Comments on: Tokyo Joes(Bangkok) Review by Werewolf http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/ drink and blog Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:13:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Blues Fan in Bangkok http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-212192 Blues Fan in Bangkok Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:26:27 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-212192 I watched TJs fall apart over its short life in Soi 26 - never knew it in its earlier location, unfortunately. Some of the above comments are harsh, particularly the ones about management setting it up purely to give themselves gigs, which was neither fair nor particularly true. The Soi Dogs (with manager Jeff up front) were probably the most successful draw in the bar, almost always filling most of the seats on Fridays and Saturdays. Sometimes the jam nights were brilliant, but often they were far from great. The sometimes host's songs all had the same identical melody, and he was monotony personified. I think the real problems the bar had were simple economic ones. Costs were too high, and revenue never great enough to see the bar break even across the month (never mind that on some nights it was surely making a LOT of money on the night; I suspect that average sales never met the monthly bills). The town (and the Bangkok blues scene) is a lot poorer for it closing down. I hope that rumors of it coming back to life are more than just rumors. I watched TJs fall apart over its short life in Soi 26 – never knew it in its earlier location, unfortunately.

Some of the above comments are harsh, particularly the ones about management setting it up purely to give themselves gigs, which was neither fair nor particularly true. The Soi Dogs (with manager Jeff up front) were probably the most successful draw in the bar, almost always filling most of the seats on Fridays and Saturdays.

Sometimes the jam nights were brilliant, but often they were far from great. The sometimes host’s songs all had the same identical melody, and he was monotony personified.

I think the real problems the bar had were simple economic ones. Costs were too high, and revenue never great enough to see the bar break even across the month (never mind that on some nights it was surely making a LOT of money on the night; I suspect that average sales never met the monthly bills).

The town (and the Bangkok blues scene) is a lot poorer for it closing down. I hope that rumors of it coming back to life are more than just rumors.
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]]> By: sideshowBOB http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-202880 sideshowBOB Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:39:27 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-202880 my guess is TJ will be on a long list of many places that wont survive the wwff, the airport mess and the political morass we call thailand. not sure I would be so hard on the place. my guess is TJ will be on a long list of many places that wont survive the wwff, the airport mess and the political morass we call thailand. not sure I would be so hard on the place.
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]]> By: Dukebocks http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-202879 Dukebocks Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:33:46 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-202879 Here is the quote that got missed out above "Tokyo Joe's went the same way as so many other bars owned by musicians with no business acumen that are run mainly to provide themselves with gigs that they would not otherwise get." Here is the quote that got missed out above “Tokyo Joe’s went the same way as so many other bars owned by musicians with no business acumen that are run mainly to provide themselves with gigs that they would not otherwise get.”
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]]> By: Dukebocks http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-202878 Dukebocks Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:25:52 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-202878 As of Feb 2009 Tokyo Joes had closed down. A quote from another website went like this <> That's too bad. Guess they didn't follow Anthony's advice about keeping the place alive by bringing in new blues blood. As of Feb 2009 Tokyo Joes had closed down. A quote from another website went like this <> That’s too bad. Guess they didn’t follow Anthony’s advice about keeping the place alive by bringing in new blues blood.
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]]> By: Anthony http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-55322 Anthony Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:37:32 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-55322 As a Bangkok long time resident, a guitar lover and blues lover in particular, I have been a good customer of Tokyo Joe's over the years. It is indeed a great venue in Bangkok with no other places really matching up for the friendliness of the staff and the authenticity of the music. And I agree Saxophone definitely displays better gigs but when it comes to living the night, TJ comes first. And I have spent some of my best nights in Bangkok in good company at TJ. But I have to stay, prices did go through the roof since TJ moved. It could be a gracious cause for survival but I expect my prime underground venue to remain affordable. And today it has unfortunately reached my budget limit. So I sadly go there only once in a while now. TJ, if you hear me, not all your customers are rich expats. We love you and need you. Keep your rates reasonable. And bring new blues blood in, it keeps the place alive. As a Bangkok long time resident, a guitar lover and blues lover in particular, I have been a good customer of Tokyo Joe’s over the years.

It is indeed a great venue in Bangkok with no other places really matching up for the friendliness of the staff and the authenticity of the music. And I agree Saxophone definitely displays better gigs but when it comes to living the night, TJ comes first. And I have spent some of my best nights in Bangkok in good company at TJ.

But I have to stay, prices did go through the roof since TJ moved. It could be a gracious cause for survival but I expect my prime underground venue to remain affordable. And today it has unfortunately reached my budget limit. So I sadly go there only once in a while now.

TJ, if you hear me, not all your customers are rich expats. We love you and need you. Keep your rates reasonable. And bring new blues blood in, it keeps the place alive.
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]]> By: Combover http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-28158 Combover Tue, 09 Oct 2007 05:53:37 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-28158 Anyone heard those Thai Beat A Go-Go CDs? 1960s Thai beat combos thrashing Thai language versions or rip offs of popular American tracks of the time. Look here for details if you haven't heard them. http://www.amazon.com/Thai-Beat-Go-Go-Vol-1/dp/B00064X80Y It's great stuff, but I'm wondering if these kind of bands still play anywhere around Bangkok. Would love to hear them. In Ho Chi Minh, there are Vietnam War era bands who are playing again after 25 years of being underground. Anyone heard those Thai Beat A Go-Go CDs? 1960s Thai beat combos thrashing Thai language versions or rip offs of popular American tracks of the time.

Look here for details if you haven’t heard them.

http://www.amazon.com/Thai-Beat-Go-Go-Vol-1/dp/B00064X80Y

It’s great stuff, but I’m wondering if these kind of bands still play anywhere around Bangkok. Would love to hear them. In Ho Chi Minh, there are Vietnam War era bands who are playing again after 25 years of being underground.
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]]> By: the-adventurer http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-28019 the-adventurer Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:47:41 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-28019 I was actually at Saxophone on Sat night, first time in at least 8 months. Have also been to Tokyo's. I would say the quality of the muso's at Sax is far superior as a general rule but I still enjoy Tokyos. I was actually at Saxophone on Sat night, first time in at least 8 months. Have also been to Tokyo’s. I would say the quality of the muso’s at Sax is far superior as a general rule but I still enjoy Tokyos.
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]]> By: bkk22 http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-27998 bkk22 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:20:21 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-27998 Last I heard a few months ago it was still open. Last I heard a few months ago it was still open.
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]]> By: Andy http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-27994 Andy Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:52:29 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/10/08/tokyo-joesbangkok-review-by-werewolf/#comment-27994 ....reminds me of the Saxophone Club at Victory Monument....does anyone know if that still exists? ….reminds me of the Saxophone Club at Victory Monument….does anyone know if that still exists?
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