In a transformation that has taken over a decade, Gene Kasidit has gone from iconic androgynous frontman of the now-defunct legendary dance punk group Futon to a full-blown alternative gender-bending electronic rock diva. A lot has happened over the course of Gene's career, but his first full-scale solo concert last Saturday re-cemented his carefully crafted world of rule-breaking fashion, music and hedonism.
The "Blonde2BeWild" concert was a great mixture of all things that have made Gene who he is today — a casual cross dresser with high individuality and visibility, equipped with one of the best vocal abilities in the Thai music industry. Show director Araya Indra, the famed stylist and designer, helped put together a fast-paced, entertaining show that read like a high fashion magazine. With custom pieces from Thailand's leading fashion houses such as Theatre, Sretsis and Asava, as well as special, handcrafted headpieces, Gene had wardrobe changes practically every two songs — all done tastefully on stage.
Noted for his unique sense of style and daring attitude, show costumes played a major role in Gene's concert. There was a high collective expectation of what he would bring to the stage, and he didn't disappoint. The intensive wardrobe was simply amazing, and it was created exclusively for the performance. Some items were newly constructed, while others were culled from the brands' archives and adjusted with new screaming details, displaying a variety of moods, from a party monster to an ethereal songstress.
Gene with special guests, hip hop duo Southside.
After an opening DJ got the dancing spirit rolling, Gene kicked off the night with Ruk Sanook (NSA) and continued through a set packed with the most familiar songs from his albums and Futon days, as well as covers of Carabao and Christina Aguilar. Faster songs had rotating teams of dancers, from a waacking crew to buff, gyrating men, creating a pumped-up atmosphere. Gene's vocal prowess was second to none. For over two hours, his vocal chords worked to their full potential. Heartfelt ballads like W8 and Aom Kod Nun (Hug) were emotional, while rockier tracks sounded charmingly coarse and full of attitude. Dancey tracks served to uplift the mood and fun factor. It is quite a talent to switch back and forth, perfectly performing in the best-suited styles for each song. An additional compliment goes to Suay Sarocha, a well-known contestant from the first season of The Voice Thailand.
The night's special guest was hip hop duo Southside, whose energy was off the charts. The pair's electronic hip hop and fast rapping set up another mood for "Blonde2BeWild", and was greatly appreciated.
Hats off to Gene's band, which consists of accomplished musicians from his label, Smallroom. The band plays with Gene on a regular basis, but extra effort went into giving the concert a well-rounded texture — their playing was tight and came off as well-rehearsed. The mixture between synthetic sounds and live instruments gave the audience a well-balanced experience.
The venue, Zen Gallery, is not known to be the best for live concerts, but this was the first time I wasn't annoyed by its usual limitations, as the Smallroom team put their best men on the job, delivering a much better soundscape than what I've encountered on numerous previous occasions. The lighting did its job without taking away from the star of the night, but the accompanying visuals could have been better.
With an extended catwalk from the stage, Gene was able to get up close and personal with the audience, no matter where they were — and the catwalk itself ended up serving as the real thing, when Thailand's top models poured out near the end of the show.
Gene Kasidit might be an acquired taste for some, but this concert proved why he is where he is now. We can only hope he'll stay on the path to the top.
