Now that's a Paradox

Alternative rockers Paradox returned to the stage last Sunday for their second full-scale concert after a surprisingly long 10-year gap with their show “Pangad Ngam Kham Lok, Dod Mai Roo Lom ” (Greatly in the world, jumping and never falling down).

Fans started queuing at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani at noon, eager to use their standing tickets to get as close as possible to the stage. Once inside, they amused themselves playing the “Winning” game on an Xbox, with their scores displayed on giant screens on the left and rights and concert organiser Yuthana “Ted” Boonorm serving as commentator.

Then the hall went dark and a team of “yellers” – cheering team leaders - appeared on stage with their faces painted to resemble jokers. 

Paradox made their way out to stage and vocalist/guitarist Ittipong “Ta” Kridakorn Na Ayudhaya, bassist Chakrapong “Song” Siririn, guitarist Kajadphai “Big” Karnchanapar and drummer Saittaporn  “Joey” Kridakorn Na Ayadhaya swung into “Nong Ple” and “Roti Thi Rak”. Before greeting fans, the band brought out special guest Getsunova, who didn’t perform but instead distributed deep-fried sliced banana.

As the band segued into “Talai”, Yutthana shouted from back of the hall, “What are you doing? I told you that you shouldn’t hold this concert. I gave you a hundred thousand for the stage sets and you only came up with a lousy backdrop with the concert’s name”. 

Ta gave the magic word and immediately a colourful octopus shape made from 100,000 inflatable animal tumblers in the shape of geese, horses, and turtles appeared on stage.

Paradox once again swung into “Talai” and followed up with “Tam Glang”, a 2001 number that led to the band being signed by Genie Records, then proceeded to play a series of numbers rarely performed at shows. The audience laughed as guests Super Glasses Ska Ensemble played “Tas” (“Slave”) from a mock-up jail cell and delivered “Fire” complete with a demonstration of how to cook fried morning glory. 

Sai Fahrenheit and Ten Nararak were the next guests to appear, performing “Karn Rou Koi” and “Ros Chart Haeng Kwarm Ruk” respectively before handing over to Ta and Big for “Per”, “Dao” and “Ngo”

Fans were also treated to a video of the band –then known as Hoy Jor – performing during their stint as students at Chulalongkorn.

The next segment was devoted to Paradox’s hits and kicked off with a series of guests using the stage as a catwalk, among them “Mae Baan Mee Nuad”, the housewife with a moustache, who’s been winning fans on YouTube.

Two large geese, one of each side of the stage, made up the setting for “Song Rak Song Yim” and popular singer Lula gave them a friendly push as she emerged perform “Miss Miss” and “Talae See Dam” with Ta.

Paradox returned with a set of funny songs before launching into the number that gave the concert its name “Pangad Ngam Kham Lok”. The band brought all their guests to the stage and Ta announced that the concert was at an end.

He was only kidding though, telling the crowd 10 seconds later that the next part was only for real Paradox fans. “We’re going to sing our strange songs,” he announced happily.