Young Rock 'n' Rollers Keep The Bangkok Underground Scene Alive

[nomadspike]

Just discovered this band via myspace and they rock bigtime. grungy with punk overtones and political.

Young rock 'n' rollers keep the Bangkok underground scene alive

Teen spirit

While major record companies worldwide continue to moan about the death of the music industry, a new underground scene is emerging in cyberspace. It's happening in Thailand, too, proving that music is alive and kicking everywhere. A whole gamut of young groups is popping up like spring buds. The most prevalent place for tomorrow's budding pop stars to be seen is on the Internet especially myspace.com but many are also uploading their own websites and blogs. All genres are covered from punk to pop, hip-hop to folk. Here are two Thai bands that caught my attention.

Mhee Noi or Little Bear may look like little angels but the songs on their Myspace site prove they have already sold their young souls to rock 'n' roll. Musically they take their cues from the punk and garage scene. Lyrically they portray a dark take on Thai society, which is very astute for their tender age. These kids are the new generation X of the post-Thaksin regime and they are taking no prisoners. Their songs are punctuated with profanities and irreverent lyrics that pull no punches. It's a lethal mix: a Molotov cocktail of teenage angst and testosterone.

In true punk style the band say their parents don't understand them. "They think our music is a waste of time and that we should focus on our studies," says the band's bassist Chawinon "Atom" Krai Kittipoom. "But we find time to concentrate on both."

Drummer Thanwa "Aude" Kanyook admits his parents aren't big fans either . " It's too fast for them, they don't get it," he said.

Singer-guitarist Teerawut Pochanasomboon, who goes by the curious name of Ship Sexual, says he's simply too scared to play Little Bear's songs to his mum and dad.

Aside from Atom, the rest of the band doesn't have much enthusiasm for school. "It's boring, I get called a creep at school and people look down on me," Ship says.

Guitarist Petchara "Petch" Gnawsuwan has a real mental block with his studies. "When I study I try really hard to understand the teachers but end up in therapy because I have a mental illness."

So why would a band of loud young punks opt for a cute name like Mhee Noi?

"There are so many bands with bloody and violent names so we decided to make a statement and stand out. Plus we aren't aggressive people," explains Aude, who came up with the name.

The four lads, who have an average age of 18, record their songs in their bedrooms (probably when their parents are out!). "We play for fun and because we are passionate about music. We don't care about money but we do hope that people will understand what we are trying to convey in our songs," Aude says.

The boys are already making waves on the Thai indie underground scene with a few independent record companies looking their way. So don't be surprised if Mhee Noi hits the big time very soon.

Another band that is branching out and getting noticed is Tabasco. At a recent gig in Bangkok, the audience was littered with local stars like the members of Slur, Apartment Khunpa and Saliva Bastards. The band has an onstage presence similar to the Happy Mondays, but much tighter. Taken from the name of a Louisiana hot pepper sauce, the name Tabasco doesn't seem very rock 'n' roll, but the band disagrees, with members saying "it's spicy, hot, and sexy''.

The members of Tabasco have known each other since they were in primary school; however, they didn't start doing music together until about three years ago. Their average age is 23.

The band's cheeky frontman Radchakorn "Champ" Udomtanawat says his parents have been encouraging. "They always help us out but emphasise that it's important that we express our music in our own style."

It helps that Champ comes from a musical family: his father is in a Thai band called Chatree. Tabasco draws their influences from a wide range of styles "we take our cues from blues, old-school disco and definitely punk," says Champ. It's an eclectic mix but the band pulls it off effortlessly both live and in the studio.

Tabasco's songs deal with dilemmas that one would expect from today's wayward youth, sex, nightlife, alcohol and insomnia to name a few. At the moment they record their songs in Champ's home, but it's just a matter of time before these lads find themselves in a swanky Bangkok studio. Tabasco already have the ears of the capital's cool crowd so expect to hear them blasting out of a radio near you very soon.

Tabasco and Mhee Noi will be performing at 3pm (all-ages show) and 9pm (over 20 only) tomorrow at Club Culture (BTS: Phaya Thai, opposite Asia Hotel), for the launch of the new album by Futon. Admission is free. For details, call (02) 653 7216. For more on the bands, see www.myspace.com/tabascoband and www.myspace.com/mheenoi.

DJ Bee

DJ Bee is a regular contributor to Weekend and a member of Futon.

- The Nation

Edited September 24, 2007 by Totster

[nomadspike]

Mhee Noi: http://www.myspace.com/mheenoi

Just discovered this band via myspace and they rock bigtime. grungy with punk overtones and political.