4 Northeastern “Molam” Bands That Will Keep You on Your Feet All Night
There’s a sound that is pure gold for farmers and townspeople who labor their days away during the farming season. When they are sure where the sound is coming from, they forget all about the fatigue, start up their cars and motorbikes, and race to a stage equipped with vivid lightning and powerful sub-woofers. The attractively decorated stage, good-looking dancers in glittering costumes are inviting everybody to join them in all the jollity. This kind of amusement called “Molam” is the type of fun only enjoyed under clear star-filled country-side skies, not a familiar scene for office workers in concrete jungles.
Back in the days, “Molam” music and shows would be a fun way adults use to portray old folklore to children on days which they didn’t need to tend to farm. As time goes by, “Molam” was influenced by artists from other branches of entertainment and became what we call “Northeastern Luk Thung/Molam Band” today. These bands are known for putting on a full-blown show including mainstream bands for younger audiences and a comedy element when the music isn’t playing. But the “main event” would be when the band leader would come out front for powerful solo vocals along with an upbeat Thai music playing in the background. At this point, everybody in the audience, young and old, would be up dancing away on their feet.
We want you to pause whatever you are listening to and give yourself a little break away from your comfort zone. Pack your bags and go dance the night away to the sound of Molam music being played on old-school Thai instruments by these 4 greatest Luk Thung/Molam bands. The touring season had just started, you can find each band’s tour dates on their respective Facebook pages.
Pratom Banterngsin
This band is popular among local teenagers and young adults because the singers and dancers have been carefully selected and filtered, leaving only the ones with an attractive appearance and real talent. Stars like Meow Amon and Tum Tongrak both have undeniably stunning vocals, adept dancing skills, and impressive theater performances that most of the audiences would get carried away. The playlists and highlights for each show are carefully brainstormed and hand-picked by the crew, having words like “astonishing”, “marvelous”, and “fabulous” in mind at all times. The performers' costumes glitter like stars in a clear night sky. The stage is set with 6 entrances/exits, and the lighting is set in perfect sync with the performance’s queues always to deliver a show worth remembering. It’s no wonder why this band’s tour dates are almost filled up already.
Next show in Bangkok: 27-30 April 2018
Rabiab Wata Sin
While other bands professionally stick to their usual performance plans and show routine every day, this band focuses on the crowd’s enjoyment and energy. Whenever it’s time for a fun and upbeat scene, the stage is lit up in flames from the passion of all the performers that energy level from the audience never dies down. Whenever it’s time for a sad scene, they perform so flawlessly that the sorrow translates really well to the audience in which some do shed their tears for real. That is why this band carries more performers than any other bands and, even better, a whole lot more variety. No matter young or old, these performers will be sure to catch your heart from the first time you get to see them on stage.
Next show in Bangkok: 27 April - 1 May 2018
Sinlapin Phutai
Unlike most other bands that the music used and played are mostly original scores from older times or mainstream hits of today, this band composes their own. Every dance step, every vocal, every light queue is accompanied by an original composition that showcases to the audience at the show only. Many also call this band a “Molam” school where rising stars of this music industry would be molded and built up until they are ready to take on the real stage in on their own. You can look up the names of the “Molam” stars today, and you’d surprise that quite a number of them used to play for this band earlier in their career. If you are one who appreciates originality, then this is the right band for you.
There are no shows scheduled in Bangkok yet.
Siang Esan
The highlight of this band is no other than the legendary “Mae Nok Noi Uraiporn”. She has been the face of this band for over 40 years and the main reason behind the band’s success and fame. Fans of this band will know that the peak of the show comes at the part where Mae Nok Noi Uraiporn comes takes the stage to showcase her powerful vocals. Her voice is said to catch your heart right at the second you hear them, something only stars with a legendary status can attain. Along with the striking voice of a star, the comedy element of the band is gold. People laugh away their all worries every time they perform, dubbing this band one of the funniest and most entertaining “Molam” bands of all time. With a show at this level, it is no wonder they won the hearts of so many Esan people after all these years.
Next show in Bangkok: 20-21 January 2018