Inside the Palace memory machine

THE PALACE – the “supergroup” of entertainment stars from the 1980s – on Saturday offered final proof that those really were the glory days of Thai music. Their third concert, “The Palace & Friends Restage”, was sold out as usual, packing Impact Arena with 10,000 people lit up with a joyous nostalgia.

Forget the unbridled technology that increasingly shapes music these days. The most lasting memories are made of the kind of songs released in the ’80s. That crowd stood and sang and danced along to every tune, recalling every word and every riff. 

Of course it helped that the Palace delivered almost exactly the same set list as in their previous concerts.

But they didn’t begin with one of their own disco-type teasers – “We are the Palace, we love the disco sound, we are the Palace, come on enjoy with us now”. Instead the members were introduced one by one to the accompaniment of a heavy rhythm. 

Another immediately discernible difference: There was a broad swath of space in front of the stage where the fans could dance. And dance they did – the space was packed throughout the concert, folks in their 40s and 50s rocking some fine moves. 

The band is “like old wine in a new bottle”, Wasu “Jib” Sangsingkaew, Ploy’s former singer, by way of a boast, and he should know about that, being an Elvis Presley impersonator as well. The phrase is usually a meant as criticism, but this new bottle holds pretty fine wine. The members hail from such popular bands of the ’80s as McIntosh, the Innocent, Forever, the Royal Sprites, Khiriboon and Inca, and their hits have come back to life again. 

The members first took turns performing their most popular tunes before introducing the first guest, Wirut “Dam Forever” Sakulsapaisan. The long-time resident of Australia was given a warm welcome back as he sang “Papa Mama” and “Khwam Wang Lang Roy Yim”. Former Royal Sprites front man Soonthorn “Jeed” Sujaritchant joined Dam for another string of Thai songs that borrowed foreign melodies, a form that enjoyed a boom 30 years ago. 

The Palace’s third set of love songs included “Rak Nai C Major”, “Lom Haijai Haeng Khwam Khid Thueng”, “Ying Klai Ying Jeb” and “Ror Wan Chan Rak Ther”, and then another pair of veteran vocalists appeared onstage. Suda “Mount” Chuenban and Chantana “Dang” Kitiyapan surprised the audience with a cover of Triumphs Kingdom’s hit “Pha Ched Na”. Then Patcharida “Mam” Wattana and Orawan “Poom” Yenpoonsuk from the girl group Sao Sao Sao chimed in on “Pratoo Jai”, “Pen Fan Kan Dai Yang Rai” and “Rak Khue Fun Pai”. 

By now the crowd was really revved up, and Jib Wasu kept the momentum going with Ploy’s hit “Soot Rak Nak Rien”. Jib called up Annop “Por AF7” Thongborisut to help him on “Samakhom Khon Jeb” and “Sot Kaprib Kaproy”, and then Somsak “Noom” Rinnairak – the latest champ from television’s “The Voice Thailand” – for “Suphap Burut Nak Fun”. 

All three harmonised on “Long Tua Aeng” and the excitement kept piling up. Meanwhile, in another change from the previous shows, the Palace had rounded up a squad of sexy female dancers to add spice to the nostalgia soup. 

Ronnachai “Od” Thomyapariwat, a founding member of Khiriboon – and, with Jib and Jeed the vocal battery fuelling the Palace’s memories machine – strolled onstage with an acoustic guitar and performed the luk thung hit “La Sao Mae Klong”. 

Thanon “Non” Chamroen, inaugural winner of “The Voice”, joined him for “Hak Rak” and “Nang Fah Yang Ai” and earned a big round of applause for his impressive singing. 

There were loud screams from the audience when Apiwat “Stamp” Ueathavornsuk took the stage next for a cover of Songsit Roongnophakunsri’s “Kheed Sen Tai” and his own hit “Khwam Khid”. Stamp humbly apologised for being a “replacement” for Saharat Sangkapreecha of Nuvo, who was expected to perform. “I think everyone here is feeling a little disappointed with my appearance instead of Phi Kong because it was announced that one of ‘The Voice’ commentators would be here,” he said. 

The slight, if that’s what it was, was quickly forgotten, though, as the scream level reached deafening heights once Anchalee “Pu” Chongkhadeekij walked into the spotlight. She got things rocking “old school” with her smash hit from 1985, “Nueng Diew Khon Nee”, and also sang “Mai Phid”, “Klua Phien”, “Chan Ngao” and – with Od, Jib and Jeed cruising along – “Duay Khwam Khid Thueng”.

The Palace closed the show with an array of danceable songs that were guaranteed to send the fans home all smiles. Full credit, too, to the staff handling the sound and lighting, which were perfect.