Morlam Club In Bkk

[DP25]

As long as we're sharing Morlam place stories, I have two. Last time I was at Isaan Tawan Daeng, I took a young (20s), very tall and handsome blond farang guy with me (first time to Thailand), who was in Bangkok to assist me on a project. He said he wanted to see something weird and local. He is an engineer, and seems very shy and stands about 6'6". Now, Tawan Daeng is most assuredly NOT a pickup joint, but this one young Isaan girl sitting at the table next to us couldn't keep her eyes off my guest. As she spoke some English, she made some very aggresive moves on him. Because I was hosting this Thailand newbie and responsible for his safety, I assumed the worst and took her aside to speak to her in Thai. I said he did not want professional company etc.. She assured me she wasn't a pro, didn't expect any money, and just always wanted to "try" a farang like him. I had my doubts based on her behavior, but after my approval, I tucked them into their own taxi back to the Marriott. No harm done. He enjoyed his night. He told me in the morning that she tried to get his mobile number, but that was all she asked for.

That kind of thing is very common. My friends in their 20s only go to places like that when they're in Thailand and they meet girls every time, no money ever involved. Insinuating the girl is a hooker is a quick way to make them loose interest however.

[chinthee]

As long as we're sharing Morlam place stories, I have two. Last time I was at Isaan Tawan Daeng, I took a young (20s), very tall and handsome blond farang guy with me (first time to Thailand), who was in Bangkok to assist me on a project. He said he wanted to see something weird and local. He is an engineer, and seems very shy and stands about 6'6". Now, Tawan Daeng is most assuredly NOT a pickup joint, but this one young Isaan girl sitting at the table next to us couldn't keep her eyes off my guest. As she spoke some English, she made some very aggresive moves on him. Because I was hosting this Thailand newbie and responsible for his safety, I assumed the worst and took her aside to speak to her in Thai. I said he did not want professional company etc.. She assured me she wasn't a pro, didn't expect any money, and just always wanted to "try" a farang like him. I had my doubts based on her behavior, but after my approval, I tucked them into their own taxi back to the Marriott. No harm done. He enjoyed his night. He told me in the morning that she tried to get his mobile number, but that was all she asked for.

That kind of thing is very common. My friends in their 20s only go to places like that when they're in Thailand and they meet girls every time, no money ever involved. Insinuating the girl is a hooker is a quick way to make them loose interest however.

I agree I would never acuse any girl of being a hooker. She was incredibly aggresive and there is no other conclusion I could draw, especially if you know the protocol good Thai girls use when meeting men.

[DP25]

I agree I would never acuse any girl of being a hooker. She was incredibly aggresive and there is no other conclusion I could draw, especially if you know the protocol good Thai girls use when meeting men.

Fair enough. She must have been really excited.

[chinthee]

I agree I would never acuse any girl of being a hooker. She was incredibly aggresive and there is no other conclusion I could draw, especially if you know the protocol good Thai girls use when meeting men.

Fair enough. She must have been really excited.

yeah, made me feel like a useless old ugly git. Quietly went home with head down and drank myself to sleep.

[Suszzy]

hi guys,

i can't believe that you understand..morlam!!

absolutely fascinating!!

i don't understand morlam and i'm thai..yep!!

take my hat off for you. so...so..impress!

[billp]

Khun Suszzy: Of course we like morlam... and lukthung... and pleng phua cheewit. Kind of hard not to.

[Suszzy]

hi khun billp,

again..i'm still very impressed.

morlam..quite hard to understand.

i just manage to understand luk thung.

tell me..how long does it take you to learn thai or isaan?

and pleng phua cheewit..wow!!that's something..

well done guys

[XiengHai]

Morlum and Luktung are different types of music

[XiengHai]

Actually, a couple years ago, I did have my secretary call the record label, I think it was grammy, trying to find out Jintala's concert schedule. After getting bounced around, we finally got some sketchy information, but nothing solid. At the same time, I understand that most of the concerts for the famous artists occur at large outdoor "fairs" throughout places in Isaan. Though, I have to believe that once in a while they must come to Bangkok too.

This might be a very interesting type of event to go to, but again, I've been discouraged by local Thais I know. They said there are many low-life and drunk people at these events. However, I like to live dangerously.

I'd still be up to going to something like this if anyone knows the details.

Don't be discouraged by the prejudices of non Isaan Thais looking down their noses at the "peasantry". A big morlum concert is without doubt an experience not to be missed. I have been to many and like you find the music irresistible. Anyone who can sit still during a good morlum concert is either deaf or dead. It is one huge party and not surprising it resembles a Rolling Stones rock concert. Sure there is a lot of booze flowing and occasionally things can get out of hand but nothing to be too concerned over.

