Everything I learned about attending concerts abroad, I learned from watching Bruno Mars in Bangkok twice.

Yes, you read that right. Twice. I’ve been writing about music for seven years and not once have I watched a concert in the Southeast Asian region. This has always been a bit of a sore point for me so when I heard that Live Nation Tero would be hosting Bruno Mars at the Rajamangala Stadium on 30 and 31 March, I knew I just had to see one of my favourite musicians live more than once.

Okay, I have to admit: that wasn’t really the plan. But I do feel very lucky to have experienced attending a concert on my own (Day 1) and with friends (Day 2) in a country other than the Philippines. And despite the usual traffic (thank God for motorbikes for rent), I think I was also pretty lucky that my first one was in Thailand.

Seeing a new concert culture

You see, a concert in Bangkok is not just a night of music–it’s a celebration. On dates when there are performances around big venues, it is not unusual to find establishments teeming with business. What might be unique here is that most of them were playing Bruno Mars on their stereos, his face plastered on their ad screens and windows. While we may never know if every store, shop, and stall is genuinely a fan, it is undeniable that the presence of Mars’s catchy pop tunes mixed with the wafting smell of Thai barbeque is reminiscent of a festival, almost as if celebrating the singer-songwriter’s genius.

Of course, this festive vibe emanates from the venue itself. Attendees walking to their respective gates cannot ignore the stalls selling street food, ice-cold drinks, battery-powered electric fans, and even bootleg merch, displayed with the Rajamalanga Stadium in the background. Arriving early for the concert is no problem at all: you wouldn’t have to think about getting hungry, thirsty, or even bored. Many a person even packed a mat to lie on—an instant picnic! In fact, there were a lot of older folks and children who were there to watch the concert on both days! Was the Bruno Mars concert a family affair in Thailand? Were all concerts in Bangkok considered family activities? After this year’s Wanderland, I am no longer new to this concept, but it was still pleasantly surprising nonetheless. 

Also palpable to me from the beginning of the concert was the collective energy of the crowd. It’s always great to see an event start relatively on time. But what was amazing here was how they announced that the concert was to start in fifteen, ten, five minutes, and everyone was still calm and collected as they bought some water, looked for their seats, and readied their phones for the opening act. No rushing, no frenzy–just this chill, relaxed sort of excitement. I have never experienced anything like it before.

Noticing the little things

There is merit in watching a concert alone. It might be unusual but witnessing the performance of an artist you adore onstage with nobody to see you fangirl gives you that sense of finesse and maturity. 

That is an obvious lie. You’d probably just feel too shy to scream at the top of your lungs, the way you usually would if you were with friends (I was). But in a way, it does heighten your senses and so you’re able to see the small things you usually don’t get to pay attention to.

A notable thing from the show is the lighting direction. In an open-space venue like Rajamangala, stage lighting can get lost in the vast expanse. This wasn't the case with this show, where every song was perfectly highlighted by the right set of lights to further amplify your mood and elevate Bruno Mars' performance. 

Not that his performance needed a boost. Bruno Mars, together with the rest of his band, was able to showcase their musical skills in the best way possible. They were funny and sexy and unbelievably present. Everything pretty much worked: Dwayne Dugger and Luke Aiono in their sax and guitar rendition of ‘Pure Imagination’; John Fossit tinkering the keys to ‘Still On My Mind’, Eric Hernandez striking his mustache and looking all fine after his drum solo, and, of course, Mars singing "I miss you" in Thai on the phone. 

Witnessing yourself and others

It was very easy for me to fall in love with almost everything that Bruno Mars was doing on stage because he had a little bit of something for everybody. Dancers were quick to appreciate his moves. Audiophiles may have frowned upon the sound system difficulties (especially on the second night) but his vocals were awesome nonetheless. We already know that fans who came alone were quick to notice the little things: the fact that he wore a Thai tourist uniform, that he said ‘Nothin' On You’ changed his life…or that there were moments during the show that were completely his own. I’m not even talking about the moments when he completely shined, with his mad guitar or keyboard skills. Instead, I am talking about all the moments he enjoyed himself and played, having fun with the friends he shared the stage with.

โอ้ย หนุกอ่ะ หรอยแรง คอนเสิร์ต "BRUNO MARS LIVE BANGKOK" วันนี้วันสุดท้าย! 💰
🎫 ซื้อบัตรที่ไทยทิคเก็ตเมเจอร์หน้างาน คลิก https://t.co/YVmcILPS4l 💖
credit: wiyada_96#BRUNOMARS #มีนามาร์สแน่ #ใครไม่มาบรูโน่มาส์ #บรูโน่ฮยองรอบ2ราชมัง pic.twitter.com/wlCIWOST26

— Live Nation Tero (@livenationth) March 31, 2024

The songs performed that night were definitely not new; the set list, similar to that of his 2023 shows. But that doesn't mean that it was any less fresh: by sharing himself with the audience that night, everyone in the audience saw pretty much everything in a different light. I was particularly impressed with how Mars put the spotlight on other gifted artists without dimming his own. It speaks a lot about him, not just as a performer but, well, as a person. 

Perhaps this is something that fans who came with friends (still me) resonated with during the concert: the energy of kinship so tight and loving that it can encompass a Rajamangala-sized party. And with Bangkok treating concerts the way it does, no other place is better to celebrate musical talent than here.

To say that Bruno Mars in Bangkok 2024 is memorable is an understatement. For the Thai fans who had to wait for six, long years just to watch Mars perform live again, every firework counts. But there is merit in looking at what Bangkok brought to the concert experience as well. What started as an excuse to travel to another country ended with a deeper appreciation of a musical experience that, admittedly, is beyond Bruno Mars. So marrying these all together? Definitely beyond magical.