Music cafes in BKK?

[jacky54]

I mean places where they serve food with a stage and traditional music where you can give mali's to the singers? Not places like Krungton Cafe or Rama 9 cafe, they have crappy comic acts on too much before the singers come on. There used to be a lot of them around like Dara Cafe, Issan Holiday and Tankay Issan but there seems to be less and less of them every year, anyone know of any good ones?

[rgs2001uk]

The dara Cafe moved from Klong Tan years ago, up Bang Na way, havent heard of it mentioned in years, probably closed.

The other places on Petchaburi such as Issan Darling and Sip Hok Darling closed years ago round about the time of the Finacial crisis, sorry I dont know of any like that still in existence.

The name cafe is a bit misleading, these places were massive, more like a nightclub, restaurant area, dancing girls massage areas, live bands, comics etc.

Most of these places didnt kick off until about 9 or 10 in the evening and were still going at 5 or 6 in the morning.

Nothing but a distant memory, count your self lucky to have witnessed them, many will never get the chance.

[jacky54]

Used to live in Bang na and never heard of Dara there, others that closed were villa cafe, on petchburi near rama 9 cafe, napali cafes, Issan happy home at vic monument, khean Issan and others. There is one near the montein riverside hotel off rama 3. going to try that next week. I used to like Tankay Issan where you could buy a book of 5 baht tickets to pay the girls to dance with you, a bargain.

[BKKSnowBird]

How about checkin 99?

[jacky54]

How about checkin 99?

Nothing like it, that's a pub with an Indonesian band, glad to see it's still going though.

[rgs2001uk]

Used to live in Bang na and never heard of Dara there, others that closed were villa cafe, on petchburi near rama 9 cafe, napali cafes, Issan happy home at vic monument, khean Issan and others. There is one near the montein riverside hotel off rama 3. going to try that next week. I used to like Tankay Issan where you could buy a book of 5 baht tickets to pay the girls to dance with you, a bargain.

Yep, thats the ones, used to buy a booklet for 50 baht and hand the girl the ticket.

As you say, what a bargain, what great times, sadly never to be repeated.

The DC moved up that way about 15 years ago, at the time it was considered to be in the middle of nowhere, as I mentioned before probably long since closed its doors.

I asked the mrs about this last night, she told me, modern day Bangkok people consider this type of entertainment to be either boran (old fashioned) or ban nok (upcountry), its amazing the number of people who come to Bkk and then reinvent themselves, trying to distance themselves from their roots.

Good luck in your quest, if you find one please let us know.

PS, you forgot to mention the bloody volume from those condo sized banks of speakers, the bass would go right through you.

[jacky54]

There are loads of other places like Tamnarn Issan off Rama 3, open until very late and they play luktung/ morlam but too much phua cheewit and pop/techno. This place gets packed and it seem to be the sort of place people prefer now. I'm afraid I hanker after the days of rougher places where the singers would always come and wai you or sit with you if you bought them a mali and where the dresses were always shorter when the girl had a crappy voice. I wonder if new bride cafe is still there in Pra Kanong just near Suk main road where the metal foor bridge still is, probably not. You do need to take ear plugs of course!

Thai who re invent themselves, see sao mart lard phrao song! banok banok.

[rgs2001uk]

^^^^^,

Long since gone, some call it progress.

Funny you mention Pra Khanong, my mrs is from there Suk 71, so I am familair with the area and changes that have taken place.

You will remember the old cinema in Prakhanong market up by soi 2, the mrs used to go and watch Likay there.

There was another DC type place used to be downstairs in the cinema in Washington Square, again years ago.

You are correct about how these type of places are these days, even Tawan Dang doesnt do it for me.

Years ago these places would start about 9/10 in the evening, guys would come in straight off building sites, the dancing girls lining the walls in there cheerleader outfits.

Those singers looked good up on stage, once they got close you could see just how rough they were up close, the language was even rougher, great places and great times.

[jacky54]

^^^^^,

Long since gone, some call it progress.

Funny you mention Pra Khanong, my mrs is from there Suk 71, so I am familair with the area and changes that have taken place.

You will remember the old cinema in Prakhanong market up by soi 2, the mrs used to go and watch Likay there.

There was another DC type place used to be downstairs in the cinema in Washington Square, again years ago.

You are correct about how these type of places are these days, even Tawan Dang doesnt do it for me.

Years ago these places would start about 9/10 in the evening, guys would come in straight off building sites, the dancing girls lining the walls in there cheerleader outfits.

Those singers looked good up on stage, once they got close you could see just how rough they were up close, the language was even rougher, great places and great times.

last time I went to the cimema at 71 Siriporn Ampiapong was playing, off season, real dump but lovely in a Thai way. Tawang Deang I never liked, bad sound system and nowhere to dance. Anyway here is the song of knon Banok pretending to be otherwise. Poor Sao Mart was in ICU last year for a long time doubt if she will sing again

[rgs2001uk]

Heres one of my favourites, another ban nok type trying to act all tan samai.

[jacky54]

Seen her, green swan I think. They still make music films, this one was 2001 and the sequel last year but not as good. Monrak transistor was the best ever Thai music film. Almost every actor in this is a singer, some better known than others.

[TheSpade]

Not quite what you are after I don't think but 'Chaba Dang' on Ratchaprarop Road has many country acts playing and seems to be open all night every night.