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      Best of Bangkok Wat Paknam photo 4

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      Kidding Around

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      Best of Bangkok Iconsiam outdoor photo 3

      IconSiam: Heritage in the Making

      December 18, 2018

      Best of Bangkok shopping mall Christmas tree photo

      Bangkok Sparkle

      December 17, 2018

      Best of Bangkok Wat Paknam photo 4

      Wat Pak Nam

      January 10, 2019

      Best of Bangkok Iconsiam outdoor photo 3

      IconSiam: Heritage in the Making

      December 18, 2018

      Best of Bangkok shopping mall Christmas tree photo

      Bangkok Sparkle

      December 17, 2018

      Best of Bangkok Miss Universe 2018 group photo

      Miss Universe 2018 Pageant Contestants at Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant

      December 14, 2018

      My Bangkok

      An Interview With Thanaruek Laoraowirodge

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      Zymone Gill

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      August 23, 2018

      My Bangkok

      Chef Vichit Mukura

      August 5, 2018

      Out and About rhythmic gymnastic kid photo

      Kidding Around

      January 4, 2019

      Out and About

      An Interview With David Robinson

      November 5, 2018

      Out and About

      Gimme a Break!

      May 10, 2018

      Out and About

      Football Fever

      May 9, 2018

  • RESTAURANTS
    • Restaurants Chef Chumpol Jangprai photo

      Breaking Bread with Chumpol Jangprai

      January 7, 2019

      Restaurants Red Oven SO Sofitel Bangkok food photo

      Seafood Lovers’ Dream Come True at SO Sofitel Bangkok

      January 4, 2019

      Restaurants Christmas Turkey cheese

      Christmas Eve Buffet Dinners at Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas – Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

      December 13, 2018

      Restaurants New Year Eve Brewski party photo

      Christmas is Coming Up at Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok

      December 12, 2018

      Restaurants EatMe Restaurant New Year Countdown

      Free-Flow Bubbly & Six-Course Dinner for Eat Me’s New Year Countdown

      December 11, 2018

  • Nightlife
    • All Feature Club Report Music Scene Nightlife News Reviews bars clubs Cocktail Lounges rooftop bars
      bars Blue Parrot restaurant and bar Bangkok photo 2

      Blue Parrot

      January 7, 2019

      Club Report Christmas Turkey cheese

      Christmas Eve Buffet Dinners at Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas – Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

      December 13, 2018

      Best of Bangkok New Year Eve Brewski party photo

      Christmas is Coming Up at Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok

      December 12, 2018

      bars EatMe Restaurant New Year Countdown

      Free-Flow Bubbly & Six-Course Dinner for Eat Me’s New Year Countdown

      December 11, 2018

      Feature Christmas Turkey cheese

      Christmas Eve Buffet Dinners at Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas – Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

      December 13, 2018

      Feature

      Tropic City’s New Cocktail Menu: Volume 2

      October 11, 2018

      Feature

      Zest Bar & Terrace

      July 6, 2018

      Feature

      I’ll Drink to That!

      June 1, 2018

      Club Report Christmas Turkey cheese

      Christmas Eve Buffet Dinners at Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas – Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

