The time in Koh Tao was a certain change in pace and my hand (Following a motor bike accident) had had enough of a rest to hopefully justify a return to the fold with a return residency in Bangkok.
Even if everytime I saw a motor bike I did shudder like Mr Burns I felt perhaps healed from the drama of Chaing Mai. After an epic boat ride in which we nearly felt the sea take hold (I`m not just being dramatic, the boat route was closed shortly after our trip because of crazy weather for three days); Our bus arrived in Bangkok at 3 in the morning.
I managed to get a few hours kip in an art gallery that was between exhibitions and then took to the stage for a 90 min set. Followed by another evening set elsewhere. My hand felt worse for wear for sure. But I convinced myself I wanted to play all and every show that came my way and so the crazy gigs continued for a week. My two favorite shows being within an hour of one another. Firstly at an art exhibition where I played improvised with (wait for it)….. AN INTERPRETIVE DANCER!!!. It was simply something else as this frankly stunning Thai girl doused herself in luminous paint and graciously glided around the room to my loops.
Then I was quickly shuffled to a hotel courtyard where I did a more structured collection of songs to an appreciative audience. I also found out the dj on after me was a guy I knew from London. When I was first starting out I would play guitar and effects to his drum and bass beats about 7 years previous. A wonderful turn up for the books and we got the chance to jam once more but in a far more exotic location than our old haunt of the Fornax and Firkin in South Harrow.
My final two shows of the run were in the afore mentioned gallery called Chez Lodin. I had been sleeping in the exhibition room and whilst staying there had met many awesome people. I had the joy of sharing the stage once again with one of them, JD who is a gifted musician through and through and it was only too cool to improvise with him and two Thai played who JD invited to the occasion. My thanks can only go out to JD and to Chez Lodin and Toot Yung. Awesome place and awesome people.
Next Stop Tokyo!!!
