Blues for Nepal

There are not many musical offerings in Pattaya, so when a neighbour alerted me to a Blues night in aid of the Nepal disaster; I was off to Silverlake to buy tickets. It was hard to find anyone “working” at Silverlake who knew where I might procure said tickets; but finally they were purchased and I made plans for the evening.

Having arrived late at a previous musical soirée at Siam Country Club, only to find the place rammed, thus forcing us to sit round the corner near the toilets; I wanted to ensure we would be at Silverlake in advance of the starting time (“1730” on the web, “1800” on the poster, “fuck knows” in reality). So I advised my wife that we would be leaving home promptly at 1700. She asked if one of her friends could accompany us and I had agreed, “provided she is with us before 1700.” Of course, she wasn’t, and I had to drag my wife into the car.

“Why are we rushing, don’t you like my friend?” she enquired.

“I told you the rules and I am not waiting for her. We agreed with the neighbours that we would all leave at 1700 so we would arrive together, and that is what we are going to do” I retorted in what I expect was a small trace of a German accent and, on reflection, more than a trace of childishness.

Blood-letting was averted by the arrival of the friend and I got my revenge by an exceedingly spirited drive across the back roads to Silverlake which elicited regular squeaks of fear from the friend (which I enjoyed), and grumbles of disapproval from my wife in the back seat (which I am used to receiving from the front seat and so felt safe to ignore).

Arrived at 1730 and headed to the stage where I had my speech ready. “See, just as well we left on time, there are hardly any seats left.” Instead I had to modify my speech to a silent “oh shit, there is nobody else here, I have rushed them here for nothing”; because the sight that greeted us was an empty stage, a couple of sound engineers and a cameraman with nothing no photograph. No neighbours either, because they had sensibly spotted the lack of a crowd and were off eating pizza.

My wife gave me one of her looks and I sent her off to buy thimbles of wine for 100 baht a glass in recompense. I expect the “threatening to not wait for my friend for no good reason” event will be used in some future skirmish; they never forget do they?

Anyway, round about six-ish, someone started to play a guitar and he was pretty good, and he was followed by a succession of performers who were all musically excellent. We didn’t stay till the end because my bum became numb sitting on a train sleeper; and once you have heard one blues song you have pretty much covered the whole genre: Three cords, bitch gone left me, guitar solo, repeat. Although she who must be obeyed took offense at one number (sung in Thai) on the grounds that the lyrics described a man who was going to come home and make love to a woman without apparently enquiring if she was supportive of that arrangement.

“I would not be happy if a man behaved like that.” “You’re not meant to be happy, that’s why they call it the blues.”
“Pardon?” “It’s Elton John’s fault. Here, go and buy some more wine.”

Home at a more leisurely pace, with a pint of Guinness to round off the evening. Good times.

Naturally, I took some photos. Inevitably, the numerous and ever-changing spot lights screwed up the colours; but here they are, all with the E-M1 and 40-150mm lens, most at ISO 1600:

Comments 🔗

2015-05-31 | rjmorgans says

The story made me laugh and the photo’s are very very good.

2015-05-31 | Andrew says

there are a couple of other blues songs…my dog wandered off, my wife took my truck and the ever popular I’m too drunk to do fuck all…..I’m sure they played those just after you left….

2015-06-01 | Kate Owens says

Fantastic photos and a delightful story to go with

2015-06-01 | Spike says

With due deference to your obvious mastery in this area, isn’t anything that references a truck automatically classed as Country & Western (may all the gods spare us from that)?

2015-06-01 | Grant says

Yes. You are quite correct. But in fairness to the poor chap he was probably too drunk to do eff all at the time. Sadly there are not enough gods to spare us from the depressing twanging horrors of Cuntry & Western and we are all doomed, Captain Mainwaring, doomed…

2015-06-01 | Richard H says

Ah, but do you know what happens if you play a C&W songbackwards ?

2015-06-01 | Spike says

You get the theme from Brokeback Mountain?

2015-06-01 | Andrew says

ok- for the blues purists ( all 2 of you….)

I’ve got a problem, I’ve got a problem I’ve got a problem, I got a problem I got a problem with my woman And I’ve got a problem with my wife, well

When you see me standin’ with tears in my eyes Oh, you must be wondering how could I wreck my life? ‘Cause I got a problem with my woman And I got a problem with my wife

Well, my wife is number one and my woman is number two My woman’ll do things for me that my wife wouldn’t do Of course now I dig my wife but you don’t understand Sometimes it take two of y’all to satisfy a man

Now while my problem started I started messin’ with number three She calls up my wife and tells on my woman and me My wife packed up her clothes and goin’ home to her mother And my woman runs off and finds another lover

I’ve got a problem and it’s about to wreck my life Problem with my woman, I got a problem with my wife, yeah

2015-06-01 | Andrew says

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7eA1tesHwQ&w=1280&h=750]

2015-06-02 | Grant says

You poor fellow! Where’s your dog? Which one took your truck? The wife? Or did you have two trucks? Sounds like you probably needed three….

2015-06-02 | Grant says

I’ll see whoever that is and raise you an old master reminding us about an old master… https://youtu.be/a1ewJYxT0ZQ

2015-06-04 | Andrew says

OK his name wasn’t Blind Lemon Willie Johnson McTell - but I would wager he had a better last Saturday night than you…. ( problem # 4 )…..

2015-06-04 | Andrew says

in the same style - but more universal…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6pXGxCehk