      December 13, 2018

      Club Report

      This month’s DJ events turn Bangkok into one big party venue

      October 6, 2016

      Club Report

      The DJ Booth

      August 31, 2016

      Club Report

      The DJ Booth

      July 25, 2016

      Music Scene Imagine Dragons

      Just Imagine

      October 13, 2017

      Music Scene

      Jazz Wednesdays

      March 20, 2017

      Music Scene

      The Rock Philosopher

      September 29, 2016

      Music Scene

      The Rock Philosopher

      September 7, 2016

      Nightlife News EatMe Restaurant New Year Countdown

      Free-Flow Bubbly & Six-Course Dinner for Eat Me’s New Year Countdown

      December 11, 2018

      Nightlife News Christmas Afternoon Tea Buffet Anantara Siam Bangkok

      Festive Cheer Arrives to Bangkok’s Most Prestigious Address

      December 11, 2018

      Nightlife News

      Tropic City’s New Cocktail Menu: Volume 2

      October 11, 2018

      Nightlife News

      Jay Sean at LEVELS

      September 5, 2018

      Reviews Blue Parrot restaurant and bar Bangkok photo 2

      Blue Parrot

      January 7, 2019

      Reviews EatMe Restaurant New Year Countdown

      Free-Flow Bubbly & Six-Course Dinner for Eat Me’s New Year Countdown

      December 11, 2018

      Reviews Christmas Afternoon Tea Buffet Anantara Siam Bangkok

      Festive Cheer Arrives to Bangkok’s Most Prestigious Address

      December 11, 2018

      Reviews Family Sunday Brunch Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi table photo

      Latest Recipe

      December 7, 2018

      bars Blue Parrot restaurant and bar Bangkok photo 2

      Blue Parrot

      January 7, 2019

      bars EatMe Restaurant New Year Countdown

      Free-Flow Bubbly & Six-Course Dinner for Eat Me’s New Year Countdown

      December 11, 2018

      bars

      Top Bangkok Riverside Bar Views

      November 15, 2018

      bars

      Tropic City’s New Cocktail Menu: Volume 2

      October 11, 2018

      clubs

      Mojjo Lounge Bar

      July 3, 2017

      clubs

      Nervo in Phuket

      December 6, 2016

      clubs

      Beach Club@Pullman G

      August 19, 2016

      clubs

      Flow House Bangkok

      June 2, 2016

      Cocktail Lounges Christmas Afternoon Tea Buffet Anantara Siam Bangkok

      Festive Cheer Arrives to Bangkok’s Most Prestigious Address

      December 11, 2018

      Cocktail Lounges

      Tropic City’s New Cocktail Menu: Volume 2

      October 11, 2018

      Cocktail Lounges

      The Diplomat Bar

      December 29, 2017

      Cocktail Lounges

      Revolucion Cocktail

      July 14, 2015

      rooftop bars

      ABar

      January 29, 2018

      rooftop bars

      Octave Rooftop Lounge

      October 5, 2017

      rooftop bars

      The sky’s the limit

      February 27, 2017

      rooftop bars

      ThreeSixty Lounge

      July 15, 2016

  • LIFESTYLE
    • Lifestyle News all day tattoo shop front photo

      All Day Tattoo Studio Bangkok

      January 16, 2019

      Lifestyle News Christmas Turkey cheese

      Christmas Eve Buffet Dinners at Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas – Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

      December 13, 2018

      Lifestyle News

      Raining Stars in Bangkok

      November 14, 2018

      Lifestyle News

      A Bright Idea

      June 29, 2018

      Lifestyle News

      Summer Hill Celebrates Grand Opening With Full Occupancy

      April 5, 2018

  • ART & CULTURE
    • All Art & Culture News Books & Film Exhibitions Feature Photo Feature
      ART & CULTURE Pawit Mahasarinand photo

