Thai singer-songwriter Phum Viphurit and openers Mild Orange and Brandon performed at Aladdin Theater in Southeast Portland on September 13th. Brandon, a singer-songwriter from Riverside, California, and his ensemble had the tough job of warming up the crowd, and even though the bassist admitted it “felt like a high school talent show,” they did a commendable job. They weren’t afraid to laugh at themselves and at the awkward silences between songs, but by the end of their set, they had an attentive crowd swaying to the slow, lyrical R&B songs, fully absorbed in the sounds of heartbreak.
Mild Orange took the stage afterwards, their vocalist sporting a bold orange t-shirt, and the New Zealand band brought a mellow, dreamy pop sound. While their laid-back songs were lovely to relax to, their upbeat songs tended to be a bit more musically engaging.
After a tussle of stage setup, Phum Viphurit took the stage, exuding a quiet, self-assured joy. When he was not singing, he would be strumming his guitar with the widest grin on his face while ambling around the stage to interact with his bandmates and the audience, and his cheeriness was infectious. He and his bandmates were dressed in t-shirts and loose pants (peep the iconic Thai elephant pants), and they all just seemed relaxed and happy to be there. The keyboardist, who also played the flute and tambourine, was particularly entertaining to watch for his silly little dance movements. The band settled into a comfortable, exuberant groove with “Adore” from Phum’s first album, Manchild. It’s an upbeat song that makes you want to clap along and bounce to the chorus. To the audience’s surprise and delight, Phum and the percussionist swapped instruments in “Lady Papaya,” a vocally sparse song with lots of hi-hat and a syncopated keyboard undercurrent.
With tastefully twangy guitar solos and lyrics like “Nice and gently we collide to become one / Feel all my aches subside warm like the sun” (from the tender “Loving and Letting Go”), many of Phum’s songs evoke the feeling of sinking into a relaxed warmth on a summer day. In the case of “Healing House” and “Hello, Anxiety,” Phum delivered the sonic equivalent of a hug. Phum’s unprocessed voice has an endearing roughness around the edges while retaining a buoyant quality that floats above the synth and guitars. And speaking of the instrumentals, there is no shortage of engaging instrumental parts in Phum’s music.
While all of Phum’s lyrics are in English, the influences of Thai culture on his songs can be seen, most notably in “Greng Jai Please,” which refers to the excessive politeness expected in social situations that prevent people from expressing their true feelings. “Temple Fair” was inspired by Phum’s favorite Thai movie, which he described as being similar to Forrest Gump and has a theme of respecting others’ differences. The piece features tinkly chimes and hollow drums to usher you into a tropical, otherworldly temple fair. Funky guitar passages were showcased in the second half, turning the fair into a dance party until Phum’s voice drew us back to the edges of the event. “I sit in silence, watch the people jive / So this is how it feels to be alive,” he crooned with a soft smile.
Between songs, Phum mentioned that he just turned 28 and joked that he already feels like an old man. Yet, despite this sentiment, he radiated an innocent, youthful energy and attracted a good number of fans in their teens.
A totally unexpected treat of the evening was the bassist showcasing not just his bass skills, but also his beatboxing ones. His jaw-dropping skill in making sound effects and imitating various genres took the crowd by surprise but eventually drew applause and cheers of admiration. Too bad this skill was not incorporated into any of the songs performed! After this entertaining interlude, the program resumed with Phum’s most well-known songs, “Lover Boy,” which has garnered almost 100M views on YouTube and launched him into the international spotlight in 2018. Many in the audience drew out their phones to record this special song while singing along to the chorus. The band offered “Welcome Change” as an encore, and it was a reminder to be brave in the face of change and a gentle sendoff into the night. It was a fitting end to an evening that felt like a respite in a tropical paradise, where the worries of everyday life are swept away in a summer breeze and replaced by songs of comfort.
Click on the photo below to view our photos from the show:
