Good music finally in Phuket

[DAVIS lax #36]

For those who are tired of the hip-hop and 2 year old classic cheese dance music anthems, I'm pleased to announce that a new venue has opened to cater for the more discerning listener.

You also won't believe this place, super stylish decore, leather upholstered furniture, it wouldn't look out of place anywhere in any city in the world. I've yet to see anything like it on Phuket that's for sure. The attention to detail throughout is very impressive. I only found the place yesterday and was absolutely blown away by the level of class it shows. Like I said, there is nothing that I've seen to rival it on the island.

It's table or bar service. Spirits are 100 baht, cocktails are 130 (from memory).

There is one hitch. It's at bloody Nai Harn!! If you're coming down from the View Point go past the elephant trekking at the bottom of the hill, around past the big pink place called "Phuket Residences" (or something like that). You come to a kind of a "Y" intersection there. Turn right towards Banana Corner. About 200 metres down on the right you'll see it. It's called Icon.

It's only been open 3 days I think but it's definitely worth a look. For those who like proper dance, be there tonight and drink from the cup of house music by DJ Dave. It will start out around 7pm with some jazzy west coast sounds and moving onto a more big room sound later on.

I'm talking with the owner to get a regular night once a week (that ignores the pleadings of Thai girls for sacharrin sweet traditional songs about water buffalo and unrequitted love) and sticks it straight into the slot for farang to enjoy. Music policy will be house / tech house / techno. Not teh hard banging techno either, more like the Soma or F Communications sound.

The guy also says he's connected with soem big name DJs from the UK like Carl Cox and Oakie and that they'll be coming out to holiday/play before June this year.

It's a shame about where it is but once seen I think most people would go back. It's really THAT good. Actually, have just found the guy's card in my wallet. The address is Moo 1, Tumbol Rawai.

 

[MEZA!]

if Coxie comes out please be sure to let us know.

 

[ricardo d]

Id like to to see a place that plays Rock/Metal in phuket. Have yet to find one.

 

[Bonita]

It's a bit off the beaten track but could be worth a look.

By the way Oakie sux.

 

[RadioVideo]

great news!

So that's where you are now Lots of luck, we need more good music in Phuket. If you need anything, feel free to call. Club Pitrate is moving up even thought i'm still waiting for my sign outside I've got Mark Tyler, John Acquaviva and Plasticman comming down, trying to make a Canadian connection Hope to see you soon.

Take care,

 

[Old Hippie]

I will try and get down to Nai harn this weekend and check it out.

another place that is good but needs a decent DJ is Phuja Central. Its in a great location, really nice inside, you have a restaurant opposite, but everytime you walk past it, no matter what time at night, its dead. less than 20 people - normally about 10!

Fantastic place, just let down by no one ever going there.

As for music, I am really an Old Skool Rave Junky - nothing too hardcore, just the early 90's and stuff like that, SL2, Ratpak, etc etc. I have a huge collection. Also I enjoy RnB but Old Skool is my Number 1 choice. Used to love going to Clubs back home when Slipmatt was playing and any of the other old skoolies.

E

 

[Mad Tinkerer]

Good luck DJ Dave ... will have to come take a look. What with Francky's Pirate Club (man ... hazy memories of last nights debauchery there) and now another new club at Nai Harn, lets hope Phuket can move up the club scene ladder the way Samui has done ... its well overdue ... maybe some time down the road as your clubs grow can start a Phuket Full Moon Party.

 

[melia]

is nai harn in patong? is there a map to show where it is?

 

[Nacci]

I agree that it's good to see some more opportunities opening up. I went back down today to have a play on the decks and talk to the other DJ. He is quite good. At least he fade mixes instead of dropping every tune like most DJs in LOS.

It's just a shame that it's so far away but he has really good brand new rooms at the back of the complex for 1,000 baht a night. It's possibly a great spot for a dirty weekend with your tee-lak. Beach by day, good music by night. He's done a really good job the guy who owns it. BTW, I have no interest in this place other than that it deserves to succeed.

Frank, sorry I haven't been in touch. That last night I saw you I woke up in a ditch with the exhaust pipe of my bike burning a hole in my right leg and a footpeg sticking out of the other leg. Hmmm. Mau mak mak. I've been a bit gun shy for a week or two.