      BACC… To the Future

      January 17, 2019

      ART & CULTURE Old Bangkok Fabrizio La Torre photo

      Memory Lane: A Walk Through Old Bangkok

      January 16, 2019

      ART & CULTURE Hugh Maynard acting photo

      An Interview with Hugh Maynard

      January 15, 2019

      ART & CULTURE Bangkok Art Biennale art pieces photo 4

      BangkoK Art Biennale

      January 9, 2019

      Art & Culture News Hugh Maynard acting photo

      An Interview with Hugh Maynard

      January 15, 2019

      Art & Culture News Bangkok Art Biennale art pieces photo 4

      BangkoK Art Biennale

      January 9, 2019

      Art & Culture News

      Desperation Versus Happiness in Art

      October 30, 2018

      Art & Culture News

      An Interview with Megan Ross

      October 16, 2018

      Books & Film

      Film News & Screenings

      August 31, 2018

      Books & Film

      Film News & Screenings

      July 31, 2018

      Books & Film

      Film News & Screenings

      June 29, 2018

      Books & Film

      Film News & Screenings

      June 1, 2018

      Exhibitions Bangkok Art Biennale art pieces photo 4

      BangkoK Art Biennale

      January 9, 2019

      Exhibitions Bruce Gundersen Art

      Bruce Gundersen

      December 11, 2018

      Exhibitions

      Desperation Versus Happiness in Art

      October 30, 2018

      Exhibitions

      Bangkok Biennale Beyond Bliss – Ecstasy of Truth

      October 16, 2018

      Feature Old Bangkok Fabrizio La Torre photo

      Memory Lane: A Walk Through Old Bangkok

      January 16, 2019

      Feature

      A Cultural Performance Like No Other

      September 12, 2018

      Feature dance Bangkok

      Movers and Shakers

      October 30, 2017

      Feature Imagine Dragons

      Just Imagine

      October 13, 2017

      Photo Feature

      Fashion Freeze Frame

      May 3, 2017

      Photo Feature

      Moving Images

      March 31, 2017

      Photo Feature

      3 amazing Thai female artists

      March 2, 2017

      Photo Feature Teeratat Numkaew at Kalwit Studio & Gallery

      La Fête Galleries’ Night

      January 30, 2017

  • TRAVEL
    • Travel News

      Upcountry Now

      August 31, 2018

      Travel News

      GLOW Ao Nang Krabi

      April 5, 2018

      Travel News

      Upcountry Now

      March 28, 2018

      Travel News

      24-hour Flash Sale At The Emerald Cove Koh Chang

      October 3, 2017

      Travel News

      Upcountry Now

      September 27, 2017

  • COLUMNS
    • All Bizarre Thailand CHew On This Historic Bangkok Joe’s Bangkok by Joe Cummings Making Merit Now/New/Nest Now/New/Next Tom’s Two Satang
      Best of Bangkok Wat Paknam photo 4

      Wat Pak Nam

      January 10, 2019

      CHew On This Street Food vendor Bangkok photo

      A Moveable Feast

      January 9, 2019

      Art Shane Suvikapakornkul photo

      Shane Suvikapakornkul

      January 8, 2019

      COLUMNS Kaeng Kari Nai Yong by Mr. Yong outdoor photo

      Chinese Thai Curry in Chinatown

      December 24, 2018

      Bizarre Thailand

      Bangkok Noir: The Telltale Art

      September 15, 2018

      Bizarre Thailand

      Whale Watching

      August 7, 2018

      Bizarre Thailand

      Edible Insects

      July 12, 2018

      Bizarre Thailand

      The Thai Way of Death

      June 18, 2018

      CHew On This Street Food vendor Bangkok photo

      A Moveable Feast

      January 9, 2019

      CHew On This

      Boat Noodles at Victory Monument

      October 31, 2018

      CHew On This

      At Your Service, Or Not

      October 16, 2018

      CHew On This

      Taking to the River

      September 10, 2018

      Historic Bangkok Iconsiam outdoor photo 3

      IconSiam: Heritage in the Making

      December 18, 2018

      Historic Bangkok

      JJ Mall: Shopping Nostalgia for the 60s, 70s and 80s

      October 10, 2018

      Historic Bangkok

      Bangkok’s other ‘intangible heritage’

