Here comes The Sun
Thailand's much-loved rockers return to the stage in October for a concert that promises to be a sell out
ALMOST 15 years after leaving the music scene to explore new pastures and work on other projects, hard rock outfit The Sun will be back on stage along with several of their musician pals in October for a concert that will have their legions of fans dancing with glee.
“The Sun is one of the best bands this country has ever known and also features one of Thailand’s top 10 rock guitarists,” concert organiser and rock enthusiast Tanin Ko-arnantakul tells XP during a recent photo session at the Centra Hotel’s Vayupak Convention Centre in Chaeng Wattana, which will also host the show.
“My original plan was to hold a music festival but the costs were just too high and it would have been hard to bring together so many bands. Instead I decided to merge three guitar heroes from different generations and with different guitar styles with The Sun. It’s hard to catch a guitar jam these days and I am delighted to be bringing it back to life,” he says.
“We’ve continued to play at pubs around the country, and at the same time I’ve got a lot of new songs, many of them written over the past couple of years,” says Pathompong “Pong” Sombatpiboon, the band’s front man and a veteran of such other hard rock outfits as Hin Lek Fai (Stone Metal Fire) and The Olarn Project.
“We will be performing these new songs for the first time at the concert.”
The four guitarists also taking part in the show are Sirisak “Moo” Sirichotinan of Kaleidoscope, another vintage rock outfit, Apisit “Eak” Pongchaisirikul of Blackhead, Aekachai “Ae” Krai-arnon of Wizard and The Sun’s very own Chakrarin “Pop” Duangmaneerattanachai, also of Hin Lek Fai fame. They’ll play a prolonged jam towards the end of the concert.
“I have to transcribe my songs by ear because I’ve never played any of them for long,” Pop says with a laugh. “Our songs aren’t too heavy but melodic, the kind of music that appeals to everyone.”
“I’ll be bringing a couple of Kaleidoscope’s songs to this concert. I want it to feel like a party with new sounds, new songs and new styles,” says Moo Kaleidoscope, who has also published a book on guitar playing and guitar effects titled “Shark by Moo Kaleidoscope”.
“I will jam with Pop during The Sun’s set in addition to playing in the jam session. Fans have already seen the band jamming with Olarn Promjai of The Olarn Project and Manote Puttan. This time it’s with us,” says Eak Blackhead, who is currently working on the demo of his new EP.
“We are not going to reveal what we will be playing in our jam but I can guarantee it will be fun,” adds Ae Wizard. “I love rock with funky and blues rhythms and lots of improvisation”.
Sweat Rock featuring guitarist Pichet Kruawan and Pichaiyut “Neng The Voice” Chanklub, Neverland, and the winner of the recent “Super Rock Project” will open the show.
Unlike other concerts, Tanin says, The Sun will not be playing their hits.
“There will be tracks from ‘Thanon Phra Arthit”, numbers from The Olarn Project, some Western covers as well as new tunes.
“This really is a concert for rock fans.”
ROCK ON
- “The Sun & Friends” will take place at Vayupak Convention Centre of Centra Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre in Chaeng Wattana on October 17 at 8pm.
- The foyer will host booths selling music magazines, equipment and clothes. Food will also be available courtesy of the hotel.
- Pre-sale tickets cost Bt800 and are available until the end of this month by calling Tong at (088) 878 1931 or sending a message to Facebook.com/thesunandfriends.
- From September 1, tickets costing from Bt800 to Bt2,000 will be available at Thai Ticket Major outlets. Call (02) 262 3456 or visit www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.
- unfinished new EP and a rock music contest
