The
Bastards have been a constant feature
of the Bangkok rock scene for over ten
years (with the occasional forays down
to Pattaya to liven up the good folk of
Shenanigans). Their live gigs have always
projected raw excitement and energy.
Guitarist/vocalist Keith Goodburn and
drummer Nigel Pike left the Hong Kong
music scene in 1990 and moved to Bangkok.
Soon after their arrival they put together
a local band as a way of taking the edge
off at the weekends. After a lot of experimentation
(Nigel Pike is a huge Captain Beefheart
fan, so as you can imagine a lot of his
wilder ideas had to be curbed), practice
sessions, and lineup changes, the band
arrived where they are today, a road hardened
hard rock band. The addition of the very
talented Alf Hodges on vocals and lead
guitar, and local bass maniac Khun Prik
complete today’s quartet.
Their live appearances reflect the wide
range of influences and tastes within
the band, rock, punk, metal, R&B,
and alternative (alternative meaning anything
else they fancy playing). However, they
are not just a cover band. As you can
hear on this live recording, they are
more than capable of writing their own
original material, which blends in without
a hitch with the well selected bunch of
covers the band has taken on. The Bastard’s
code of honor, which has been with the
band since day one, is not to play the
obvious covers. So it is with much relief
that I can tell you there is no danger
of hearing 'Hotel 'Flippin' California'
at a Bastard's concert.
The Bastard's have now played to their
strengths and recorded for posterity their
live show at Shenanigans Pattaya, Friday
21st May, 2004. Their CD, nicely called
'Live and Dangerous', is a huge testament
to rock 'n' roll and generates a burning
level of excitement.
The bands kick off in fine style with
the two greatest teenage anthems from
two decades. 'My Generation' from the
Who in the sixties, followed by 'Anarchy
In The U.K' from the Sex Pistols in the
seventies. Keith's singing is on top form
and Alf’s blistering solos send
the crowd into frenzy.
Next up is Khun Prik's turn to step into
the spotlight as he takes lead vocals
on the band’s frantic version of
Loso's 'Panthip'. By this time the band
has got the crowd eating out of their
hands. It was a good job Shenanigans laid
on extra security, courtesy of Neil Sandilands,
to keep the fans from rushing the stage.
Their confidence thus spurred on the
band storm into the first of their original
songs for the night, a roaring version
of 'Mobile Phone', which enthralled the
crowd to go equally as wild. During the
night the band played two more original
songs that go down just as well, 'Go Ask
Alice' and 'The Jump'.
As there is only room for 77 minutes
music on one CD, the Bastards don't let
up the pace for one second; even the song
introductions by Keith are jet propelled.
The set is brought to a shattering conclusion
by the last three songs, a vicious version
of the Who's 'Won't Get Fooled Again',
followed by Nigel Pike’s party piece,
where Khun Prik takes over on drums, Keith
switches to bass, and Nigel snarls into
'My Way'. (Believe it or not, originally
a Paul Anka song before Frank Sinatra
got his hands on it. Nigel's adaptation
though has slightly more to do with the
Sid Vicious version, although for most
of us it will be always 'Nigel's Way'.)
While Nigel is throwing himself around
the front of the stage, the rest of the
band just put their heads back and rock.
After this the band is dragged back on
stage for an encore of AC/DC's 'Highway
to Hell'. The result of which left Shenanigans
roof a good two feet higher than it was.
This album should always be played at
11.
Sadly, this album will be Alf's swansong
to the Bastards as his career takes him
elsewhere in Thailand, making it geographically
impossible for him to carry on. The Bastards’
last gig together will be at the official
launch of 'Live And Dangerously'. So,
if you would like to be there for a piece
of rock 'n' roll history, get down to
Shenanigans on Friday 2nd July when the
Bastards will be performing songs from
the album for the very last time. The
band will be on stage at 10 p.m., followed
by co-headliners at midnight and also
releasing their live album that night,
Pop's Pattaya All Stars with 'Dangerously
Live'.
The artwork for the album is worth the
CD price on its own, brilliantly put together
by Ron Keeley and Jason Payne with the
help of some photos by Wayne Ogonoski
and Pattaya Mail's own Brendan Richards.
If you were there for the recording night,
you may well find your name or even photo
on the inside sleeve.
The price of the album is 300 Baht or
500 Baht for two if you decide to do the
logical thing and buy both, Pop's Pattaya
All Stars CD 'Dangerously Live' and the
Bastards’ 'Live and Dangerous'.
Dangerously’d
by Mott The Dog
Lively’d up by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
