Thousands of people flocked to the rolling hills of Silverlake Vineyard this weekend, their goal not to sip wine but to ROCK OUT with the likes of Incubus, Owl City, and Seether, to name a few of the international acts. One organizer told me Incubus was the first band to confirm. Apparently it was easier getting in touch with their manager than any of the local Thai bands. Nonetheless, Thai performers such as T-Bone, Silly Fools, and Singular kept it fresh with original scores and lyrics as well as some strategically placed ukelele solos. Japanese rockers Akiro Jimbo wowed all with their impassioned guitar and bass riffs. Heads were banging, beer AND wine was flowing. All in all, it was a grand ole time.
The journey down to the festival was like any other excursion in Thailand: uncertain and sweaty. Embarking from the Ekkamai bus station in Bangkok, it took about two hours to arrive in Pattaya. When we arrived, the next step was to scrounge for a songtoey to take us 45 minutes outside of Pattaya to Silverlake Vineyards. The songtoeys were driving a hard bargain; it’s cheaper to get around in Bangkok than it was in Pattaya last weekend! The road was clearly marked with signs, and we even got a glimpse of a beautiful golden Buddha outlined on the side of a mountain.
We alighted at the festival grounds and, self-admittedly a wino, I longingly admired the rows of twisted trees basking in the afternoon sunlight. It rained for about 30 minutes earlier in the day, so the sun was not overbearing and a cool breeze blew through the picturesque orchards. After checking in, another songtoey drove us through the vineyard to the main grounds of the festival. Unlike heading into an MRT station, the security at the gates thoroughly checked our bags for any weapons or drugs. I felt safe, although one whiff of the crowd told me some illegal substances had snuck their way in.
Hailing from Texas, I’ve been to my fair share of music festivals in the states. And let me tell you, Thailand, I was impressed. The layout of the festival couldn’t have been better. The stages were nestled amongst the hills, which created a natural amphitheater sound effect. Sticking to a natural theme, Earth stage could accommodate up to 30,000 people, while the Solar stage topped out at 8,000. The collaborative genius of Silverlake Entertainment and JSS Productions strategically placed the stages facing North and South, so the sun wasn’t in your eyes and the tunes didn’t mix. A smaller stage was set up for up-and-coming bands as well as kid-friendly music.
Like any good festival, there were vendors selling T-shirts, hand-made goods and, of course, ukeleles. Unlike other festivals, the Manchester United game had a screening area, there was a sushi stand, and even a McDonalds. Those looking for a challenge could race a friend or foe up the 20-meter rock wall erected near the entrance. Chang had two huge beer gardens between the two stages, with plenty of room for festival goers to walk in between the two. At the end of the night, one girl told me, “I’ve just been here the whole time, drinking and rocking out from afar!”
Aaah, now to the toilets. Usually when you gotta go, you might as well risk a public sighting and drop your pants somewhere on the outskirts of the festival grounds rather than face the hoards of squirmish people waiting to use a potty that’s getting perilously full. Not at Silverlake Music Festival. The port-o-potties were a-plenty, reflecting the music styles as they had both Thai and Western options. The toilet paper, to my knowledge, didn’t run out and there was even liquid hand-gel to prevent pinkeye outbreaks. And the toilet signs made for an excellent photo-op!
Headlining the festival were two bands from the United States, California angst rockers Incubus and Adam Young’s electronica band Owl City. Many people didn’t show up until Incubus came on around midnight. However, these late-comers missed out on the bevy of bands Silverlake had lined up.
Thai band Singular came out with some more relaxed tunes, putting on an acoustic rock set. The charming lead singer’s voice paired with acoustic strumming left the crowd swaying in the waning afternoon sunshine.
Japanese drummer Akira Jimbo collaborated with a bassist and guitarist that had the crowd spinning. Definitely some of the older performers, they brought more enthusiasm to the stage than some of Incubus’ band mates. Everyone on stage was having a good time, taking turns jamming and bringing some classic jazz to mix it up a bit.
UK band Young Guns brought the head bang. And they brought it hard. Lead singer Gustav Wood ran around the stage as if a demon had possessed his soul. He glared at the audience with his shocking blue irises, making it impossible to look away. Their songs “Sons of Apathy” and “Weight of the World” set a nice tone for the rest of the evening of rock n’ roll.
Owl City’s lead vocalist and guitar player Adam Young has come far, not just to play in Bangkok but from his parent’s basement in Minnesota where he first assembled the hit “Fireflies.” Young has become an engaging and voracious frontman for his music project Owl City. He used to do everything by himself, but he obviously can’t do it all live so he’s taken on some band mates with him, including adorable female keyboardist Breanne Duren. Video footage to come.
Known for collaborating with Amy Lee from Evanescence, Seether performed for all the lonely outcasts out there.
Last up was Incubus. It’s no wonder their lead singer Brandon Boyd gets so much attention. He’s got charisma, and I’ve claimed charisma dead for years now. Picked up in high school by a label in L.A., Incubus has been steadily producing hits. I managed to snap a pick of Boyd – who was voted “best-looking” in high school,right when they were shooing us out of the front pit. I must say, he’s still got it. They banged out their old stuff with crowd-pleasers such as “Drive”, “Nice to Know You”, “Megalomaniac”, “Wish You Were Here”, “Are You In”, and “Talk Show on the Mute”. Everybody happily inebriated, singing and dancing at this peak point of the evening.
Coconuts Bangkok’s fashion article on the Silverlake Music Festival (because festivals are about so much more than music) is HERE.
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