'Western' music in Bangkok ....

[Smiles]

A couple of weeks ago I asked about Italian restaurants in Bangkok. Received many replies and have added a few of those suggestions to a list . . . try 'em all one day, but 2 will suffice for a short stay in Bangkok.

So I'll try another question along the same lines: Does anyone know of good Jazz/Blues clubs, bars (restaurants?) in Bangkok (or even Pattaya)?

We always hit a few Thai music/dance bars on every trip, and I 'd nver want to stop doing that ... they are a total gas.
But I'd lke to take the beloved to some western-style music places which are not Rap or R&R. I love the Blues (Jazz, so so), and I think he would too.

Any suggestions out there?

Cheers ...

So I'll try another question along the same lines: [b]Does anyone know of good Jazz/Blues clubs, bars (restaurants?) in Bangkok Any suggestions out there?

Cheers ...

Just around the corner from my office on Silom Road, Bangkok is Shennanigans (O'Reilleys) Pub. They often have Jazz evenings (upstairs section) which are supposed to be very good.

As for the food I can vouch for that, it is excellent.

[wowpow]

http://www.jazz-clubs-worldwide.com/docs/thailand.htm
courtesy www.google.com (http://www.google.com)

I wondered what 'Western music' would turn out to be . Jazz/Blues - hum - I just don't appreciate it much. I have tried many times but it does not seem to touch my heartstrings and I'm mystified at those who treat jazz as a semi-religion. It's not that I haven't listened to the best. I ued to have regular Jazz concerts which sold out at an hotel I managed in the UK and all the British 'greats ' played there. My loss I suppose.

Hi Smiles,

This information is a bit dated, as I no longer live in Bangkok -- but easily verified...

Zanzibar, on Sukhumvit soi 11
7:30 pm -- live Jazz bands -- usually excellent
They also sold Chivas at 1000 baht a bottle with free mixers
This was close to my old flat, and I used to love to chill out here on week nights, rather than go all the way to Silom...

The Landmark Hotel
Evening Jazz -- when I was last there there was a tiny Thai woman who probably weighed 30 kg soaking wet, but if you closed your eyes you would swear it was Shirley Bassey!

The Diplomat at the Conrad Hotel
They get quite a few international acts. Smart hotel bar atmosphere. It is recommended to buy a bottle if you are with a group, or intend to stay a while. Smart dress recommended if you want to be served.

Brown Sugar
Seeping with atmosphere -- this is one of my favourite jazz bars in Asia! Happy hour before 10 pm -- I recommend a pitcher of frozen margaritas. They always get great acts -- usually bands that are a mix of international musicians and local Thai talent. BS is a 5 minute taxi ride from the Silom gay scene.

Mojos
This was a great place for American style blues -- much of it improvisation, with visitors (sometimes even famous ones) just showing up with their instruments, and they did great ribs. Sadly I have heard that it is now closed -- I mention this only because it is in the list posted by TeePee.

Another one I never got to try was Saxophone -- apparently somewhere near Victory Monument. One of my fellow jazz friends and frequent drinking partners still lives in Bangkok, and he is coming to Hong Kong for the Rugby Sevens this weekend. If I am sober enough to remember it, I will ask for an update on the scene and post it!

[Smiles]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I had already done the Google thing (key: "blues clubs bangkok"), but I was also looking for "been-there-done-that" ideas & anecdotes.

For those interested, with Google found this: SOI DOG BLUES (http://www.soidogblues.com) . . . love the name, and their LINKS (http://www.soidogblues.com/Links.html) and PHOTOS (http://www.soidogblues.com/Photos.html) pages have quite a number of interesting-sounding venues ... including this one I think we'll try on Sukhumvit Soi 24:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/Images/tokyojoes.jpg

( http://www.tokyojoesbkk.com/ ) . . . their website makes it sound interesting enough for a visit.

I too am often left rather cold by Jazz (sometimes great, often not so much), but The Blues almost always starts my feet to tappin'.
I wonder if it will do the same to the beloved, born and raised on Isaan country twang? We shall see.

Cheers ...