Showing 1 - 10 of 46
Farewell to a maestro
Life, John Clewley, Published on 10/04/2024
» The world of molam has been in mourning since news emerged that Thailand's greatest phin player Thongsai Thap Thanon passed away on March 20 at his home in Warin Chamrap district, Ubon Ratchathani, at the age of 77. The phin is a two- or three-stringed Isan Lao lute that is part of the trinity of molam instruments, along with the iconic khaen (free reed bamboo mouth organ) and the sor (fiddle).
A joyous sound
Life, John Clewley, Published on 07/11/2023
» In 2001, the legendary US Gospel group Blind Boys of Alabama released an album on Peter Gabriel's Real World Records label. It was a hugely popular album which garnered the band a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. It included their version of Tom Wait's song Way Down In The Hole, which was the theme song for the TV miniseries The Wire. Their version is better than Waits' in my view.
Country comes to the city
Life, John Clewley, Published on 31/01/2023
» The All-Thidsa Molam Band was in Bangkok this past weekend to perform at the Thailand International Jazz Conference. World Beat caught up with band last Friday when they played two sets at Isan Spicy BBQ, a rooftop bar at the Jim Thompson Art Center.
Rocking the capital
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 11/01/2023
» At 7.50pm last Saturday, nearly 50,000 fans also known as Blinks began to bring out their pink hammer-shaped light sticks that suddenly brightened the dark Bangkok sky, filling the large open-air space of Suphachalasai National Stadium on Rama 1. This was followed by the echoing sounds of screaming fans as Ji-soo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa finally appeared on stage. Some fans had actually waited for them since early morning that day.
Around the world
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 20/12/2022
» The past year was a good one for the K-pop industry. Both the kings and queens of K-pop -- BTS and Blackpink -- celebrated their successful breakthrough in the American music industry.
Spellbinding collaboration proves less is more
Life, John Clewley, Published on 21/06/2022
» I once had the rare privilege to see the great bluesman and songwriter Earl King, who wrote the New Orleans Mardi Gras anthem Big Chief, perform in a small club in Tokyo. Before he took to the stage another band performed, with a well-known young blues guitarist playing fast action licks and riffs at breakneck speed. In complete contrast, when Earl King played guitar he played far fewer notes, paring down the music to its essentials. I can still remember King's playing, but I can't recall anything the young pretender played.
Change is constant
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 28/02/2022
» When entering the exhibition "City Adaptation Lab!" at Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC), visitors cannot miss the sculpture Rok-Ra-Bat (Pandemic) by Kaninyan Chandrasma. It is a broken tube sitting on a tall pedestal. According to the description, one small silver dot breaks out from the broken tube and multiplies into numerous silver dots which resemble a pandemic spreading around the world. If visitors take a closer look at the silver dots, they will see their reflections in each. This raises the question if the origin of the pandemic is people.
South Korean fans head overseas to catch first BTS concert since the pandemic
Life, Published on 29/11/2021
» When K-Pop sensation BTS announced that their first in-person concerts since the start of the pandemic would be in the United States, Kim Ji-eun immediately booked a flight and hotel, praying that Covid rules would let her attend all four shows.
Malaysian rapper defends controversial China satire Fragile as views hit 30m
Life, Published on 17/11/2021
» A rapper who penned a viral Mandarin pop song poking fun at Chinese nationalists said on Monday he had no regrets about being blacklisted by Beijing as his track hit more than 30 million views on YouTube.
Taking a stand for clean air
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 08/09/2021
» Chiang Mai artist Thaiwijit Puengkasemsomboon has to stay inside his house during summer due to the air pollution caused by PM2.5. The artist was uncomfortable being locked up in his house every summer and the PM 2.5 pollution was getting worse. Chiang Mai used to be renowned for its spectacular landscape, but last March, Chiang Mai became known as the most polluted city in the world, according to IQ AirVisual.