Old-Time Rock n Roll with Peter Driscoll

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I had been to Nomad’s Pub – down at the end of Silom Soi 4 – in the past to hear Peter Driscoll and the Cruisers play early Rock n Roll – usually pure ‘50s stuff – and I’m hooked. Peter played alone last night with just his acoustic guitar from 10pm to 1am. I normally leave before midnight to catch the last Skytrain north, but last night I stayed to hear the last note. (Little did we know that violence was taking place on the streets outside less than half a klick away: see next entry.)
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Peter is a walking encyclopedia of early American and British Rock, a real historian. He usually prefaces the next song with info about who wrote it or covered it, and adds interesting details about what they are doing these days. Born in 1942, Peter is 8 years older than me and thus has more first-hand knowledge of early Rock, knowing many Rock legends personally. He is also a fine gentleman and great off-stage conversationalist.
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Yesterday, Friday 7 May 2010, I made my first foray into downtown Bangkok in a month just to hear Peter’s gig at Nomad’s. I didn’t want to miss it. It was a blazing hot day, and I only got to see one movie in the afternoon because the Red Shirt protestors have turned the downtown into a slum and are keeping my favorite theaters closed. Waiting for gig time at Nomad’s, I searched for an air conditioned place and ended up at the Bangkok Hard Rock Café for an hour and a half – where the drinks are much too expensive, although the Rock videos are entertaining. I clutched cold beer bottles to cool off.
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I got to Nomad’s before the introductory gig by a young American and I got to talk with Peter and with Paul, Nomad’s musical director. Sadly, not many people frequent the farang bars since the Troubles started in Bangkok. These musicians deserve a much wider audience.
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A great evening of music.
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-Zenwind.
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