CONGRATULATIONS!
peter doolan enters the list of
the top tourist scammers in Thailand
I met peter doolan a few times when I first came in Thailand. At this time, I was actively reading his monrakplengthai.blogspot.com blog about Thai music and I believed what that guy was writing...
"Enchanting songs of Thailand"
If the guy was the kind of "been there / done that" who gives very short answers to the most interesting questions, I started to doubt and checked the answers he was giving me about Thai music as most of the time those were simply wrong (At first I though it was intentional)...
As my collection of Esan and Thai tapes was growing pretty fast, I could notice that his blog was seriously filled with wrong information showing that he had very little clue about what he was talking about (copy/pasting random informations from google is not a form of knowledge).
Obviously doolan bought some random tapes in lots a few times and got more when he was going to run out (around 400 albums if the information he gave me were right which is very little for a "specialist" who spent 5 years in Thailand). His goal was just to gain some credibility as a Thai music expert...
No more tapes around after I left this amazing shop.
SUPPORT HONEST BUSINESS!
All that doolan gave me is the opportunity to discover the experience of feeling particularly ashamed in front of Thai people, he even did that twice:
First, when I invited him to attend a likey performance he simply refused to pay 3$ at the entrance, explaining that he could watch just as well from the outside. The show wasn't started yet and all the audience was staring at the 2 white gatecrashers. As I left him and payed he finally followed (if he did not pay, some people would have come to pay for him and the situation would have been even more embarrassing). I can understand doolan refused to give 3$ to a Buddhist temple but nobody forced him to enter!
Chinese gniew and central Thai Likey performances. In the middle,
a unique photo featuring performers of both genres
I did no repeat such experiences with that guy and never found myself again in such embarrassing situation...
If peter doolan was escaping my questions on Thai culture and if he was giving me many unrequested information about all his little scamming friends, I was still wondering what was wrong with that guy as he was not obviously making profit on Esan (or Thai) musicians... He was in Thailand since 5 years and nobody I know ever mentioned his existence! I never found any traces of doolan in any kind of musical scenes I know in Thailand and honestly, It took me a little time to find out what was going on!
-A luk thung singer paying respect to the audience in a very polite way (Siang Esan)
-Chinese ngiew puppets
-peter doolan sleeping without any kind of respect right in front of the puppets performance.
MONRAK PLENG THAI
The style doolan often use in his blog and on the filthy promotion of his tourist scam "khun narin electric phin band" is named by the Christians (who know a lot about lies and manipulation) lying by omission (funny that they consider it a deadly sin). Doolan constantly omit everything that would not serve his purpose. In his blog, doolan is usually affirmative, even if it's right the opposite of the facts. The plan is to never loose his (self made) status of expert. If doolan's clue is quite limited on Thai music, he sure knows that almost nobody able to read English could prove him wrong... ALMOST!
Over 5000 vintage Thai tapes...
At places like this, you can randomly build
a collection of Thai music bigger than doolan's collection
in half a day, for just 300$ and pretend to be an expert...
(no more Esan music after I left though)
In this post about Onuma Singsiri for example, doolan who don't know the name of the guest singer (it sure can happen as many guest remain non credited) simply removed the track without any mention of it... This post is particularly interesting as once doolan finally got the information he re-posted the same exact tape with the missing track and evidences of his links with fellow scammers.
Doolan also often omit to show some parts of the tape covers which are full of precious information and remove "ghost tracks".
NOTE: As doolan share music using a very low bit-rate, downloading the same music from youtube is a better source, as most of the music he shares is already available online... He of course never mentioned such thing and avoid any links to youtube but as he post the names in Thai alphabet, you can check by yourself.
NOTE: As doolan share music using a very low bit-rate, downloading the same music from youtube is a better source, as most of the music he shares is already available online... He of course never mentioned such thing and avoid any links to youtube but as he post the names in Thai alphabet, you can check by yourself.
THE BEST WAY TO KNOW ABOUT MUSIC IS TO LISTEN TO IT!
60 Pornsak Songsaeng tapes from my collection. Pornsak is the singer
who performed the largest amount of lam genres, including some particularly obscure.
Pornsak Songsaeng is also probably the singer (in the whole history of music) who released the largest amount of albums on the same record company (Siang Siam).
Those are major facts people like peter doolan sure have no clue about as they are not written anywhere but here!
