For the 13th year in a row I will celebrate my birthday in Thailand. On April 14th in the midst of Songkran I turn 42. Rather than have my own birthday party, I thought I'd just usurp other people's events as my own jubilee.
On Friday, it's Grahame Lynch's birthday at our sponsor, Overground on Soi 22. His band Wasabi Bytes will perform as well as Nemo Cools. Please note, that while this bar and cafe is not known for pizza, trays of the Italian invention have been known to mysteriously vanish off tables - there is a pizza rogue on the loose. Beware! Strong likelihood I will be at Overground on Friday night being vigilant for any pizza thievery... Saturday night there is a grand opening of Banh Mi Crispy at W District – I have not been there yet but I have an insatiable appetite for these delicious sandwiches popular in Vietnam and Laos. While I am Vietnamese by birth I could almost forgive the French for colonizing Indochina and introducing the baguette. I think Ho Chi Minh would have reconsidered war if he really knew banh mi was gonna be such a hit. You can also see The Sangsom Massacre and Rock Philosophy blogger, John Will Sail performing at this event... Saturday night is also Davinder's birthday at Flow House in the second floor bar. It's a neat bar with some comfy sofas to nurse your beer and stare into space and ponder life's cosmic questions like Do animals have souls? Is Green Day really punk rock even as they emerged from Gilman? And Who was the first person to look at a squid and say Let's eat this slimy thing! Dav has promised me a few beers and as Chris at Overground has slowly recognized, How do you get a philosopher at your event? Just say the magic words free beer or buffet – I'd walk 20 kilometers for either... Flow House also has remarkable pizza which pizza rogues have quickly devoured before sneaking off into the darkness... As we cruise into Songkran week, let us remember to put our phones in colorful Ziplock pouches and behave badly yet with distinguished responsibility – if you are going to blast someone in the face with a high powered water rifle worthy of an ISIS execution at least make eye contact with the victim letting him know you're gonna FUCK. HIM. UP... I may begin celebrating my birthday officially on the 13th and might be found amongst the scum and villainy of water play at Cowboy and Nana. A birthday drink at my favorite watering hole (not to mention and Rock Philosophy sponsor) on Soi 8, Det 5 may also be in order – I have had at least two birthdays at Det 5 over the years and luckily no one has ever been electrocuted although there is evidence the pizza rogue has even found his way to lower Sukhumvit – while draining the lizard or choking the chicken in the men's lavatory enjoy the lad humor adorning the walls. Oh yes and there is a free buffet on Fridays! On the 15th of April provided I am still alive and have not misplaced the piggy bank, I might roll down to catch Gabriel Lynch, another Rock Philosophy contributor, at Livecube on Soi 69. I am enamored by his songs “Song Writer” and “Manila” off the All of Us album and if I fork out 300 baht of someone else's money and he doesn't play those songs... well all hell could break loose.
Update: To add more options to the furnace, Johnny Loda Trio, the rockabilly outfit are performing at Bar 21 on Friday night. They are like greasers with less hair... Saturday night Wombat which is Danny Duncombe of Count the Thief and Joe Delaney are playing at Rewind on a sub soi of Soi 8 Sukhumvit - walk to the Kiwi and make right into small soi... also Friday night God Hates are at Immortal and Stylish Nonsense and Kota are at 12 x 12. If it was possible to be everywhere I would be.
More news: Andy Wright, the Underground retro blogger is in town briefly – perhaps you caught his performance with Wolves V. Fairies at Fatty's on Tuesday? Also Massive Degaruda fan Andreas has completed a Question and Answer with me – (I'm really milking this guy aren't I?) but the truth is this blog exists because of music fans like him. He is my hero and inspiration. Andreas is also a graphic designer and I am considering asking him to design some posters for Rock Philosophy and share them in Germany. The great designer Jeff Ross who's worked with such artists as Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana has agreed to do a Rock Philosophy logo – we're not sure when this is going to happen and what exactly to do with a logo but it's exciting – you can get a lot of cool stuff in exchange for an old Samsung monitor... Also Ben from Plastic Section, Basement Tape and Flyin Guillotine will be moving back to Australia in May – all birds must fly and that means Bangkok has an ambassador back in Oz....
Before a sign off, let me say congratulations to all those who have recently released music this year. I've been to four CD parties this year including Jenny and the Scallywags, Degaruda, Matthew Fischer, and Triggs and the Longest Day. Let's keep them coming.