Typical Thailand

[JW]

Gene pub on soi Bintabaht has been a regular haunt later on in the evenings for about the last 4 months - typically from say 11pm until closing. Beers have been 100 baht which is expensive but it has been worth it because the band have been fantastic - they play good hard rock with great talent and enthusiasm. We became valued customers so much so that we got a discount card, Unheard of from a thai owner! (i took my customers there many times also).
Then typical thailand took over - the owner of the bar didnt like the fact that they had got an extra guitarist - (it cost her 500 baht a night but the band were happy and although not a superstar he did add more depth to the sound they made - and he played Santana stuff really well) - short term thinking comes in and she fired him which led to the lead (who is awesome) leaving also - at the same time she put the beer up to 120 baht!! My god talk about hitting the self destruct button.
New guitarist comes, who plays to loud and selfishly. ITS AWFUL - its like a self appreciation society.
Anyway thats this little rant over with, hopefully we will get some cool place to go again soon.
I know DaveT will be gutted to here this, on his last trip we spent some great nights there - and lots of cash!

[Wanderlust]

That makes me even more glad that I was with you there this week JW! Is Cartoon planning on reestablishing elsewhere? Maybe you can suggest somewhere, like Butterfly Rock or elsewhere that has the facilities?

[JW]

We saw him last night in a country music pub, he had to be very restrained! He did give us 4 or 5 proper songs (sorry for you country fans out there but it does my head in!). Something will happen for sure, we are talking to him.
We have been really lucky in fairness - it has been great towatch them play over the last months. They were getting better all the time!

[Big Boy]

That's a real shame.

I'm not a great music fan, but I was fascinated in April by the incredible sounds that he could get from just that guitar - really amazing.

A few return visits when we next visit Thailand was going to be a must - I don't think we'll bother now.

[DawnHRD]

Heard the news yesterday. Haven't seen Toon in some time, but he's supposed to have another job already. The rumour is that the owner is asking Thep to come back.

[JW]

Hi Dawn,

He is playing in the country bar on Petchkasem, the golden wood shop.
Tep is back and, in my opinion, is terrible. Very talented for sure but not in the same league as far as Cartoon. The songs dont even sound write, had one beer in there last night and left, really disappointed.
As i said before something else will happen - i hope!

[DawnHRD]

It's a shame. I really like Toon, both musically & personally. He was the only musician in HH that gave my boyfriend a chance when he was down. Toon came back from Europe, formed a band & asked Du to play keyboard for him. Du had been unemployed for a year before that & Toon gave him a chance. I'll never forget that!

Plus he's a bl**dy good musician who plays a variety of music & doesn't stick to covering just one artist!

[JW]

Toon speaks about Du very highly, they were obviously very close. He is trying to get the old band members back together.
Met his wife and kids last night which was nice, top fella in my book.

[DawnHRD]

Yes, they were close, particularly in the last couple of years. Toon never gave up on Du, even when he (Du) was drinking enough to make problems workwise. I never understood that at the time, but now, I'm so grateful for it. What do they say? Hindsight gives you 20-20 vision?
Anyway, getting back on thread, Toon is a really nice guy & deserves to be recognised as the fantastic guitarist he is. Hope he gets something good in the future!

[DaveT]

Gene pub on soi Bintabaht has been a regular haunt later on in the evenings for about the last 4 months - typically from say 11pm until closing. Beers have been 100 baht which is expensive but it has been worth it because the band have been fantastic - they play good hard rock with great talent and enthusiasm. We became valued customers so much so that we got a discount card, Unheard of from a thai owner! (i took my customers there many times also).
Then typical thailand took over - the owner of the bar didnt like the fact that they had got an extra guitarist - (it cost her 500 baht a night but the band were happy and although not a superstar he did add more depth to the sound they made - and he played Santana stuff really well) - short term thinking comes in and she fired him which led to the lead (who is awesome) leaving also - at the same time she put the beer up to 120 baht!! My god talk about hitting the self destruct button.
New guitarist comes, who plays to loud and selfishly. ITS AWFUL - its like a self appreciation society.
Anyway thats this little rant over with, hopefully we will get some cool place to go again soon.
I know DaveT will be gutted to here this, on his last trip we spent some great nights there - and lots of cash!

John, you're absolutely right, though gutted is an understatement.

How short-sighted can the owner be for goodness sake. I'm sure when the busy season arrives if those lads had still been going they'd have got punters queuing up to get in.

Please give Cartoon my very best wishes if you wouldn't mind. Really hope they stay together and find another venue. How about JW's? Expand a little.

[JW]

Hi Dave,

Would love to but just not big enough, i have looked at the possibility. Big shame about the band, and i am sure that something good will come out of it all.

[richard]

I'm still trying to work out the players from the mimers!!!