Nuvo make it new

ONE OF THE most popular bands of the 1980s was back on stage last weekend for a full blow-out concert that delighted their thousands of loyal fans.

And unlike their previous “B-Side” concert staged in October 2012, which focused almost totally on little-known numbers, Nuvo rocked the audience with a slate of hits that included “Luek Sud Jai”, “Lok Kan Len”, “Pen Yang Nee Tang Tae Kerd”, “Bok Yang Ngan Yang Ngee”, and “Niyam Rak”. 

The lads also scored a first in their 26-year history by playing back-to-back shows on Saturday and Sunday to a packed Impact Arena in front of a crowd made up mostly of middle-aged fans, many of them accompanied by their kids. 

Despite starting almost an hour late on Sunday night, screams and loud applause greeted the original six band members, who excited fans from the word go with an opening set that included three of their hits – “Sud Sud Pai Loei”, “Sanchatayan Bok” and “Rai Kan Mak”.

Guitarist-vocalist Saharat “Kong” Sangkhapreecha, singer-guitarist Jirayut "Joe" Wattanasin and keyboardist-singer Norasak "John" Rattanaveroj worked together to charm the audience with their looks, voices, movements and jokes. They were supported by the “back-row” members Peter Anthony Hammond on keyboard, Surachai “Su” Suntaratadakul on bass, and drummer Chayut “Mai” Burakammakowit as well as by string and brass sections and three chorus singers.

The fans sang along with the familiar songs, clapped their hands and danced along when the tunes became irresistibly upbeat. John joked that a big problem for the band ahead of this concert was trying to choose from the many hits on their songlist.

Dance-music diva Mai Charoenpura made a surprise appearance on stage to present a bouquet of flowers to Joe, her former sweetheart. And in an even greater surprise, Nuvo swung into Mai’s eponymous hit “Sud Rit Sud Dej”, which she proceeded to perform in its entirety. Joe later confessed that he did not think Mai would complete the entire song, as she had not rehearsed with the band for the concert.

Excitement rose another level when rapper Joey Boy appeared on stage as a guest singer. Backed by four curvy dancers, he rocked the hall with a long medley of his popular hip-hop numbers that had many up and dancing. 

The other guest singers were three young winners of “The Voice” singing competition Thanon “Non” Chamroen, Rangsan “Songkran” Panyaruen and Somsak “Noom” Rinnairak who together sang a medley of Nuvo numbers.

Joe, Kong and John might well be middle-aged themselves but that didn’t stop them from putting on a show worthy of their younger days, dancing and jumping around on stage in the hits “Kangkog Raroeng” and “Bun Khun Pu Dam”.

The audience flocked to the front on the hall as the three-and-a-half-hour concert neared its end, dancing happily to a fast-paced medley and cheering loudly as Nuvo bade farewell.

As cries for more echoed around the auditorium, the band, now clad in tuxedos, came back out and performed a finale that included “Mai Pen Rai”, “Luem Pai Mai Rak Kan” and a reprise of “Sud Sud Pai Loei”, the song that started the concert.