Lights get bright for Matchbox 20

Matchbox 20 gave a great performance yesterday in Bangkok, though the audience was significantly smaller than the mob Justin Bieber drew last month. The American band’s fans were also slightly older, so there was less dancing, screaming and jumping around. 

Instead there were measured and constant shows of appreciation, applause for every song, and the rockers from Florida did make good on their promise to get at least a few in the typically conservative Thai audience to shake their butts. 

In terms of digital display, Matchbox kept things humble, preferring to demonstrate talent rather than technology.

One of the fans, Teerasak Maythawee, 29, said he’s been a Matchbox fan from the start, back before they hit the studio and only tapes were circulating. “The songs are easy to listen to and have great meaning,” he said. 

Easy to listen to certainly, in terms of singer Rob Thomas’ enunciation, but the not-really-fans in the hall had to strain their ears to catch any message behind the tunes. 

Thomas has the voice and demeanour to interpret any topic in lyrics, from bitter love to everyday angst and especially his devotion to his mother in her struggle with cancer. 

The band was wonderfully focused on ensuring a solid performance but took obvious delight in momentarily pausing to lighten the pace with a few jokes. Thomas addressed the crowd warmly while reminding them that it’s been17 years since Matchbox got together and introducing songs by their vintage. A lot of people can’t relate to “A Girl Like That”, he said, but then it was actually written about a girl he didn’t like much. 

Halfway through the show he was handed a note requesting that he say “happy birthday” to the audience member’s significant other. He quickly obliged, joking that someone had received plenty of presents for their birthday.

Among their top hits, Thomas’ voice stayed strong and sure for “Bent”, “Unwell”, “3AM” and “She’s So Mean”. The slower tunes “I Will”, “Englishtown” and “Bright Lights” received soulful and heartfelt deliveries as well. All of the instrumentalists played beautifully, especially lead guitarist Kyle Cook. “Radio” was a standout, nostalgic with a pop vibe, along with “So Sad, So Lonely”. 

The encore witnessed a surge of fans to the stage front, making things awfully cosy in the mosh as Matchbox ended, tight-fittingly enough, with “Push”.