When it is announced that a concert will be held at Bangkok's Scala cinema, it's usually a good one. The intimate setting, crisp sound system and unblocked views of the stage make it the perfect venue to show off an artist's raw talent. This was precisely the case with 28-year-old British singer-songwriter Tom Odell.
Last week, Odell visited Bangkok for the first time as part of his Jubilee Road Tour, playing to an almost sold-out crowd. Unexpectedly, his band didn't make an appearance; it was just him and his piano (with a brief harmonica cameo in one song).
"This is a special show tonight," he told his audience after opening with Go Tell Her Now from his latest album Jubilee Road. "It's just me and the piano. I wanted to do that because I wanted to strip away all the decoration that can distract from the songs. This is kind of how all the songs are written, just like this."
Odell, whose folk-indie-blues sound first took him to the top of the UK charts in 2013, told a delighted crowd that he would be going on a journey through his three albums: Long Way Down (2013), Wrong Crowd (2016) and Jubilee Road (2018).
Even though it was just Odell and his piano, the show exploded with depth and sound. His piano playing was effusive, his singing big and emotional. The audience sang along, but quietly, likely because they wanted to make sure they heard Odell loud and clear.
Between songs, he charmed the crowd with anecdotes of how each of his songs came to be. Behind The Rose, for example, was mostly inspired by Bob Dylan, and I Know, was about an emotional relationship he had when he was 21. He was also funny and engaging, with cheeky explanations and rambles about his life and loves, at times making fun of himself through self-deprecating humour.
"This isn't a sex toy," he quipped when the audience seemed unsure about what he was putting around his neck. "This is a harmonica. I'm not very good at the harmonica at all." He suggested any harmonica players in the audience step outside so they wouldn't suffer his playing.
"I'm terrible," he mumbled to audience laughter.
Of course, his playing wasn't half bad, even if he did mess up a little by laughing during one verse. Then Odell proceeded to go through the hits, from Magnetised to Constellations and Jubilee Road, putting the audience into a blissful trance with his wonderful array of ballads.
The singer-songwriter then introduced fans to the beautiful new love song Tears That Never Dry, during which he forgot a few chords and lines, laughing at his own mistakes which only endeared him to the crowd even more.
Eleven songs and a little over an hour later, Odell said his closing remarks. Then he started playing the chords to his megahit Another Love to screams and delighted applause. After a rousing performance, with powerful voice, piano playing and foot stomping, Odell ended the show with a smile, a bow, a thank you and a promise to come back with his full band.