      September 10, 2018

      Historic Bangkok

      The Joachim Grassi Effect

      August 24, 2018

      Joe’s Bangkok by Joe Cummings Wat Paknam photo 4

      Wat Pak Nam

      January 10, 2019

      Joe’s Bangkok by Joe Cummings

      A Day at the Stadium

      October 10, 2018

      Joe’s Bangkok by Joe Cummings

      Leave the Night On

      August 31, 2018

      Joe’s Bangkok by Joe Cummings

      Treasure Hunting

      August 12, 2018

      Making Merit

      New Year, Old Traditions

      March 28, 2018

      Making Merit

      Pachyderm Parade

      February 27, 2018

      Making Merit Trimurti Shrine

      Lover’s Landmark

      February 14, 2018

      Making Merit

      Second-Hand Treasure Troves

      November 27, 2017

      Now/New/Nest Shane Suvikapakornkul photo

      Shane Suvikapakornkul

      January 8, 2019

      Now/New/Nest Bruce Gundersen Art

      Bruce Gundersen

      December 11, 2018

      Now/New/Nest Angkrit Ajchariyasophon photo

      Angkrit Ajchariyasophon

      December 6, 2018

      Now/New/Next Shane Suvikapakornkul photo

      Shane Suvikapakornkul

      January 8, 2019

      Now/New/Next

      Zaiyu Hasegawa

      October 10, 2018

      Now/New/Next

      Tawn Chatchavalvong

      September 1, 2018

      Now/New/Next

      Josean Alija

      July 31, 2018

      Tom’s Two Satang

      On Thailand

      December 26, 2017

      Tom’s Two Satang

      On Bangkok

      November 22, 2017

      Tom’s Two Satang Ayutthaya

      On Ayutthaya

      October 16, 2017

      Tom’s Two Satang

      On Ending Particles

      September 24, 2017

  • CITY GUIDE
    • Restaurants
    • Nightlife listing
    • Shopping
    • Sightseeing
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Temples
    • On The Block
Top Posts
Newly renovated Moon Bar at Banyan Tree is...
Front Room
Karmakamet Conveyance
The Bar at The House on Sathorn
Valentine’s Experiences Outside The City
Valentine’s Deals Around Bangkok
Chinese New Year Gathering Locales
Silavadee Pool Spa Resort – Koh Samui
Gaja Korean Gastrobar
BACC… To the Future
All Day Tattoo Studio Bangkok
Memory Lane: A Walk Through Old Bangkok
An Interview With Michael Bridge

Bangkok 101

  • HOME
  • WHAT’S ON
  • BEST OF BKK
    • All Best of Bangkok My Bangkok Out and About
      Best of Bangkok Wat Paknam photo 4

      Wat Pak Nam

      January 10, 2019

      BEST OF BKK rhythmic gymnastic kid photo

      Kidding Around

      January 4, 2019

      Best of Bangkok Iconsiam outdoor photo 3

      IconSiam: Heritage in the Making

      December 18, 2018

      Best of Bangkok shopping mall Christmas tree photo

      Bangkok Sparkle

      December 17, 2018

      Best of Bangkok Wat Paknam photo 4

      Wat Pak Nam

      January 10, 2019

      Best of Bangkok Iconsiam outdoor photo 3

      IconSiam: Heritage in the Making

      December 18, 2018

      Best of Bangkok shopping mall Christmas tree photo

      Bangkok Sparkle

      December 17, 2018

      Best of Bangkok Miss Universe 2018 group photo

      Miss Universe 2018 Pageant Contestants at Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant

      December 14, 2018

      My Bangkok

      An Interview With Thanaruek Laoraowirodge

      December 5, 2018

      My Bangkok

      Zymone Gill

      September 9, 2018

      My Bangkok

      Chef Gigg Kamol

      August 23, 2018

      My Bangkok

      Chef Vichit Mukura

      August 5, 2018

      Out and About rhythmic gymnastic kid photo

      Kidding Around

      January 4, 2019

      Out and About

      An Interview With David Robinson

      November 5, 2018

      Out and About

      Gimme a Break!

      May 10, 2018

      Out and About

      Football Fever

      May 9, 2018

  • RESTAURANTS
    • Restaurants Chef Chumpol Jangprai photo

      Breaking Bread with Chumpol Jangprai

      January 7, 2019

      Restaurants Red Oven SO Sofitel Bangkok food photo

      Seafood Lovers’ Dream Come True at SO Sofitel Bangkok

      January 4, 2019

      Restaurants Christmas Turkey cheese

      Christmas Eve Buffet Dinners at Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas – Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

      December 13, 2018

      Restaurants New Year Eve Brewski party photo

      Christmas is Coming Up at Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok

      December 12, 2018

      Restaurants EatMe Restaurant New Year Countdown

      Free-Flow Bubbly & Six-Course Dinner for Eat Me’s New Year Countdown

      December 11, 2018

  • Nightlife
    • All Feature Club Report Music Scene Nightlife News Reviews bars clubs Cocktail Lounges rooftop bars
      bars Blue Parrot restaurant and bar Bangkok photo 2

