Back on track with 'Thunderbolt'

SINGER-SONGWRITER APIWAT “Stamp” Ueathavornsuk had been in the music business for a decade before stardom finally struck when he became a coach on television’s “The Voice” in 2012. That lasted for three often-controversial seasons before criticism on the social media drove him off. Thankfully, though, it didn’t drive him away from music altogether, and a nearly sold-out second solo concert at Impact Arena last Saturday was his reward for hanging in there.

The three-hour show was billed as “Stamp Fah Pha” (“Stamp Thunderbolt”), and that’s what it felt like, the singer letting all that cooped-up talent – and some of his frustration – rock out. 

“Frankly,” he admitted to the crowd soon after the concert began, “I’d become depressed, confused and paranoid. I’m too weak to handle tough situations. I knew a lot of people didn’t like me, but today I’m learning that a lot of people do understand me. I might make mistakes, but I believe we can all move on together and find a better way.”

The moisture in his eye ended up as tears of joy before the evening was finished. There was plenty of emotional drama, as well as laughter. 

Around the stage were several screens resembling comic strips, on which images and animations were projected to match each song, starting with the fast-paced hits “Hai Tai Si Pab Pha”, “Sat Pralad”, “Ohm Jong Ngeuy” and “Khon Thee Khun Kor Roo Wa Khrai”. His long-time friend Golf Fukking Hero put in an early appearance too.

“I like to up the beat at the start of a concert so I can get over my stage fright,” Stamp laughed. “This is the first time I’ve had an audience of thousands and the tickets cost so much” – for the record, Bt1,000 to Bt3,500 – “so I’m really feeling the weight of responsibility!”

We were next treated to a thoroughly enjoyable trip back in time with his first single, “Som Mud”, released on the Love Is label in 2005, followed by tunes by the Strangers, the band he joined in 2007, featuring Popetorn “Two” Sunthornyarnkit, Arom “Cutto” Phoharnrattanakul and Supawat “Champ” Peeranon. After that Stamp moved into electronic rock, forming 7th Scene with Krit “Art” Viryasiri and Chutchawal “Chat” Wisawabumrungchai.

Back to more recent times, there were the singles “Animation”, “Rak Kra Dod Kam Paeng”, “Tha Ther Mai Roo Suek”, “Win Yan” and “Vacation Time” from the soundtrack to the current smash movie “Freelance”.

One of Stamp’s most famous songs, “Nak Leng Keyboard”, has that giddy electronic feel inspired by videogame effects. It was a collaboration with the Japanese chiptune band YMCK, and the two of the three members – Takeshi Yokemura and Midori Kurihara – joined Stamp onstage at the show, backed by motion graphics straight out of Nintendo games.

And then the “Boys” were back in town – Boy(d) Kosiyabong and Trai “Boy” Bhumiratna – dressed up like Greek gods ready to hurl some thunderbolts of their own. It wasn’t as funny as intended, though, more a way of boosting the concert’s sponsors.

While Stamp had a break, the band Polycat took charge, getting the crowd singing along to the ’80s-style “Pob Kan Mai”. Then the star of the show returned, leading them through his pop tracks “Fan Wan Aei Joob” and “Chai Klang”.

The screams were deafening when Nuvo singer-guitarist Saharat “Kong” Sangkapricha – another coach from “The Voice” – brought his axe out to play as Stamp sang the Nuvo hit “Sud Sud Pai Loei”. Then the emotions rose again when they together sang Boyd Pod’s “Chuang Thee Dee Thee Sud” (“The Best Moment”) with pictures on the screens from their days together on the TV show. Stamp was soon in tears again.

“I had a chance to try new experiences,” he explained. “A lot happened to my life. I hardly ever went on Facebook and Instagram because I was afraid of what people were saying. I was discouraged and downhearted, and I was really sorry that I was letting all my supporters down while I kept quiet.”

The concert wouldn’t have been complete without Stamp’s most popular tune, “Kwam Kid”, which he composed for the movie “A Moment in June”. The audience was fully on his side, many fans holding up signs reading “Stay with Stamp”.

Eve “Palmy” Pancharoen then appeared (barefoot as usual) to sing “Kluen Sud Tai” and “Kan La Kang Nueng” with Stamp and orchestral backing. She then sent him off with a bouquet of flowers and got folks dancing in the aisles with her own hits “Kid Mak” and “Tik Tok”. Stamp was most appreciative. “Palmy invited me to compose a song for her new album,” he said. “She pulled me up and restored my confidence.”

No one was left sitting while he rocked through “Baan Lek” and “Ta Sawang”, and then came a real surprise – he set off on a stroll around the hall while singing “Song Muen”, a musical reminder that the average life lasts just 20,000 days, so all the more reason to make it worthwhile.

The show ended with “Mun Kong Pen Kwam Rak” from the movie “30 Kamlang Jaew” (“Fabulous 30”) and “Pleng Thee Nan Maa Laew Mai Dai Fang”, another expression gratitude for all the support he’s enjoyed.

“I lost my way for awhile,” he declared. “From now on, I will do my best to create songs that return the happiness to all of you, just as you’ve done for me.”