Molam (or Mor lam) is a traditional form of music hailing from Isan, a region in the Northeast of Thailand, and neighbouring Laos. In the 1960s and ’70s the genre was revived and, due to the influence of the American GIs around the area who brought new sounds and instruments, it merged with rock, psychedelia, soul and funk, becoming the soundtrack of each party around Thailand.
Paradise Bangkok was born indeed as a party where DJ Maft Sai and Chris Menist played their record collections of Thai vinyls alongside Reggae, African, Jazz tunes. In 2012, however, Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band was formed. The duo, joined by Kammao Perdtanon on phin (Thai lute), Sawai Kaewsombat on khaen (a bamboo harmonica), Piyanart Jotikasthira on bass and Phusana Treeburut on drums, began rocking stages around the world.
Now on their European tour, which took off at the end of May in Bucharest and lasts until the end of June, they stopped by The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston on Friday 10th June for a warm-up gig before playing at Field Day Festival the following day.
The venue was packed and there was hardly enough fresh air for everyone in the room. Nobody seemed to care though, as they were dancing sprightly from the beginning until the end, prompted by the moves of Kammao Perdtanon on phin whose charisma and smiles captured the audience. Add to this Phusana Treeburut on drums, and no other choice than jumping and dancing was left.
It was refreshing to see such a diverse band, formed by both young and old musicians, mixing their musical backgrounds and Western and Thai instruments harmonically. No wonder they define themselves as “rooted in tradition, [but] with an eye to the future”, as a “21st century molam” band.
They delivered a performance hard to forget, a night of sweat and fun.