      Blue Parrot

      January 7, 2019

      Club Report Christmas Turkey cheese

      Christmas Eve Buffet Dinners at Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas – Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

      December 13, 2018

      Best of Bangkok New Year Eve Brewski party photo

      Christmas is Coming Up at Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok

      December 12, 2018

      bars EatMe Restaurant New Year Countdown

      Free-Flow Bubbly & Six-Course Dinner for Eat Me’s New Year Countdown

      December 11, 2018

      Feature Christmas Turkey cheese

      Christmas Eve Buffet Dinners at Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas – Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

      December 13, 2018

      Feature

      Tropic City’s New Cocktail Menu: Volume 2

      October 11, 2018

      Feature

      Zest Bar & Terrace

      July 6, 2018

      Feature

      I’ll Drink to That!

      June 1, 2018

      Club Report Christmas Turkey cheese

      Christmas Eve Buffet Dinners at Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas – Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

      December 13, 2018

      Club Report

      This month’s DJ events turn Bangkok into one big party venue

      October 6, 2016

      Club Report

      The DJ Booth

      August 31, 2016

      Club Report

      The DJ Booth

      July 25, 2016

      Music Scene Imagine Dragons

      Just Imagine

      October 13, 2017

      Music Scene

      Jazz Wednesdays

      March 20, 2017

      Music Scene

      The Rock Philosopher

      September 29, 2016

      Music Scene

      The Rock Philosopher

      September 7, 2016

      Nightlife News EatMe Restaurant New Year Countdown

      Free-Flow Bubbly & Six-Course Dinner for Eat Me’s New Year Countdown

      December 11, 2018

      Nightlife News Christmas Afternoon Tea Buffet Anantara Siam Bangkok

      Festive Cheer Arrives to Bangkok’s Most Prestigious Address

      December 11, 2018

      Nightlife News

      Tropic City’s New Cocktail Menu: Volume 2

      October 11, 2018

      Nightlife News

      Jay Sean at LEVELS

      September 5, 2018

      Reviews Blue Parrot restaurant and bar Bangkok photo 2

      Blue Parrot

      January 7, 2019

      Reviews EatMe Restaurant New Year Countdown

      Free-Flow Bubbly & Six-Course Dinner for Eat Me’s New Year Countdown

      December 11, 2018

      Reviews Christmas Afternoon Tea Buffet Anantara Siam Bangkok

      Festive Cheer Arrives to Bangkok’s Most Prestigious Address

      December 11, 2018

      Reviews Family Sunday Brunch Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi table photo

      Latest Recipe

      December 7, 2018

      bars Blue Parrot restaurant and bar Bangkok photo 2

      Blue Parrot

      January 7, 2019

      bars EatMe Restaurant New Year Countdown

      Free-Flow Bubbly & Six-Course Dinner for Eat Me’s New Year Countdown

      December 11, 2018

      bars

      Top Bangkok Riverside Bar Views

      November 15, 2018

      bars

      Tropic City’s New Cocktail Menu: Volume 2

      October 11, 2018

      clubs

      Mojjo Lounge Bar

      July 3, 2017

      clubs

      Nervo in Phuket

      December 6, 2016

      clubs

      Beach Club@Pullman G

      August 19, 2016

      clubs

      Flow House Bangkok

      June 2, 2016

      Cocktail Lounges Christmas Afternoon Tea Buffet Anantara Siam Bangkok

      Festive Cheer Arrives to Bangkok’s Most Prestigious Address

      December 11, 2018

      Cocktail Lounges

      Tropic City’s New Cocktail Menu: Volume 2

      October 11, 2018

      Cocktail Lounges

      The Diplomat Bar

      December 29, 2017

      Cocktail Lounges

      Revolucion Cocktail

      July 14, 2015

      rooftop bars

      ABar

      January 29, 2018

      rooftop bars

      Octave Rooftop Lounge

      October 5, 2017

      rooftop bars

      The sky’s the limit

      February 27, 2017

      rooftop bars

      ThreeSixty Lounge

      July 15, 2016

  • LIFESTYLE
    • Lifestyle News all day tattoo shop front photo

      All Day Tattoo Studio Bangkok

      January 16, 2019

      Lifestyle News Christmas Turkey cheese

      Christmas Eve Buffet Dinners at Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas – Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

