Sek, drugs and rock 'n roll

Rocker Sek Loso’s boast earlier this year that he would outsell Lady Gaga when he staged his concert “40 Tae Roo Suek Muean 14” at Rajamangala National Stadium last Sunday failed to live up to that prediction, filling just half, if that, of the 50,000 seats. 

Worse still, the show was an absolute shambles with first a major downpour serving to delay the start then a violent brawl between hundreds of technical college students outside the stadium further adding to the hold-ups.

Rock heads, most of them clad in black, whiled away the wait by checking out the booths and taking selfies with the life-size cardboard cut-outs of the rocker near the well-guarded entrance. Many of them didn’t even bother to take their seats for the opening sets by Mocca Garden and Tik Shiro.

The low turn out was evident from the moment I entered the stadium. Hardly any of the Bt5,000 seats near the stage were filled and there were embarrassing gaps in both the Bt2,000 seats and in the cheaper amphitheatre areas, the latter quickly becoming the site of another student punch-up.

Sek did eventually make it out to the stage, growling his way through “Sen Thang Luk Phuchai” – the version that now carries a parental advisory notice on the Net – then cursing out the brawling students.

The set list, spanning a little over three hours and comprising 30 songs – was not very different from the rocker’s previous shows, though this time it included contributions from guests and a stage full of sexy models from Fashion TV.

The concert finally got underway with “Panthip”, “Chan Rue Ther (Thi Plien Pai)” and “Aom Phra Ma Pood” before shouting “I’m now single” then performing “Mai Yom Tad Jai”, the lyrics of which speak about a broken heart.

Fans screamed, as the first notes of sad love song “Ya Kohok Chan” rang out and Yuenyong “Ad Carabao” Ophakul came out to jam on vocals in the hook before going on to sing “Phuea Cheewit Tid Lor” and the Carabao hit “Wanipok”. Sek, who recently underwent rehabilitation for drug abuse, changed the last verse of the Carabao song from “will take savings to cure sight loss” to “will take savings to purchase marijuana”.

The rocker, who recently went through a highly publicised divorce from his wife, with both of them entering into a major slanging match on the social networks, appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the single life, looking and acting every bit the “sex and drugs” rock star. He kissed the sexy dancers in “Motorcycle Rub Jang” and the Elite Supermodels after “Ma Hao Khruang Bin”, announcing loudly that he wanted to have sex with them all.

 The sound system deteriorated as guests Amphol “Nui” Lampoon and Kraipop “Kob” Chandee of Micro came out on stage to sing “Ao Pai Loei” and “Phu Chana”, with the vocals and guitar line intermittent at best. 

 In what for many was the highlight of the show, Sek then took his fans on a sing-along set of bittersweet songs that included “5 Nathee”, “Mai Tai Lok Ther”, “Mae Wa” and “Khoei Rak Chan Bang Mai”.

The audience was delighted to see former Loso bassist Apirat Sukjit who, along with drummer Kittisak Khot-Kham quit the band in 2006, jam with Sek on “Som Sarn” and “Jakrayan See Dang” though disappointed at Kittisak’s refusal to take part.

With the concert now at the halfway stage, Sek asked security to open the barriers and let the audience come close to the stage. The rocker introduced his two brothers San Naka and Jo, who sang with him on “Mae”, as well as veteran guitarists Laem Morrison and Kitti Guitar Gun, who competed with each other for the licks on “Rock and Roll” and “Khun Ther”. 

Clad in a new black T-shirt declaring his single status, Sek closed out the concert with “Rao Lae Nai”, “Khuen Chan” and “Fon Tok Thi Na Tang” before inviting the loveliest lasses in the audience to karaoke along with him on a reprise of “Som Sarn”.