Chiangmai’s Yonlapa came straight out of the gate like a landslide, just hitting you in the face with a wall of fuzz and distortion. But underneath all that reverb and squealing was a charming sweetness, due mostly to Yonlapa Pienpanassak’s earnest vocals. Just the right amount of teenage yearning to give the songs a nice nostalgic kick.

There was certainly some mid-90’s alternative rock credit due (Letters to Cleo? Belly?), especially in the instrumentation, but it didn’t feel like throwback for throwback’s sake. Their sound felt fresh, heavy and fun at the same time as it felt familiar and nostalgic. It isn’t surprising that they have been getting a lot of attention outside of just Thailand, they deserve it.

It is also good to know that the youth of the world still recognizes that reverb, distortion and feedback are still the appropriate ways to approach an electric guitar. Arnuphap Foeilung bore his influences proudly on his sleeve, but brought something playful and charismatic that a lot of those distortion greats lacked. Maybe it is just the right amount of 7th chords, who knows.

It was a set that wasn’t afraid to be equal parts sweet and raw, and anybody who decided to spend their afternoon with them at Orange Echo left their set venturing forth for the last night of festivities with some nostalgic pep in their step.