Bangkok, thank you for giving us Club Sonic. We love it and we love Bangkok. It’s an excellent place to see shows, relax with a drink outside (without sweating incessantly!), eat dinner, and dance to motley DJs and bands. That perfect mix of everything one would want in a night out was on display for New York City dream pop band Asobi Seksu’s show at Sonic on May 9.
But first Thailand’s own dream pop band Slow Reverse opened the evening to an eager crowd. Their most recent performance at Duck & Noodle’s Boat Party definitely garnered new fans. Songs ranged from sway-worthy, pretty anthems to baby-doll vocals over synthetic beats, producing a truly unique sound. Singing in Thai and a Brighton-English accent, tossing a tambourine into the crowd and clapping along, the leading ladies alternated performing individually and as a duet. Their adorable stage presence and crowd rapport made them an excellent electro-indie act.
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Stylish Nonsense hopped on stage next, bringing with it head bangs, body bangs, screeching, and guitars. These two long-haired, bearded weirdos have been playing together for years yet don’t speak to each other. The bass was booming as super funky, haunted-disco tunes got the crowd moving. At one point the drummer was mistaken for having an epileptic fit. The redundant screeching attracted the hardcore.
The sexy Japanese lead singer of Asobi Seksu, Yuki Chikudate, took the stage last, with her wild mane of hair blazing. Donned in black platforms, over-the-knee black socks, black shorts, and a leather jacket (which quickly came off) over a printed cut-out shirt, she and the rest of black-clad band rocked in New York chic. She beamed her PYT smile to the crowd and ended each song with a kap kuhn ka. Guitarist James Hanna and Yuki form Asobi Seksu’s core. After playing music together for 11 years, they are now engaged (sigh). Larry Gorman was on drums. His 40th birthday was that night and the crowd sang an enthusiastic “Happy Birthday” and presented him with a classic 40THB 7-11 cake
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Asobi Seksu’s set started poppy and upbeat then turned into full-on head-banging. They varied the set with songs from their most acclaimed album Citrus mixed with tracks from newer albums Fluorescence and Hush.
Yuki’s beautiful vocals sounded almost exactly the same as her recorded albums. Utilizing various instruments such as bells, tambourine, and small maracas to accent her voice, she played up the crowd and then brought it back down. Front and center, a crowd of about 10 Thais danced the entire show. The crowd was a bit shy when Yuki asked “How are you guys doing tonight?” but got one enthusiastic “Super!” She said she can take super.
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The venue had some issues setting the sound, but otherwise Sonic makes an excellent place to see a show. During the encore they played a Japanese song that made you feel like you were riding in a car weaving your hand through gusts of warm summer air. Yuki took over the drums and James bid farewell to the crowd with Rao rak meung thai (We love Thailand).
The evening was definitely a win with Bangkok’s indie hipsters and everyone left with signed posters and smiles.
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