Pornsak Songsaeng is also probably the singer (in the whole history of music) who released the largest amount of albums on the same record company (Siang Siam).
Those are major facts people like peter doolan sure have no clue about as they are not written anywhere but here!
This following demonstration is in 3 parts:
-Some examples showing doolan's knowledge and interest for Thai music and culture.
(through his blog monrak pleng Thai).
-Peter doolan and his human zoo project.
(khun narin electric phin band)
- And last but not least: Backstabbing is not a crime!
Sathit Thongchan
This example makes it really obvious that peter doolan never really been searching for music in Thailand.
Here, peter doolan explains that after this tape (Sathit's 2nd album as mentioned on the cover) Sathit started to wear sunglasses on his album cover pictures. Not a very interesting information except of course if you compare to other album covers or if you are optician! I own about 35/40 Sathit tapes and show 15 as example here.
If peter doolan never saw any of those covers regularly popping in shops or cases of second hand tapes at markets or either on youtube... He obviously saw only a very very few Thai tapes! (I don't even talk about buying or listening... just seeing).
15 Sathit tapes (including 2 with regular glasses) recorded during a period of over 20 years
Note the usual "name spreading" that leads to basically nowhere (especially when written in phonetic). It's used by doolan to make it even more obvious that he is an expert who not only knows everything but also everybody. Note also the total lack of external links to focus on the fact that only doolan knows. Here, doolan names Jenpop Jobkrabuanwan and describes him as a "luk thung historian". As far as I know doolan never met Jenpop which is incredible as doolan was in Thailand during the time when the house of Jenpop was simply hosting... A (now closed) museum of luk thung! (a very easy to find information that was even in those silly tourist guide books). The house of Jenpop is also hosting Jenpop's own radio station (Siang Silapin "the artist sound" 105.25FM if you are in Bangkok). Siang Silapin is playing all kinds of retro luk thung which would have also be a reason to pay a visit, especially for someone who pretends to be a foreign expert on the subject! It would have been interesting also not to intentionally avoid such major information for his readers!
-Jenpop showing me his tapes collection. That was during
my first month in Thailand... Lucky that music is a universal language.
-Jenpop live on the radio
--Jenpop guest on stage during a luk thung event
Paying respect to Sathit Thongchan
Doolan also mentions 3 times the name Tongchan (name of the
composer and his eponymous record company "Tongchan Promotion") but don't seem to realise
that Sathit Tongchan got his name from Khamkoeng Tongchan who was his singing teacher. A precious information as such practice used to be a
classic in the "teacher/apprentice" relationship in luk thung culture
(maybe doolan did not even know). You can understand how deep is the meaning of using the name of the one who has been your teacher...
If you add the fact that Sathit is known to have been singing one of the top 10 most popular (and most covered) Esan song in history "leave the girl from Nong Khai", you get one of those posts where doolan stands as an expert while he in fact said nothing!.
Monruedi Phromchak
Here peter doolan shows his total lack of clue on Esan musical culture, he also shows that like ostriches, what he doesn't see right in front of his eyes doesn't exist!
Here peter doolan describes lam Phu Tai:
"a unique style of lam" like pretty much every lam genres...
"associated with the Phu Tai ethnic group" Obviously... still, no information and no explanations on the subject or any link to know more about that ethnic group... THE MOST INFLUENTIAL GROUP IN ESAN CULTURE! (lots of links on the right side of this page).
Pech Phu Din pong lang ensemble (Kalasin) in traditional Phu Tai clothes
backing lam Phu Tai and traditional dances
"which can be pretty difficult to find in commercial recordings" This is where it gets interesting and once again ignored! The Phu Tai group have a huge cultural influence in molam and Esan cultre as well as some influence in Laos and Northwest Vietnam (this alone should already let you guess that you can sure find some of their music).
In the molam community, wearing the "sua Phu Tai" (the traditional Phu Tai shirt) is a very popular sign of identity, even for non Phu Tai people... Even for me!
In the molam community, wearing the "sua Phu Tai" (the traditional Phu Tai shirt) is a very popular sign of identity, even for non Phu Tai people... Even for me!
Dancer wearing a sua Phu Tai from Nakhon Phanom province
Lam Phu Tai performer
Dancer wearing a sua Phu Tai from Klasin province
(Silapin Phu Tai)
The name "Phu Tai" is the most commonly used by singers and musicians in ALL THAI MUSIC.
