Where Do you Find the Best Live Music in Bangkok and Pattaya

[adman5000]

I would be interested in knowing member's favorite spots for live music in both Bangkok and Pattaya. I don't mean a disco but someplace where you can eat, drink, and listen to good music. Thanks.

[Smiles]

There's a list of music pubs & nightclubs here: http://www.bangkok.com/jazz-cool-&-live ... index.html (http://www.bangkok.com/jazz-cool-&-live-music/index.html) Lots to choose from there ~ in Bangkok.

The only 2 on the list I've been to are the Bombay Bar and Tokyo Joes Blues Bar.

The former made me feel a bit 'old' I'm afraid, and the beloved said the same! We stayed for a few hours and enjoyed the crush. Didn't eat.

The latter is ~ or 'was' I guess I should say, the TokyoJoes website says it's moving and to check back in March ~ a small bar with a great blues jam on Sunday nights. We sat there with a huge cold mugs of draft(!) beer and listened to this Thai kid (14 at the most) pound out the most superb guitar picking I've had the pleasure of hearing in many a moon. It was very smoky ... hope the new place (wherever it turns out to be) has better smoke eaters.
We had already eaten before arriving, but lots were eating heaping plates of Thai and western food. Crowded but friendly.
Suphot became addicted to lime Margaritas there.

I've been to lots of different Isaan music/dance bars all over Bangkok, but can't remember the specific names, so not much help.
But here's a hint ... take a hotel busboy or waiter or bellboy aside (best to do so with a Thai friend to translate) and ask him whether he can let you know of any of these great places. Make sure you say that you're not much interested in going to western/tourist music bars. GoGo boys could probably help you with this as well. Our favourite place is located out on Petchburi Road (going southward, generally), so if you mention that to a hotel worker he possibly might recognize it . . . it's incredibly popular, always full, and huge.

In Pattaya, Charm Isaan ( intersection of South Pattaya Rd & Third Rd ) belts out Isaan live music and dancing (on stage for the performers, in front of the stage for customers). It's pretty basic, often amateurish, but loads of fun and crowded on Friday or Saturday nights. Food served there and is pretty good actually, and very inexpensive.

Cheers ...

[puckered_penguin]

I would be interested in knowing member's favorite spots for live music in both Bangkok and Pattaya. I don't mean a disco but someplace where you can eat, drink, and listen to good music. Thanks.

Moon River Pub has an excellent Phillipine Band Tuesday to Sunday and the place is located opposite City Hall on North Pattaya Road, Music tends to be pop hits from the last 20 years. and they will play requests covering a quite extensive range,

Hard Rock Hotel on Beach Road has a good Thai Band and sometimes a Phillipine Band but the music tends to be more rock, surprise surprise.

The Kaffa bar on the corner of Jomtien Beach Road and Thappraya in front of The Jomtien Hotel has good music and very good sound system dvd and ok food but no live music.

Hoff House on Beach Road/Soi Post Office has a Phillipine Band and an Italien Opera Singer who can be quite entertaining but the band has been playing the same repertoire for 6 years at least.

As for Isaarn or mowlam music - every man to his own tastes but give me earplugs

... for live music is for the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra - and fortunately they don't allow food and drink during their performances - http://www.bangkoksymphony.org/

Why, Beryl! I didn't know you were a fan of classical music! On the other hand, you're so old that Mozart was probably on the top of the charts when you got your first pair of long pants...

[fedssocr]

I would be interested in knowing member's favorite spots for live music in both Bangkok and Pattaya. I don't mean a disco but someplace where you can eat, drink, and listen to good music. Thanks.

I think it depends a little bit on what sort of music you are interested in. I thought Party House Pub in Srinakarin out by Seacon Square was one of the nicest music clubs I have ever been to. Great sound system, nice stage, good atmosphere. I was there the night of the coup to see ModernDog. I think they mainly do rock/indie shows there. It's also a bit out of the way.

I think there are also some good clubs in the RCA complex but I have not been there yet.

Check the Bangkok Gig Guide www.bangkokgigguide.com (http://www.bangkokgigguide.com) for club and show info for all different kinds of music

Another good resource is Thaipoppers which appears to be a Japanese site. They haven't updated their event listings in a long time though the homepage does have new info
www.thaipoppers.com (http://www.thaipoppers.com)