Tried The Depression Dance
Thought that was a nice coincidence to celebrate the Thai Constitution Day holiday remembering the day that gave the monarchy a significant increase in authority after the overthrow of the absolute monarchy – to celebrate that holiday with the grand opening party of Bangkok’s latest nightclub N@ir.
No, N@ir is not the latest gallery of Bangkok’s darkish art icon Chris Coles. And anyway, Noir or N@ir? Go figure. Black as in French makes more sense. As all was dark. The walls, the waiters … Couldn’t even count all the darkly dressed event pretties throwing Chivas and Singhas and cocktails after you.
And as everything was dark, so went my mood. Says the nightclub’s slogan under the logo: “Number One In Reality – Bangkok, Thailand.” Here you go. All’s intentionally dark around there. The club’s location in the cellar of Ratchadapisek’s Emerald Hotel is therefore a most fitting place – as Ratchada got the blues.
You couldn’t tell while looking at N@ir’s jolly 25 year old owner who’s also the owner of Babylon massage parlor. No, I didn’t ask for free Babylon vouchers if you know what I mean. He was an all-polite chap hurrying around between his darkly dressed pretties and arriving guests. It all looked straight. But terribly depressive.
Business in Bangkok’s entertainment industry is all but down, down, down. Even though I was the only non-Asian and potential tourist at the club, you could tell that the Pantamit left a mark or two among Bangkok’s most unpolitical circles. The high and festive season felt like one of those big depressions forming devastating hurricanes.
I even had planned to dance a little – I know, me dancing is like a electrocuted cat trying to get out of a frying pan. But with all that darkish gloom and doom around … Even the few arriving lachrymose girls obviously dressed in expectation of some fun couldn’t cheer me up.
Emptied a few Singhas – and another Singha, and called it a night. Black as Bangkok’s new color of reality, N@ir’s really feels the pulse of the city.
If you wanna feel like crying while partying, N@ir’s the place to go.
“Number One In Reality.”
Wow. Sorry to hear about your dark night, Dan.
Had some relatives out there in Bangkok last week, trying to get the hell out of there. A real nightmare.
Said they are never going back to Thailand. Ever.
Black is black
I want my baby back
It’s gray, it’s gray
Since she went away, ooh-ooh
What can I do
‘Cause I-I-I-I-I’m feelin’ blue
Los Bravos.
We shall rejoice. Better to be depressed today. Because it could be worse next week.
So what kind of music they played there?
“Got the blues” is a bit an old expression, maybe the younger generation don’t get it.
Next time you go to a place like that, you can advise me.
Happy to join you Singha-lization.
Cheers
Andy
What’s next a Noir tour of Bangkok as part of a Noir package (maybe they could visit all the locations mentioned in Christopher Moore’s Calvino novels)?!
Does this mean TAT is going to put a bronze plaque up on the building where by Sukhumvit studio is, like those bronze plaques in London?
At the very least, the N@ir owner should put up a few of my Bangkok Noir portraits in the entrance area (in lieu of a “licensing fee”).
Maybe now is the moment to add http://www.bangkok-noir.blogspot.com to your blog listings over on the right!
Chris Coles
Andy am I that old!?
Chris: N@/oir is made for your portraits, how could they refuse!
BangkokDan
Old enuf to drive to Hua Hin, young enuf to love Wall-E! How old is BangkokDan?
Even over @ Rotten Tomatoes the Tomatometer gives Wall-E a whopping 96% chang dek!
Not only the flick’s metaphors are enthralling. You’ll watch Wall-E with a broad, happy smile on your face.
BangkokDan
I saw it on the big screen, loved every minute of it, and, contrary to what my last comment alluded to, it’s a film for children to take their grandparents to see.
Can you imagine if Thai adulterers went to jail? That would mean at the very least a 75% incarcerated-occupancy rate of the whole Thai nation!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7786985.stm
I think the music in this place sucks. Rock, Hip Hop, live bands and DJ??? What the f***, so messy.
Pantamit has fuckall to do with the down in Thai entertainment venues. It’s the economy stoopid, coupled with the fact this city has too many DJs and they all sound pretty much the same. Few know to mix, fewer still how to scratch. It’s time to bring live music back, the punters crave a change.
Yeah, Val’s so hip he’s got a simultaneus finger on the politics and the latest deep spinz pulze … we should just idolize him becos he knows it all and we can, well, just follow … never mind express our own opinion, becos he knows all … F’ all … V.A.L., stick to yer scratch’n strobe wisdom you dork …