It shows the pride and the particular influence of the Phu Tai people in Esan arts.
It shows the pride and the particular influence of the Phu Tai people in Esan arts.
Phornphan Phetphutai (performing lam doen), Num Phutai (a pong lang album by the legendary composer), Sao Phutai (performing Lae), Yadtphan Khonphutai (Phu Tai themed album)
and Raphin Phutai (luk thung Thai)
and Raphin Phutai (luk thung Thai)
One of the biggest molam troupe in history is named Silapin Phu Tai "the Phu Thai artists". Silapin Phu Tai performs traditional Phu Tai dances, their musicians, mo lam and fans proudly wear the "sua Phu Tai" and they perform some lam Phu Tai at every concerts...
Dancers paying respect to the audience (Silapin Phu Tai)
"which can be pretty difficult to find in commercial recordings". Seriously? Lam Phu Tai is by VERY FAR the most commonly available local form of lam in Thai commercial recordings (of course the opposite of what peter doolan pretends). It includes many albums by Monruedi Phromchak (the most notorious lam Phu Tai performer, I previously posted 2 of her early gorgeous albums) as well as many other Esan and Lao tapes, CD's, VCD's (including full lam Phu Thai albums by legendary singers like Angkhanang Khunchai and Chabaprai Namwai). I also own some less usual "sing Phu Tai" and some "rock Phu Tai". Nothing surprising here if you know how influencial is the Phu Tai group...
Full lam Phu Tai tapes and CD's by Monruedi
(I have many more of her albums featuring lam Phu Tai and other genres).
MORE PHU TAI ALBUMS:
1st row: lam Phu Tai Cd (from Laos). lam Phu Tai performed by superstar Chabaprai Namwai,
lam Phu Tai performed by superstar Angkhanang Khunchai,
2 modernized lam Phu Tai tapes from the 90's and late 80's.
2nd row: 2 unusual kinds of "sing Phu Tai" tapes, some rock Phu Tai
and 2 dontri phun muang tapes featuring some music for Phu Tai dances and photos of:
woman in sua Phu Tai Sakhon Nakhon and dancers in sua Phu Tai Kalasin
I can add more if requested...
Waiphot Phetsuphan
Oh, Waiphot. There is a lot to say about the man: The oldest luk thung legend still in activity, most famous lae singer, Probably the (non Esan) Thai singer who recorded the biggest amount of albums in history... The tapes of Waiphot are some of the easiest to find in Thailand and it's not a surprise if he is the most represented singer on peter doolan's blog "monrak pleng thai". Surprisingly it seems like (once again) doolan have very little clue about what he talks about...
If quite a few of the central Thai luk thung legends who performed in the 60's, 70's and 80's often showed respect for Esan people and produced some songs and albums clearly targeting Esan audience (use of Esan language, Esan music instruments, Esan themed lyrics and even some attempts to perform lam!). None of them ever did it on the level of Waiphot.
Suraphon Sombatcharoen (the king of luk thung) was already conscious in the 60's that the most passionate music lovers in Thailand were the Esan people, he performed quite a few songs about Esan featuring full Esan music and even some in approximate Esan language.
Waiphot comes from Suphanburi (central Thailand), he is married to an Esan woman and seems to have a real interest for Esan culture and music. I wasn't surprised to see him leading a charity concert for the victims of the floods in Esan (2017).*
Suraphon Sombatcharoen (the king of luk thung) was already conscious in the 60's that the most passionate music lovers in Thailand were the Esan people, he performed quite a few songs about Esan featuring full Esan music and even some in approximate Esan language.
Suraphon Sombatcharoen
Esan themed luk thung
Esan themed luk thung
Molam attemps by luk thung Thai gods*:
Sayan Sanya (lam toei) and
Yodrak Salakjai on duo (lam doen prayuk)
(sorry about the defaced picture)
*they both have their statues in temples!
Yodrak Salakjai on duo (lam doen prayuk)
(sorry about the defaced picture)
*they both have their statues in temples!
Waiphot comes from Suphanburi (central Thailand), he is married to an Esan woman and seems to have a real interest for Esan culture and music. I wasn't surprised to see him leading a charity concert for the victims of the floods in Esan (2017).*
-Prayers for the victims.
-Pleng lae trio.
-Oups, I've been spotted.