I hope you're kicking a#se mate. Richie Hawtin and John Acquaviva!!!! WOW!! I hope you swing that. Phuket will never be the same. I'm off to BKK this week. I'm hopeful of getting gigs at Bed, Glow and also Q-Bar. But I still might base myself in HKT and just fly for those gigs. We'll wait and see.

River, yes I agree, but he was good once.

Electro, I think I know that bar. I forgot about it, but if it's the one I'm thinking of, the decore would be the same as this new place. In which case there is something to rival Icon on HKT.

 

[Anna K.]

Will deffo try and check it out..

Good music (on a down tempo vibe.. Trip hop, chill, etc) is Karma lounge in Karon..

 

[Lone Marlin - Airborne]

Sounds good Dave I must admit the music in LOS is pretty bad I don't think it will be an easy road I mean look where they're at now it's a long road from what's currently being played to intelligent house.

Best of luck with it.

You could easily get it on the international circuit I mean guys are coming down from the UK to Aussie and New Zealand all the time just another stopover and not a bad one either.

 

[ishita]

Isnt Icon the name of the gay place in Patong, This Nai Harn place may be owned by teh same guys. I haven't seen it though and I'm in Nai Harn / Rawai most days, whats it near to?

 

[willow song on wind]

Seen you mention this Karma lounge before- this is more my vibe- problem with us electonic music connosieurs(sp) is we're so dang picky... "but i only like acid house, not hard house, etc." :mad2: ... oh well

at the risk of thread hijacking- do people actually dance at Karma lounge? when is a good time to go? bring your own lady?

TIA

 

[<3 grace <3]

Icon is not really near Nai Harn, I thought it was near/in Rawaii. Near the Elephant Place down the hill and round the corner.

Although I could be wrong.

E

 

[Pompal 09.]

any1 know ANYWHERE in THAILAND that plays 'Drum 'n Bass'?

 

[Lady Cadilaq]

me too me too... kinda what i was getting at, big fan of all forms of broken beats, not too much the Bass Bass Bass Bass styles :complain: of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

i've heard DnB in Samui, nary a choon in phuket. I mentioned before, alot of bars will play a CD or 2 if you bring it, but sadly, it doesn't seem to be what the girls or most of the mongers wanna hear, they seem to prefer Hotel California :kiss:

maybe some of the new clubs could at least mix in some DnB here and there?

 

[Captain Sav-A-Hooooo]

Without wanting to cause offense there is a little bit of an age difference in musical tatses and town caters to the bulk of what its listening audience would want.. Even amoung electronic enthusiasts D&B is a niche within a niche.. Its not only an age thing but clubbing and electronic mucics seems specific (in its better forms) to some countries and areas..

That said if I had a daytime bar, downtempo, chill, trip-hop picking up into relaxed beach house and later vocal / ibiza sound would probably be my music rotation.. I like pumpin choons when in the mood but for casual and mixed setting it would really be nice vibe.. In fact I am kinda surprised one of the lower rent and more personal kinda bars, like Nanai places dont.. I know Jan from Valhalla was asking me to MP3 up some stuff so he can play more modern stuff (and less cheesy) in VH if a younger crowd is there...

Something about being on a down or hangover, lieing in a pool / on an airbed a little bit messy, listening to chill choons !!! Just sueforum.xxx.. I remember one time on Samui after not sleeping for a few days straight lieing in my buddies hotel pool (probably scaring the guests) and he had David Byrnes "Wixed and I'm Lazy" somewhere on the mix.. Yeap thats about right I thought !!! Proably the perfect tune for that monent in space and time..

 

[Leone]

Those "Chill Out Sessions" CD mixes they put out are pretty good

 

[Leon]

LL next time you are around Nanai2 listen in on the music that Marco,the owner of Peter Pan is playing during the day and evening. Real chill out stuff and not bad. Plays it through an amp and setup in the pool bar
Shame about the hotel though.

 

[Julia B]

Just as a recomendation.

DJ Dave rinses out the wicked tunes. I heard him spin last year and can't wait to do it again. He even let me loose on his decks.

See you in BKK mate.