      December 13, 2018

      Lifestyle News

      Raining Stars in Bangkok

      November 14, 2018

      Lifestyle News

      A Bright Idea

      June 29, 2018

      Lifestyle News

      Summer Hill Celebrates Grand Opening With Full Occupancy

      April 5, 2018

  • ART & CULTURE
    • All Art & Culture News Books & Film Exhibitions Feature Photo Feature
      ART & CULTURE Pawit Mahasarinand photo

      BACC… To the Future

      January 17, 2019

      ART & CULTURE Old Bangkok Fabrizio La Torre photo

      Memory Lane: A Walk Through Old Bangkok

      January 16, 2019

      ART & CULTURE Hugh Maynard acting photo

      An Interview with Hugh Maynard

      January 15, 2019

      ART & CULTURE Bangkok Art Biennale art pieces photo 4

      BangkoK Art Biennale

      January 9, 2019

      Art & Culture News Hugh Maynard acting photo

      An Interview with Hugh Maynard

      January 15, 2019

      Art & Culture News Bangkok Art Biennale art pieces photo 4

      BangkoK Art Biennale

      January 9, 2019

      Art & Culture News

      Desperation Versus Happiness in Art

      October 30, 2018

      Art & Culture News

      An Interview with Megan Ross

      October 16, 2018

      Books & Film

      Film News & Screenings

      August 31, 2018

      Books & Film

      Film News & Screenings

      July 31, 2018

      Books & Film

      Film News & Screenings

      June 29, 2018

      Books & Film

      Film News & Screenings

      June 1, 2018

      Exhibitions Bangkok Art Biennale art pieces photo 4

      BangkoK Art Biennale

      January 9, 2019

      Exhibitions Bruce Gundersen Art

      Bruce Gundersen

      December 11, 2018

      Exhibitions

      Desperation Versus Happiness in Art

      October 30, 2018

      Exhibitions

      Bangkok Biennale Beyond Bliss – Ecstasy of Truth

      October 16, 2018

      Feature Old Bangkok Fabrizio La Torre photo

      Memory Lane: A Walk Through Old Bangkok

      January 16, 2019

      Feature

      A Cultural Performance Like No Other

      September 12, 2018

      Feature dance Bangkok

      Movers and Shakers

      October 30, 2017

      Feature Imagine Dragons

      Just Imagine

      October 13, 2017

      Photo Feature

      Fashion Freeze Frame

      May 3, 2017

      Photo Feature

      Moving Images

      March 31, 2017

      Photo Feature

      3 amazing Thai female artists

      March 2, 2017

      Photo Feature Teeratat Numkaew at Kalwit Studio & Gallery

      La Fête Galleries’ Night

      January 30, 2017

  • TRAVEL
    • Travel News

      Upcountry Now

      August 31, 2018

      Travel News

      GLOW Ao Nang Krabi

      April 5, 2018

      Travel News

      Upcountry Now

      March 28, 2018

      Travel News

      24-hour Flash Sale At The Emerald Cove Koh Chang

      October 3, 2017

      Travel News

      Upcountry Now

      September 27, 2017

  • COLUMNS
    • All Bizarre Thailand CHew On This Historic Bangkok Joe’s Bangkok by Joe Cummings Making Merit Now/New/Nest Now/New/Next Tom’s Two Satang
      Best of Bangkok Wat Paknam photo 4