*As usual, if this flood had been a major event that once again showed
the generosity of Thai people and the solidarity of Thai musicians (luk
thung, lae, ram wong, likey and of course molam been involved in
charity concerts) none of the R.A.T.S and scammers mentioned here showed
any kind of interest or support while Esan music is often their main
source of income!
any fan of vintage thai music ought to know the word ton chabap... meaning "original". I only met one western luk thung fan during 5 years in Thailand, I doubt he have any interest for vintage thai music and he obviously speaks very little Thai so I have no clue about who doolan talks about here (himself I guess!).
but the biggest surprise of all? i don't mind in the least. that's
because on this time the new sounds come courtesy of a full isan music combo... that means electric phin
shredding, classic northeastern bass & liberal use of cowbell. as
far as i knew waiphot had never performed in this style, so enjoy this
rare look into his classic lae tracks, isan-ified!
HA HA HA SERIOUSLY?
If I mentioned that Waiphot is the Thai singer who recorded the biggest amount of albums clearly targeting Esan audience, it means MANY! It's not the biggest surprise of all As clueless doolan pretends... (While the most represented singer on doolan's blog is Waiphot..).
Obviously Waiphot likes to show his interest for Esan music!
2 tapes and a mp3 compilation CD
as
far as i knew waiphot had never performed in this style. As far as I KNOW doolan once again affirm things with no links with reality! Waiphot performed quite a few songs clearly influenced by Esan music since the early days of his successful career. During the 70's one of his very first homage to Esan music shows a particularly interesting point of view as his song "sound of the khaen" is an historical document showing the major influence of Esan music in the birth of luk thung (a fact still contested at this time by some central Thai people). It's not innocent if the intro of "sound of the khaen" starts with the musical phrase of lam toei just like the first hybrid Thai / Esan song ever recorded, a ram wong performed by Benjamin named "ram toei" (a play with the names ram wong and lam toei that features the same intro). In the Benjamin song, it starts with "accordion sound"* while on his version, Waiphot replace it by a khaen**. Benjamin has been a major singer and composer of the early luk thung scene. I know I enter here in historical explanations (I guess those are mentioned in Thai major studies) but it helps understanding the deep interest and respect Waiphot have for Esan music.
*Accordion sound (played or simulated on electric organ) and khaen are both diatonic instruments. It's a common "trick" of Esan composers to use an accordion on the intros of some ram wong and early luk thung recordings to replace the khaen used in lam. At this time a khaen (seen as Lao culture) would not have been tolerated by some potential racist audience from Bangkok. Here it's obvious that Benjamin tries to get something as close as possible to a khaen as all the song feature some loops of accordion drone on the background similar to hat a khaen could do.
**It's easy to understand the statement Waiphot made here on the importance of Esan in the origins of luk thung.
*Accordion sound (played or simulated on electric organ) and khaen are both diatonic instruments. It's a common "trick" of Esan composers to use an accordion on the intros of some ram wong and early luk thung recordings to replace the khaen used in lam. At this time a khaen (seen as Lao culture) would not have been tolerated by some potential racist audience from Bangkok. Here it's obvious that Benjamin tries to get something as close as possible to a khaen as all the song feature some loops of accordion drone on the background similar to hat a khaen could do.
**It's easy to understand the statement Waiphot made here on the importance of Esan in the origins of luk thung.
BENJAMIN COMPILATION TAPES:
One of the very first tape re edition
an early 21th century compilation
an other early re edition featuring the vinyl cover of ram toei
(of course, no Benjamin music on doolan's blog)
(of course, no Benjamin music on doolan's blog)
If Waiphot performed many other Esan themed songs with various styles of backing bands including some very close to what you ear in the tape doolan posted, he also released lots of full Esan style albums like the tapes I just showed and more collaborations with Esan singers than any other Thai singer ever:
Some really great lae with my beloved Phimpha Phonsiri, some beautiful and really surprising lam ruang to klon with Hongthong Dao'Udon and Num Phutai and a few collaborations with his good friend Oyjai Den Esan including some heavy and fun ram wong and luk thung Esan albums and some really entertaining and unusual lam toei (all those tapes featuring full Esan music). Doolan is really a clown!
