SAT:
5:00- 5:40 -John Will Sail – Kicking the festival off is prolific music community contributor John Will Sail known as a solo songwriter, promoter and former bassist of The Sangsom Massacre. Sometime back he won The Hard Rock Cafe's Battle of the Bands with his metal band at the time The Fallen Versus Fate. John has become a recent contributor to the Rock Philosophy blog and has paved the way for Bangkok bands outside of Thailand. We are keenly monitoring his activity with Summer Sun Records, the label he formed with Beer last year. For a two man outfit they are doing a lot promoting a lot of gigs and producing their own digital content.
5:50-6:30 - John Lindsay – I've only seen Jon play once or twice before. Looking forward to it again.
6:45- 7:30- Roy Jet – Roy Jet a name derived from “107” in Thai which sounds like “loy jet.” The combined ages of Ian Taylor guitarist and Jerry Kelley, drums and vocals once added to 107 – now I think it's 108 bt who's counting? This power duo do a hard rock/ classic tribute like nobody's business and their version of “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath almost made me cry – original Sab drummer Bill Ward could not have played better than Jerry. Jimmy Page might have a heart attack if he saw Ian Taylor on guitar.
8;30- 9;15- Pistols 99 – pop punk band with obvious influence by Green Day. Haven't seen them play since The Sangsom Massacre CD release party at the end of 2014.
9:30 - 10:15- Degaruda – These veterans have been playing every Fatty Fest for the last 4 years as far as I can remember. They are a favorite band by journalists and underground music fans alike. They are well-regarded for high energy live performances – a hybrid sound which incorporates various genres in the hard rock vein, they still manage to pull it off with their own original style and imagination. If there was going to be a Bangkok music invasion on the entirety of Asia, Degaruds woud be at the front. We're digging the songs off the new album Monstrous Victorious but we love the oldies too.
10:30- 11:15 – Superhans – Superhans has had the uncanny ability to perform at more that one Fatty Fest over the years. I once may have referred to them as the best bar band you will hardly see play. Three years ago they were doing a set inspired by classic rock, 90s music (remember Blur?) with several covers. They are in a tough spot immediately after Degaruda and right before Count the Thief – if both bands forming the bread of the Superhans sandwich play ridiculously well which they are known to do, what will be remembered of Superhans at Fatty Fest 2016. I'm sure the boys are bringing their best game.
11:30- 12:15- Count the Thief – Ending the night of sweat, meat and beer guzzling insanity is the 4 piece known as Count the Thief. Mancunian crooner Danny Duncombe has handed off his bass duties to Jerome Torrefranca. We once conceived the description: prog rock that chicks will like. If you could convince them to quit their jobs and throw their life savings into the couchsurfing existence of traveling mercenary musicians... hmm- the lads could be deadly.
SUN:
5:00-5:30- Sea Green – I think this is songwriter Cian Green. Only seen him once a long long time ago.
5:45-6:15- Ryan Holweger - This Minneapolis native is in and out of Bangkok with great frequency. Sounds like the solemn songs of a deslolate, lost midwest America – there is an eery silence built into the music. Listen, you'll see what I mean.
7:15- 8:00 Johnny Heartbreaker – The band appearing in the Johnny Heartbreaker slot appears to be a full band with Johnny joined by Gary MV director turned musician Gary Boyle and Iman Ismail on drums. In a recent Facebook post, Mr, Boyle (granted the title Rock Philosopher for Life 2015), offered a single bottle of local beer to anyone who offered up a suitable and name. All you vagabonds out there, opportunity knocks. I think Johnny Heartbreaker and the Shit Shoe Manifesto ha a nice ring to it.
8:00. 8:45- Sin Tonic – A band inspired totally by 80s metal! This is Fatty's craft beer connoisseur and bar man Guru's band. Except some wailing, howling, shredding guitars and good old fashioned head banging when the big guy let's his hair down.
9:00-9:45— Cold Black Vines – CBV was my first music review on one of our other sites, Thai Adventures. A dream team composed of personnel from some of your favorite bands – it's like fantasy football with members of Deadtown Trash, Blood Thirst Spider/ TSOS and Abuse the Youth all coming together to form what some might call a super group. Some high energy heavy rock with comparisons to erly Dead Kennedys and Henry Rollins.
10:00-10:45- Johnny Loda Trio - The JLT has been heating up with new management and booking gigs around the city.
They are ambitious – watch out. If young Daniel can learn the business of music who nos what can happen.
11:45- 12:15- Rocket Science – The grunge trio of Panda Records founder Pok on bass and vocals, Boy on guitar and Bob on drums. We last saw the boys at Whiteline and wiith Pok sporting a new haircut, he's unrecognizable. But that voice is unmistakable. The band is very loyal to the early sound of Sub Pop Nirvana. The last high energy performance before everyone collapses in exhaustion.
One last note. I will hopefully be photographing both nights of the festival as service to the community. I will post the live photos from performances online early next week via facebook.
Would you or your band need gorgeous high resolution shots of your live performance at Fatty Fest for album art, flyers, posters or publicity? Would you like to hire me to shoot your band PR photos?
I love contributing my time, skills and resources to the community and I need your help to continue doing it.
I'm ready to make deals this weekend.
I am in urgent need of small financial injection now. Send me a message or speak to me at Fatty's tonight.
Thank you for your understanding and have a great time. - DC