Eagraíonn lucht cheoil Bangkok ócáid dhlúthchairdíochta i ndiaidh crith talún

Oasis tribute concert unites Bangkok in moving display of Thai resilience in the wake of devastating Earthquake.

In the harrowing hours following Bangkok's most devastating earthquake to date - a shocking disaster that tore through Thailand’s capital city from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake’s epicenter in neighboring Myanmar - high-rises across the city were reduced to rubble or evacuated due to structural damage threatening collapse from imminent aftershocks. The bustling city of Bangkok sat in a state of fearful paralysis; its globally celebrated spirit seemingly lost among the growing list of missing souls of the day.

Thuig Jula Dolsuklert, duine de comh-bhunaitheoirí ceann de na hionaid cheoil is ansa le muintir Bangkok, Decommune, go maith a bhí ag teastáil mar chneasú ón bpobal aige tar éis lá scanrúil lán imní agus eagla a fhulaingt: oíche catairsis rock n roll beo.

Agus formhór mhuintir an chathair ollmhóir ag feistiú dóirse ón anachain, choinnigh Decommune ar oscailt a gcuid féin don slua bheag cróga cheoltóirí a chuaigh i bhfiontar shráideanna briste agus fhiáin Bangkok, diongbháilte de spriod a mhuintir a ardú le ceol Oasis, Queen agus Arctic Monkeys.

'At first, I was concerned about the safety, because everywhere in Bangkok was at risk. But we had the structure of the building checked, and everything was okay,’ Decommune’s Jula Dolsuklert said. ‘People were already stressed enough, so we decided the party must go on! That’s just Rock ‘n’ Roll!’

While my taxi cruised down the eerily empty four-lane highway towards the venue, occasionally diverting down side streets, avoiding strips of upended infrastructure, I watched the pale, expressionless faces of hundreds of passengers stuck in stand-still traffic in the opposite lanes, anxiously attempting to go somewhere, anywhere, far away.

Their eyes had the same frantic-yet-paralytic gaze I witnessed as a boy in New York following the 9/11 attacks; a collective look of widespread panic I hoped to never see again.

Os rud é nach raibh Decommune ach 10-15 nóiméad ón áit ar thit foirgneamh an Chatuchak, an timpist ba mheas sa chathair an lá céanna, ní raibh tuairim agam ar a bheadh romham.

An mbeadh aon duine ann?

Arbh fhiú an chontúirt ann dul isteach go ceartlár na cathrach scriosta?

Agus mé ag siúl síos phasáiste fada go spás imeachta Decommune, ciúníodh na smaointe a bhí ag preabadh thart im cheann de réir a chéile ag gáire, scread-cheiliúrtha agus riffs ghiotáir so-aithnid.

Every ounce of hope and faith in the immense power of live music was reaffirmed the moment I entered the venue and gazed over the sea of grinning faces.

On stage, Oasis tribute band, RunBabyRun, were pouring their souls into a stirring rendition of ‘Acquiesce’, reviving the city’s spirit with every poignantly apt line:

'I don't know how to wake the things that sleep inside

I only wanna see the light that shines behind your eyes

I hope that I can say the things I wish I’d said

To sing my soul to sleep and take me back to bed

Who wants to be alone when we can feel alive instead

Because we need each other

We believe in one another'

Lámh ar láimh nó lámha san aer, scréach an slua gach liric amach i dtreo an ghrúpa dhílis agus stráinséirí taobh leo agus, níos tábhachtaí ar fad, i dtreo an chathair fhulangach acu agus tharais amach.

Aríst eile, chabhraigh ceol Oasis suaimhneas agus spreagadh a thairiscint do chathair a bhí faoi scáth na círéibe agus an tragóid, ag tabhairt le chéile na sluaite imeaglacha tré rock n roll beathatheach, fuinniúil.

‘The recent earthquake didn’t just cause physical devastation; it left a deep emotional impact on everyone affected. The fear it brought was something entirely new for our country—we never imagined something like this could actually happen.’

RunBabyRun Bassist Oat Chatrapol Fakyen said. ‘In that moment, it wasn’t just the audience that needed healing—we did too. Music allowed us to release our emotions, and the crowd did the same. Together, we shared something powerful. That’s the beauty and magic of music—it connects, heals, and uplifts us all.’

'Singing together, sharing emotions—it's a way to find strength in each other and turn pain into something powerful.'

Lead singer, James Sekson Seegasetkoon added, ‘In times of crisis, people need something to hold on to—something that helps them push through. Music has always been that remedy, a source of healing for the soul. When the world feels heavy, live music brings people together, reminding them they’re not alone.'

Tar éis don ómóis leictreach RunBabyRun d’Oasis, d’ofráil Big Joe and Voodoo Boy spriod Freddie Mercury agus Queen le seit claiseach, ag cothú athnuachan sa lucht féachanna mheallta.

Ina ndiaidh siúd, suas le Medium Rare ar stáitse, grúpa ómóis do Arctic Monkeys, le clabhsúr a chur ar an oíche, deireadh le tríréad rock a thacaigh a muintir in ísle brí.

As one of the longest days in Bangkok’s recent history came to an end, and Decommune called it a night, not a single frown could be spotted leaving the venue as they headed back towards the uncertainty of tomorrow.

Between Decommune’s courage to keep their doors open, the dedication displayed by the night’s musicians, and RunBabyRun’s thoughtful execution of Oasis’ uplifting music—the communal power of live music had worked its magic.

Those who took part in the restorative night will undoubtedly stand a little bit taller in the daunting days to come.

Ní éagann spriod rock agus roll ariamh agus is fianaise iad Oasis de sin. Iompraíonn a gcuid ceoil fuinnimh gan gó – liricí lán le brí, foinn a thugann ugach, agus fuaim nach dteipeann riamh ar ardú croí. Ní hamháin go dtugann a gcuid ceol só, ach go neartaíonn agus go gcneasaíonn sé.

Through this seemingly small endeavor, something truly monumental was achieved. It became evident that Bangkok’s resilient spirit would prevail through the darkness of tragedy and chaos— guided by the light that shines behind her eyes.

Video and all pictures, Mike Finnegan.