      Wat Pak Nam

      January 10, 2019

      CHew On This Street Food vendor Bangkok photo

      A Moveable Feast

      January 9, 2019

      Art Shane Suvikapakornkul photo

      Shane Suvikapakornkul

      January 8, 2019

      COLUMNS Kaeng Kari Nai Yong by Mr. Yong outdoor photo

      Chinese Thai Curry in Chinatown

      December 24, 2018

      Bizarre Thailand

      Bangkok Noir: The Telltale Art

      September 15, 2018

      Bizarre Thailand

      Whale Watching

      August 7, 2018

      Bizarre Thailand

      Edible Insects

      July 12, 2018

      Bizarre Thailand

      The Thai Way of Death

      June 18, 2018

      CHew On This Street Food vendor Bangkok photo

      A Moveable Feast

      January 9, 2019

      CHew On This

      Boat Noodles at Victory Monument

      October 31, 2018

      CHew On This

      At Your Service, Or Not

      October 16, 2018

      CHew On This

      Taking to the River

      September 10, 2018

      Historic Bangkok Iconsiam outdoor photo 3

      IconSiam: Heritage in the Making

      December 18, 2018

      Historic Bangkok

      JJ Mall: Shopping Nostalgia for the 60s, 70s and 80s

      October 10, 2018

      Historic Bangkok

      Bangkok’s other ‘intangible heritage’

      September 10, 2018

      Historic Bangkok

      The Joachim Grassi Effect

      August 24, 2018

      Joe’s Bangkok by Joe Cummings Wat Paknam photo 4

      Wat Pak Nam

      January 10, 2019

      Joe’s Bangkok by Joe Cummings

      A Day at the Stadium

      October 10, 2018

      Joe’s Bangkok by Joe Cummings

      Leave the Night On

      August 31, 2018

      Joe’s Bangkok by Joe Cummings

      Treasure Hunting

      August 12, 2018

      Making Merit

      New Year, Old Traditions

      March 28, 2018

      Making Merit

      Pachyderm Parade

      February 27, 2018

      Making Merit Trimurti Shrine

      Lover’s Landmark

      February 14, 2018

      Making Merit

      Second-Hand Treasure Troves

      November 27, 2017

      Now/New/Nest Shane Suvikapakornkul photo

      Shane Suvikapakornkul

      January 8, 2019

      Now/New/Nest Bruce Gundersen Art

      Bruce Gundersen

      December 11, 2018

      Now/New/Nest Angkrit Ajchariyasophon photo

      Angkrit Ajchariyasophon

      December 6, 2018

      Now/New/Next Shane Suvikapakornkul photo

      Shane Suvikapakornkul

      January 8, 2019

      Now/New/Next

      Zaiyu Hasegawa

      October 10, 2018

      Now/New/Next

      Tawn Chatchavalvong

      September 1, 2018

      Now/New/Next

      Josean Alija

      July 31, 2018

      Tom’s Two Satang

      On Thailand

      December 26, 2017

      Tom’s Two Satang

      On Bangkok

      November 22, 2017

      Tom’s Two Satang Ayutthaya

      On Ayutthaya

      October 16, 2017

      Tom’s Two Satang

      On Ending Particles

      September 24, 2017

  • CITY GUIDE
    • Restaurants
    • Nightlife listing
    • Shopping
    • Sightseeing
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Temples
    • On The Block
COLUMNSJoe's Bangkok by Joe Cummings

Khruangbin

written by Joe Cummings /CPA Media July 16, 2018

Flying under the influence

The band Khruangbin came together over a common love of 60s and 70s Thai funk, electric molam, and ‘Shadow music’, Thai bands influenced by British instrumental band The Shadows. Sounds plausible, except the trio hail from Houston, Texas, and no one in the band is Thai. Guitarist Mark Speer met bassist Laura Lee in 2007, and after performing together as a guitar-and-bass duo for a while, they were invited to join British music producer/DJ Bonobo on his 2010 tour of the States, along with Ninja Tune’s Yppah.

Inspired by the Bonobo tour, Speer and Lee brought in drummer Donald ‘DJ’ Johnson and formed Khruangbin. Lee came up with the band’s name, which means “airplane” in Thai, while she was trying to learn Thai from Rosetta Stone lessons. “I just liked the sound of it,” she says in interviews.

Khruangbin crafted its bass-heavy, psychedelic, surf-meets-world-music sound profile in a drafty barn in the small town of Burton, Texas, population 300. Their first recording, “A Calf Born in Winter”, ended up on Bonobo’s 2013 Late Night Tales compilation.