Here is her web site http://www.jintarafanclub.com/. Check it for her concert schedule. You'll need a Thai speakers help. All the good ones will be in Isaan usually associated with a provincial festival.

Lukthung is the most popular music in Thailand, u see many of the central thai artist singing a lot of their music now,

but again, Morlum is very very different from lukthung, Morlum is the traditional Lao music, where they dance in a circle called the lumvong, and all the girls wear Sin and fon,

Lukthung is more like rock and roll i guess, they have the dancers in the background, and such with the daisy dukes on

[soundman]

Lukthung is more like rock and roll i guess, they have the dancers in the background, and such with the daisy dukes on

Lookthoong is nothing like a rock act.

Bigass & Loso Sillyfool are rock acts.

Ekachai Sirichai, Jintala, Siriporn, Mike Willemporn are lookthoong.

[chinthee]

Lukthung is more like rock and roll i guess, they have the dancers in the background, and such with the daisy dukes on

Lookthoong is nothing like a rock act.

Bigass & Loso Sillyfool are rock acts.

Ekachai Sirichai, Jintala, Siriporn, Mike Willemporn are lookthoong.

Strictly speaking, didn't Jintala (Jintara) start in Morlam and then cross-over. She still sings both I believe?

[dragonfly94]

Lukthung is more like rock and roll i guess, they have the dancers in the background, and such with the daisy dukes on

Lookthoong is nothing like a rock act.

Bigass & Loso Sillyfool are rock acts.

Ekachai Sirichai, Jintala, Siriporn, Mike Willemporn are lookthoong.

Strictly speaking, didn't Jintala (Jintara) start in Morlam and then cross-over. She still sings both I believe?

I think he means mike piromporn. Jintara (real name tongbai) started out singing luktung at contests (pumpuang songs) her first two hits were both luktung. After that she made some very fine morlam recordings and did a series of luktung sa orn or morlam sa orn. Now she sings for R Siam label

[sabaijai]

Just to revive this old thread, which I missed the first time around, does anyone know what date Pumpuang Duangjan, the queen of luuk thung, died on? I know the year was 1992, but I need the exact date for a book project I'm editing. Googled for hours and haven't come up with the date yet*

Luuk thung is a more general category than mo lam. Mo lam is a very strict song style, while luuk thung is a more general performance style. There are two broad genres of luuk thung, the original Suphanburi (sung in Suphan/central Thai dialect) style and the northeastern/Isaan luuk thung (sung in Isaan dialect). Some Isaan luuk thung songs are based on mo lam. Luuk thung can be very Latin-sounding, some rather Indian/Middle Eastern, and some follow mo lam patterns, which of course are originally Lao. Pheua cheewit is another performance style, and mo lam can creep into pheua cheewit as well.

To me mo lam is like blues. Blues is a unique genre unto itself but it can also be played in a number of styles, eg rock or jazz.

*Found the date on Thai wikipedia, 13 June 1992.

[CunningMcFar]

GREAT thread--thanks

love me some morlam, hope to check out Tawan Daeng on our next trip in Nov

there's a US label, Sublime Frequencies., that puts out all manner of incredible folk and pop from SouthEast Asia, as well as other far-flung regions of the planet. They have a couple of excellent morlam compilations that are well worth checking out, as well as music from Laos, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia, Sumatra, Bali, etc, etc...the Phi Ta Khon festival DVD is crazy! 'tis good stuff...

[jfchandler]

The two Tawandaeng venues on Soi Pattanakarn in Klong Tan are still going strong. To make it easy for folks, they actually are directly opposite each other on either side of the road -- Country Tawandaeng on one side and Isaan Tawandaeng on the other.

They both open around 8 or 9 pm and have been staying open lately until 1 or 2 am...depending. One difference is, Country Tawandaeng, which is the more Thai rock style music place, has food and drink menus in English, whereas Isaan Tawandaeng's food menu is only in Thai.

They are among my favorite places in Bangkok, in the variety of go with a group, buy a bottle of whiskey and assorted mixers, and have fun for the rest of the night.

Country Tawandaeng is strictly band and singer on stage, and the audience dancing and drinking at their tables. Isaan Tawandaeng tends to be a bit more roudy (but perfectly hospitable and safe), with the band and singers enhanced by male and female dancers onstage, comedy routines, katoeys and other assorted silliness...

I've never seen Thai women there visibly "working" after farangs, so to speak. But there typically are many tables with groups of very attractive ladies out for a night of fun and drinking, without escort. Generally, they're just keeping to themselves. But on occasion, as the night goes on, tables have been known to mix together...

Easy way to get to either of them is take the Sukhumvit BTS line out to the Phra Kanong Station, then taxi straight up Suk Soi 71 (Phra Kanong) toward Klong Tan...and Soi Pattanakarn. The location is pretty close to the Nasa Vegas Hotel.

