Punk veterans Anti-Flag protested along with the people of Bangkok on Sunday night at The Rock Pub.
Local three piece punk rock band, Jimmy Revolt, kicked off the night of rock and rebellion, which saw around 300 people rallying and bouncing together.
It was the first time the energetic punk band from Pittsburgh had headlined a show in Bangkok. Anti-Flag played Kuala Lumpur the previous night to kick off their autumn tour to promote the American Spring album released in May. The anti-war and anti-fascist American band have long been advocates against political and social injustice throughout the world. At the Bangkok show they stayed true to their roots, preaching revolt.
Singer Justin Sane shouted catchy hooks in the name of democracy and against global greed over the top of guitarist Chris Head's monster power chords.
They hashed out popular songs from the past like You've Gotta Die For The Government, Hymn For The Dead, Turncoat, and The Press Corpse and touched upon a few tunes from the new album, such as Fabled World. At the end of the night they left fans hoarse from singing along to the old, familiar Drink, Drank, Punk.
Anti-Flag's frenzied version of The Clash's Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now was met with cheers.
Some messages on Anti-Flag's new album are repetitive, but the issues they have opened fire on in the past have gone largely unchanged. In fact, many have worsened.
They called for humanity over apathy. Before launching into 1 Trillion Dollar$, bassist Chris Barker said it was beautiful to be at a show where there was "no racism, no sexism, no homophobia and no bigotry of any kind".
"If someone falls down, you pick them up," shouted Barker. His instructions were hardly audible among the writhing, moshing audience.
However, at one point during the middle of the set, one man dropped his belongings and a small circle formed around him to protect him as he scrambled for his lost items.
Although far from home, Sane yelled in outrage against militarised states and particularly against the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson and Freddie Gray in Baltimore at the hands of police officers, adding that the people of Bangkok are watching from afar, just as the people of America are watching what is happening here.
At one point, Barker soared into the crowd, while Vinesh Muniandy from Kuala Lumpur climbed up onto the staged to play a few riffs on the bass.
Despite the plight of humanity, the band said that the people who had gathered at The Rock Pub gave them faith and hope in the face of corrupt religious and political leaders.
The sweat-covered audience jumped, moshed and danced around Pat Thetic and Barker when they brought their instruments down from the stage to play in the crowd.
At the end of the show, Sane shook hands with the crowd, looking fellow punks in the eyes and thanking them for being there.
Nearing three decades of music-making, the band sounded tight and although by the end of the show your ears were ringing too much to actually hear them it was hard not to leave inspired -- and angry.