If the Thai connection weren’t unlikely enough, Speer and Johnson first met while serving as paid members of Rudy Rasmus’ famed R&B/hiphop/gospel band at St. John’s Methodist Church, the same Houston church scene associated with Beyoncé and Solange Knowles. Their debut album, The Universe Smiles Upon You (2014), gathered a devoted following, including such prominent figures as punk godfather Iggy Pop and K-pop superstar Lee Hyori. They’ve since toured with Father John Misty, Tycho, Massive Attack, and Chicano Batman, and played festivals like Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, SXSW, and Thailand’s own Wonderfruit.

The trio has now performed in Thailand twice, first at the Wonderfruit Festival outside Pattaya in December 2017, and again in May 2018 at the Helix Garden, EmQuariter, in Bangkok. The latter concert came in support of their second album, Con Todo El Mundo, released at the beginning of this year. Boasting Middle Eastern and Latin as well as Southeast Asian flavour profiles, the album—along with extensive touring around the world—has given the group a hugely devoted following among fans and music critics the world over. The title, which means “With All the World” in Spanish, is a tribute to Laura Lee’s Mexican-American grandfather, as well as the band’s crate-digging, open-armed approach to global music sources.

The band’s success is all the more remarkable given the genre-defying music they play. A YouTube user commenting on a live performance summarized the ambience by writing “This feels like you’re dropping acid on a Mediterranean 1970s porn set.”

I had a chance to interview the band members just before their recent Bangkok concert, a sold-out show organized and promoted by BAMM. Thai bands The Photo Sticker Machine and Summer Dress provided solid opening support. Asked about the band’s Thai roots, Speer said “Years ago, we stumbled on a music blog called Monrakplengthai and dived headfirst into this amazing music, stuff we’d never heard before. We instantly fell in love with Dao Bandon, Sutrak Aksonthong, Don Sornrabeab, Chantana Kittiyapan, Man City Lion, Onuma Singsiri, Phimpha Phonsuri and especially The Impossibles. It was inspiring to hear this music that was both immediately familiar but also so different.”

“We had an incredible time at Wonderfruit,” adds Lee. “Mark and I had been to Thailand before, but it was DJ’s first time. Everyone was so appreciative and also curious about what we’re doing with our music. For us, it was a real moment to perform in the country whose music has had such an impact on us.”

Asked about the Middle Eastern influences on the new album, Speers says the band is always on the hunt to uncover new music around the world.

“It just happened we found a few pockets of music from that region. Googoosh was on repeat for a long while. Some others we love are Kourosh Yaghmei from Iran, The Rahbani Brothers from Lebanon, Al Massireen from Egypt, and Sezen Aksu from Turkey.”

In other interviews, drummer Johnson has pointed out that regardless what country it’s from, the music they’re drawn to the most is funk-oriented, lo-fi tracks that popped up all over the world between the 60s and the 80s. At the Bangkok concert last month, the trio showed how effortlessly they’ve incorporated global motifs, whether Thai, Latin, or Arabic, into a sound that is exclusively their own. Weaving a powerful spell over a rapt audience of Thais and foreigners, the band delivered more of a state of mind than a stylistic pastiche.

Asked about the YouTube comment, Speers told me “Maybe it’s the inclusion of strong feminine energy in the band. It’s not just a bunch of dudes playing rock. There’s a seductive gentleness to the music. It never hits you over the head or screams at you.”

Words by Joe Cummings/CPA Media
Photos by Charles Dharapak

Khruangbin was last modified: August 30th, 2018 by Joe Cummings /CPA Media
Donald ‘DJ’ Johnson
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Joe Cummings /CPA Media
Joe Cummings /CPA Media

Award-winning writer Joe Cummings was born in New Orleans but became one of Lonely Planet's first guidebook authors, creating the seminal Lonely Planet Thailand guide, as well as several other titles and updates for the region. Each month, he picks out his favourite cultural gems throughout Bangkok.

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