RS. He also performed “Keb Tawan”, written for the late Itthi Balangura and brought his daughters on stage for “Yang Jam Wai”, a track off Itthi’s 1988 debut album “Hai Man Laew Pai”.

The sound was better during Suea’s show, possibly because he plays folk rock and songs-for-life rather than hard rock. Fans helped him sing on almost all the songs from the openers “Yang Dai Yoo” and “Kradat Hor Fai” to closers “18 Fon” and “Cheewit Nee”.

During the next break, guest Rang Rockestra headed out on stage performing, much to the audience’s delight, the fast tempo “Ngao (Wing),” and the sad ballad, “Khid Thueng”.

And finally came the time that the crowd had been waiting for – the set by headliner, Hin Lek Fai, or Stone Metal Fire as they’re known in English.

One of Thailand’s top rock outfits, they played 14 rock tracks and ballads, opening with Chakrarin “Pop” Duangmaneeratanachai’s ferocious shredding in “Nang Maew” and continuing with “Khang Khao Fai”, “Wad Rawang” and “Rocker”. The ballads came next with Pathompong “Pong” Sombatpibul’s powerful voice beautifully supported by guitarist Nampol “To” Raksapong, bassist Narong Sirisarasunthorn and drummer Damrongsit “Pingpong” Srinak.

This time round, the rock band was able to finish “Soi Man Long Ma”, the track that caused a serious brawl at the third Short Charge Shock concert in 1995.

While the sound was better for Hin Lek Fai’s show, it was still far from perfect and not what an audience expects from such a large venue.