Mo’ Blues in 2006
A Bangkok Blues & Beyond column by Jeff T.
The year 2005 was one of the best years in recent memory for the blues in Thailand, and all signs are pointing to a repeat in the upcoming 2006. Artists of international stature performing in Bangkok and elsewhere in the country, not one, but two blues festivals on exotic islands, established jazz festivals adding the blues to the program, and let’s not forget the talented bands on the local scene that just keep getting better, all combined to make 2005 “Year of the Blues” in Thailand.
Names like CoCo York, Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges, Steve White and The Rich Harper Band have all expressed a definite interest in returning to Bangkok in the new year. The Koh Samui Music Festival will present its third installment featuring world class blues, the Phuket International Blues Festival following a successful, albeit weather hampered first outing will also return in 2006. The first Bangkok Blues Festival is scheduled for March as a prelude to something far larger in 2007. Local artist Adam Ryan released another CD “Play 2 B”, which is already receiving airplay in Europe and Australia, Cannonball’s debut album “The Blues Is A Good Man Feeling Bad” continues to rack up brisk sales and the Soi Dog Blues Band is scheduled to release a “Live” CD and DVD in the beginning of 2006.
Tokyo Joe’s Blues Bar, with live blues five nights a week was voted “Best Live Music Venue 2005″ at the Metro Magazine High 5 Awards. That’s right, a blues bar was voted best live music venue. Ad Here the13th was the first runner up and is still pumping out the best blues in Banglamphu while jazz enclave Brown Sugar has added the blues to the live roster in the form of Blue on Blue. Chai still struts his stuff at Saxophone on the weekends and Noriega’s plays the blues a couple of weekends a month.
New kids on the block, Blues Junior, continue to improve and expand their set list. With an average age of just 22, these young men truly represent the new generation of blues in Thailand. Old kids on the block Doctor Blues and his faithful Groove Junkies are back, the Doc hitting his stride with the aid of his trusty new green Strat.
Britstock II was the venue for the first ever presentation of the “Nories”, a series of awards honoring the unsung heroes of Bangkok’s live music scene in which the blues featured prominently by garnering several of the coveted sculptures. Rumor has it that 2006 will see the “Blues Awards” for the first time.
Down south, CoCo Blues on the island of Samui features live blues on most nights as does Odies in White Sand beach on Koh Chang. Phuket will be getting the blues with the new Saxophone finally opening and employing bands bused in from Bangkok, and Tony “Chainsaw” Wilson, that hacksaw of the blues keeping the groove tight around the island.
To the north, blues can be found at the Brasserie in Chiang Mai with Tuk holding court most nights. Further up north is Chart’s BeBop Cafe in Pai where talented musicians, both local and traveling through, congregate and keep the blues alive.
A healthy and prosperous New Year to all.
February 9th, 2006 at 7:05 am
Jeff,
thanks ,once again, for forgetting the BLUES FACTORY in Pattaya , the house band (the BLUES MACHINE) and myself!
I have kept quiet till now ,but after reading this I feel compeled to speak up! You mention every blues venue and band,in Thailand ,except us!! We have blues 6 nights a week and will be having our 5th anniversary in March. We must be doing something right! But for some reason,not clear to the owners,management,band and myself, we have been ignored by the blossoming Blues scene in Thailand ! I ,as a fellow musician and Blues player, find it hard to beleive that you just ‘forgot about us’, considering you and your SOI DOGS have played BLUES FACTORY in the past,as well as CANNONBALL!
I am using your open forum to ask if there is something I ,or anyone connected to the Blues Factory ,did to cause you ,or other musicans involved with the production and input of Thailand Blues events, to neglect to include us,as you have in your latest posting in BANGKOK JUNGLE ?
