A “Bangkok Blues & Beyond” column by Jeff T.
Bangkok’s only local “Blues Mama” is back in town after a long break in India and is again pleasing the crowds nightly at Ad Here on Samsen Road in Banglamphu. Pong and the resident house band, joined nightly by a number of talented players, keep Georgia busy five nights of the week. Interestingly enough, Georgia has been singing professionally for only four years and as she tends to work seven nights a week seems to be leaving nothing to chance. Ad Here is crowded on the weekends, and is a small room to say the least. However the air is thick with smoke and atmosphere while well played classics taken from the likes of Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin are the staple fare. To get there, turn right from Khao Sarn Rd after passing the police station and continue until you get to the bridge at Banglamphu intersection. Crossing the bridge, Ad Here is to the left when you come down on the other side.

World Blues Festival comes to Thailand for the first time

The annual World Blues Festival was started by Stormy Masayuki of Japan in 2003. The aim of the WBF, aside from promoting that musical art form known as the blues, is to promote world peace and understanding. The initial gig of the WBF was by Stormy Masayuki himself, playing blues in the town square of Hakata which is a Japanese city known for the style of its ramen noodles. In 2004 the festival was joined by musicians from several countries around the world including the US, Canada and Sweden, and this year we will see Thailand added to the list with shows at Tokyo Joe’s during the period of May 11 - 14, 2005. A name New Orleans singer has been approached to do three nights of blues and one of jazz, thereby helping to promote the American cultural aspect of the music while simultaneously giving a boost to this emerging festival with a noble cause.

Blues Spawn

Hellenteen & The Wee Man, the duo formerly known as Iggi and Rick, will be taking up residence at Coco Blues in Samui for the month of April. H & TWM will be the opening act nightly at this blues club in paradise, bringing their acoustic blend of blues, contemporary adult and soul to the many visitors on Chaweng Beach.

In the meantime the Soi Dog Blues Band will be filling in for them Mondays and Wednesdays from 11.30pm onwards at the Brick Bar in Khao Sarn Road.

For jazz, check out Zen Delta’s new Listen Up! column on these pages. May the Zen be with you.

Whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on

Seems the tremors from the recent earthquake in Sumatra were felt in several areas of the Big Mango. Several first hand accounts of computer screens shaking, office blinds swaying from side to side, and people evacuating the Davis Hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 24, once again confirm that Bangkok, despite a common belief that the opposite is true, may be vulnerable to earthquakes. Most buildings in the city are not constructed to withstand the forces created by an earthquake, now ain’t that the blues for ya?

Sweet Home Chicago

For those of you who may be lucky enough to in the area, the Chicago Blues Festival runs from June 19 - 12, 2005. In it’s 22nd year, the festival’s theme this year will be “Chicago Breakdown” honoring Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Walker, Big Maceo-Major Merriweather and Meade Lux Lewis. Not to be missed if you can make it.

Fair Warning

Keith “EZY” Nolan, vocalist and keyboard player extraordinaire with Cannonball, who divide their time between Bangkok and Koh Samui every month, has promised to unleash a new Hammond organ sometime in the near future.

More Gossip

Bangkok’s very own Doctor Blues is threatening to release a live CD, imagine that, blues surgery live on CD. Rumor has it that initially the album may be available by prescription only.

Sea Dawgs sail for Tsunami victims

Sea Dawgs in Phuket will be doing a two hour fundraising sunset cruise on Saturday April 9, 2005. FMI contact Elliot at elliot@seadawgs.biz or check www.SeaDawgs.biz.

Blues will of course also be played during the cruise.

Help keep the blues alive, support live music.

Jeff T. is the manager of Tokyo Joe’s Blues Bar on Sukhumvit 24. Along with managing the bar, he and his Soi Dog Blues Band are regular performers at music events throughout Thailand. Jeff’s Bangkok Blues and Beyond column appears in Bangkok Jungle twice a month.

This entry was posted Wednesday, March 30th, 2005 and was filed under Jungle News, Bangkok Blues and Beyond. RSS 2.0 feed. Trackbacks have been temporary removed.