NIGHT PROWL — Five years ago, Kyoto Protocol started out as just another rock band, plodding through 30 cover songs a night in the local bars of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But now, after one hell of a year, Malaysia’s indie darlings opened for The Killers in September and shared the stage with The Smashing Pumpkins and Modest Mouse at a festival in Sepang just a few months ago.
Tomorrow night, Kyoto Protocol will make its debut performance in Bangkok, but don’t worry as the band is still humble as kuih dangai (Malaysian macaroon pie).
In fact, the members didn’t even get to meet Billy Corrigan. Although the Smashing Pumpkins lead singer stayed in the same hotel, concert organizers informed everyone, “Billy doesn’t like to be disturbed.” Five minutes later they spotted the famously temperamental Corrigan hanging out downstairs at the hotel café.
“He was dressed in a trench coat and a hat in Malaysia, where it’s 30 degrees Celsius all year around,” said Fuad, Kyoto Protocol’s lead singer and guitarist. “If you really want to look inconspicuous, dressing like a character out of Spy vs. Spy isn’t really the best way to do it.”
Fuad and the rest of the band have learned to laugh off the diva attitudes of others. And not all the big names are bad – The Killers’ drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. came by and introduced himself and Brandon Flowers also said a quick hello, despite being seriously jetlagged. For a band brought up in Southeast Asia, KP has had its share of playing festivals with indie rock heavyweights such as The Temper Trap, Bloc Party and Fun. Besides, Kyoto Protocol only cares about what the fans have to say, and these days audiences are thirstier than ever for nonconformist anthems.
“We have three national languages in Malaysia, so sometimes being in an English band doesn’t get you (into) a certain demographic, but I think that’s starting to change,” said Fuad. “People are getting sick of Top 40 radio, mainstream and being fed the same old crap.”
Kyoto Protocol got its first big break in 2011, when they were handpicked by MGMT to open for the “Electric Feel” and “Time to Pretend” purveyors’ inaugural concert in Kuala Lumpur. It wasn’t long after Kyoto Protocol’s first single, “Pussycat” that the band got major attention, clambering all the way to number one across Malaysia’s music charts. But only recently has Fuad and the others started traveling outside of the Southeast Asia, recently playing Taiwan and Singapore. According to Fuad, Thailand’s been on Kyoto Protocol’s bucket list for a long time, and now they’re finally getting to cross it off.
“Bangkok has a burgeoning independent alternative scene that surpasses Kuala Lumpur,” said Fuad, who along with the rest of Kyoto Protocol will share the stage with Swedish electro band Kite and Australian singer Louis Spoils on Saturday at Cosmic Café on Royal City Avenue. “It’s a good testing ground to see if our music can cut it outside of Malaysia. We’re just happy to go wherever our music is wanted!”
Right now Kyoto Protocol’s calendar for 2014 is quite bare, says Fuad, “but we’re hoping to fill it up with more gigs (elsewhere). We’re not really picky about where that might be.”
The band is also looking forward to releasing its sophomore record in the next few months, the follow-up to the disarmingly titled debut, “An Album.” Choosing from 10 not-yet-released songs is their priority right now, but going forward the lead singer’s got his own personal New Year’s resolution.
“I’ve got to get more fit,” laughed Fuad. “Our shows can be quite energetic, and it’s getting difficult when you run out of breath three songs into a set!”
Cosmic Cafe
Royal City Avenue
8 pm. THB 300 including one drink. Cosmic Café, Royal City Avenue. MRT Petchaburi.
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