FYI ; we have also had Sunny Fournier play at our club ,as well as Danny Hull ,Lonesome Lee Walker ,Rich Harper ,Matthew Kelly and Mason Ruffner. (Mason will be here again this month and will be playing the night of the clubs anniversay.) I think that you know some of these people,what you don’t know is that I have been trying to set up tours ,of Thai Blues clubs, for them and other international Blues players ,that I know. I have been working w/ Joe Cummings to have them play at the Beebop and would like to set up a tour that would include Bangkok,Samui and Phuket clubs. This gives Thai Blues fans and musicians a chance to hear and play with world class Blues musicians and a chance for the artist to spread his music and see Thailand. This is the way musicians treat other musicians! This is what spreads the Blues!
More FYI ;I have been invited, for the second year ,to play the Blues festival in Taiwan ,another country with an up and growing Blues scene. I have been asked about other Blues bands in Thailand. I was happy to tell them about the bands and players I am familiar with.
I was born and raised in Chicago and have been listening to the Blues as long as I can remember.I have been playing it for over 40 yrs. I have been involved in many Blues communities ,played clubs across the U.S and major Blues festivals in and out of the country,but have never experienced this kind of treatment!
We have a band of talented Thai musicians ,with a powerful front vocalist ,who all feel slighted everytime we are over looked or bumped from a Blues event!! And as far as myself ,I have paid my dues! I invite you ,and anyone else who reads this, to go to our website to check my bio. www.thebluesfactorypattaya.com Believe me when I say this is only a capsule bio with just the highlights ,but should be more than enough warrant my place in the Thai Blues community!
T he most important part of being a musician, something that builds a strong music community, is brotherhood!
A brother in the Blues,
Ken ‘SNOWMAN’ Minahan
February 10th, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Ken,
You’re welcome……….
February 10th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
Jeff,
I asked you a question and you failed to answer it! This gives me the impression that did not read the intire post! Another example of short sided attude toward me!
I ask you to please read again and answer the question posted. As far as I know ,the only thing anyone, connected to the Blues Factory ,ever did to you was give your band a gig! But you have forgotten this!
If you feel slighted ,because we have not booked you again, don’t be ! We have had 2 full time bands for the last 3 yrs., so other than musicians from out of the country, there has not been a reason tho hire any other bands! I understand one of the owners,David, approched you about working again at the Blues Factory. We will need some bands in the near future because of upcoming band vacations , Lam Morrison playing concerts and myself doing Blues festivals out of the country.We did want to concider you and your band ,but we would like to mend any bad feelings and clear up any misunderstandings. This is hard to accomplish when you give such a glib answer as in your last posting! It also give the impression that indeed you ment to slight the Blues Factory!
I am asking you ,again, in this open forum , the same question.For your benfit I will make it as clear as possible.. Did anyone from the BLUES Factory do something that offened you to the point of ignoring us in the the list of Blues clubs?
Ken ‘Snowman’ Minahan
February 11th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
Jeff,
I understand that one of the owners of the BLUES FACTORY, David, has had contact from you and everything is resolved on this issue. I am glad we have arrived on common ground and will be spreading the music ,we love so much, together in the brotherhood of the BLUES !
Ken ‘Snowman’ Minahan
October 21st, 2006 at 2:47 am
Ken, seem to have tracked you down at long last. Two old friends, Ed and Jean Gilliland are leaving tomorrow for Bangkok to see their son and judge orchids. I’ll steer them to the Blues Factory in Pattaya if that’s still valid info and it’s not too late. Lemme know if this gets forwarded to you. Casey, Clara and I are in Panama, as you may guess from the e-address. Old section, lots goes on. Bob #
December 24th, 2006 at 2:15 am
Bob and Casey, please contact me at the Blues factory websiyrwww,thebkuesfactorypattaya.com or mine kmsound@hotmail.com I am looking forward to hearing from you!
December 24th, 2006 at 2:18 am
Bob & Casey ,sorry for the typing on that last post. The web site is www.thebluesfactorypattaya.com Hope you check this post soon!