[gamlangjai]

Actually, a couple years ago, I did have my secretary call the record label, I think it was grammy, trying to find out Jintala's concert schedule. After getting bounced around, we finally got some sketchy information, but nothing solid.

Not surprised the information was poor-she left grammy about ten years ago!! Taweang Deang is horrible, too crowded, poor service and lousy sound. In Bkk there are fewer and fewer morlam places, the new tankay Issan on ramkemheng soi 72 is by far the best (think it's still open) There are free luktung concerts several times a week in bkk even in the rainy season, also many shows being recorded for TV can be attended. Probably been to over 100 concerts on the last few months alone. and more than 500 all told. Added to these there are fairs and concerts people put on for funnerals (saw one a few weeks ago they spent 200,000 on) also concerts for monk initiations and even for new celebrity monks arriving (wat rai king last month) Free concert every sunday at PP plaza, saw the Porchana brothers last week and the amazing somjit bortong two weeks ago (any who know morlam know these two) Along with these the greatest morlam artists are Job and Joy, Banyyen Raggen. Chalermpol Malekam, Dernpen, Pimjai.

In my experience very few Thais understand Morlam never mind falangs.

On the other side of the river check out napali cafe, Thonburi cafe was all string the last time I went there. Some big beer places have concerts, Siriporn was at one last Friday and Hollnad Beer on param 2 has had a few concerts, including Jintara. Don't look at her website they don't put many concerts on there for tax reasons! Ringing companies up is hit and miss sometimes they don't know what the singers are doing. Sure audio nopporn silver gold and Nok Nois lablel are pretty good, R Siam and Grammy are not. Some of the best Morlam is by troupes few have ever heard of as they do not have famous singers, but more people turn up to see them even in Bkk due to their reputation.

If anyone is seriously interested in Morlam/Luktung send a PM but none from guys who want to go and pick up singers/dancers please.

[gamlangjai]

Just to revive this old thread, which I missed the first time around, does anyone know what date Pumpuang Duangjan, the queen of luuk thung, died on? I know the year was 1992, but I need the exact date for a book project I'm editing. Googled for hours and haven't come up with the date yet*

Luuk thung is a more general category than mo lam. Mo lam is a very strict song style, while luuk thung is a more general performance style. There are two broad genres of luuk thung, the original Suphanburi (sung in Suphan/central Thai dialect) style and the northeastern/Isaan luuk thung (sung in Isaan dialect). Some Isaan luuk thung songs are based on mo lam. Luuk thung can be very Latin-sounding, some rather Indian/Middle Eastern, and some follow mo lam patterns, which of course are originally Lao. Pheua cheewit is another performance style, and mo lam can creep into pheua cheewit as well.

To me mo lam is like blues. Blues is a unique genre unto itself but it can also be played in a number of styles, eg rock or jazz.

*Found the date on Thai wikipedia, 13 June 1992.

June 13 there is really no such thing as 'issan luktung' anymore than there is southern or northern-it's all luktung and originated in central thailand. It can sound latin or Indian depending where the singers come from usually. Go to wat trapkadan on june 13 and they have a big concert, this year met her son nong Phet who sings his mums songs. Wikepedia is crap but the date was right

[Longbow212]

Hi,

I found the information above really helpful. I discovered Molam whilst traveling in Laos but really don't know much about it. There are a few things on youtube.

I personally prefer the more 'traditional' molam sound as opposed to the more 'pop' sounding molam. I really don't know what term would separate these categories.

Please could someone clarify where PP plaza is and also whereabouts/how to get to Ramkemheng soi 72???

Thanks

[Longbow212]

I managed to find where Ramkamhaeng road is - it joins ladprao and petchburi road (roughly 5km NW of on-nut bts).

Gamlangjai, on what nights is Tankay Isaan open??

Thanks

[sabaijai]

there is really no such thing as 'issan luktung' anymore than there is southern or northern-it's all luktung and originated in central thailand. It can sound latin or Indian depending where the singers come from usually. Go to wat trapkadan on june 13 and they have a big concert, this year met her son nong Phet who sings his mums songs. Wikepedia is crap but the date was right

Isan luuk thung is luuk thung sung in Isan dialects with Isan subject matter, plenty of it around. It's not confined to any one region although it orginated in Suphan.

Same for mo lam, which is originally Lao, and of course most popular in Isan. Nowadays you hear all sorts of regional mo lam (for example Ekachai Sriwichai, a southerner who has sung mo lam-style in southern Thai, with lyrics focused on southern Thailand).

Just as American blues originated in the Mississippi Delta (and before that, northern Africa), but diversified into Texas blues, Chicago blues, West Coast blues etc.