Jay Poom Euarchukiati might be the most anxious man in Thailand right now. The singer is a bag of nerves as he paces back and forth behind the main stage at Rock Alarm, frantically puffing on a cigar as excited cellists and violinists chatter around him. In a matter of minutes, he and his band, Defying Decay, will open the main stage of the 10,000-capacity outdoor festival in the Khlong Luang District, around 40km outside of Bangkok.
To mark the occasion, Defying Decay have brought a full symphony orchestra with them to enhance their polished, arena-ready metalcore. This is a big deal for everyone involved – and Jay is keenly aware of it.