Some really great lae with my beloved Phimpha Phonsiri, some beautiful and really surprising lam ruang to klon with Hongthong Dao'Udon and Num Phutai and a few collaborations with his good friend Oyjai Den Esan including some heavy and fun ram wong and luk thung Esan albums and some really entertaining and unusual lam toei (all those tapes featuring full Esan music). Doolan is really a clown!
Waiphot albums with Esan friends:
Phimpha Phonsiri, Hongthong Dao'Udon and Oyjai Den Esan
Even if I met him a few times, I start to doubt that peter doolan ever been to Thailand!
so enjoy this
rare look into his classic lae tracks, isan-ified! VERY RARE INDEED!
Waiphot Phetsuphan: "sound of the khaen"
one of the early Esan themed song by Waiphot featuring
a full Esan band and an homage to Benjamin
I was going to get deeper into doolan's monrakplengthai.blogspot.com blog but it's obviously not necessary (but could be funny). So let's go to the zoo... THE HUMAN ZOO!
If the first examples of the genre were showing caged humans later they replaced the fences by a little salary (as some anarchists were claiming for human rights). In those zoos were performed cultural practices such as ritual dances, funeral songs or anything the zookeeper would find entertaining (performed out of the original context and purpose... Just for money). It's interesting to note that human zoos have inspired the modern zoos where cages are now bigger and somehow simulate the natural environment of the animals.
If mister doolan strangely NEVER mentioned it on his blog (he actually never told me about it either, even if at this time I was still talking to him online), peter doolan is clearly behind a modern human zoo project called khun narin electric phin band!
It's obvious that peter doolan is not very proud of that product he created. If he oftem mentioned in a friendly way his fellow scammer friends, doolan never said word about khun narin electric phin band on his blog monrakplengthai.blogspot.com
khun narin electric phin band is not even in the links list while you can find the fellow scammers I mentioned previously!
NOTE: doolan can't affort to show he sells amateur music on his blog as he may know some Thai people who would find it really weird and stupid.
KHUN NARIN ELECTRIC PHIN BAND...
Peter doolan' very own TOURISTA band!
The concept of human zoo dates back from the 19th century, it can be described as a theatralized simulation of the life of some "exotic" populations to entertain some Occidental audiences looking for a bit of exoticism.If the first examples of the genre were showing caged humans later they replaced the fences by a little salary (as some anarchists were claiming for human rights). In those zoos were performed cultural practices such as ritual dances, funeral songs or anything the zookeeper would find entertaining (performed out of the original context and purpose... Just for money). It's interesting to note that human zoos have inspired the modern zoos where cages are now bigger and somehow simulate the natural environment of the animals.
If mister doolan strangely NEVER mentioned it on his blog (he actually never told me about it either, even if at this time I was still talking to him online), peter doolan is clearly behind a modern human zoo project called khun narin electric phin band!
It's obvious that peter doolan is not very proud of that product he created. If he oftem mentioned in a friendly way his fellow scammer friends, doolan never said word about khun narin electric phin band on his blog monrakplengthai.blogspot.com
khun narin electric phin band is not even in the links list while you can find the fellow scammers I mentioned previously!
NOTE: doolan can't affort to show he sells amateur music on his blog as he may know some Thai people who would find it really weird and stupid.
Let's see what khun narin electric phin band is and how peter doolan turned those honest amateur musicians into a stupid tourist attraction.
Khun narin electric phin band is an informal group of villagers (amateur musicians) performing dontri hae "parade music". Such groups of musicians are present everywhere in Esan and where large Esan communities are living in other parts of the country.
Quite a few hundred Esan style dontri hae bands exist in Thailand, their purpose is to perform "background music" during processions and parades (monk ordination, merit making, cultural events...). Such groups exist in different forms, the most basic like khun narin electric phin band perform lines borrowed from various popular songs. Sometimes just 4 or 5 lines played again and again in loops. Such music is made to inform the people that the procession is passing by and to entertain the people on their way to the temple (to walk 2 hours under an heavy sun you need some music!).
More elaborated dontri hae bands perform some dontri phun muang "local music" (traditional music or musical themes from various forms of lam and popular luk thung). Such bands are backing bands for groups of dancers that can be pretty big (up to 100 dancers, sometimes more). Those trained dancers wear traditional clothes and perform traditional and modernized dances.
Quite a few hundred Esan style dontri hae bands exist in Thailand, their purpose is to perform "background music" during processions and parades (monk ordination, merit making, cultural events...). Such groups exist in different forms, the most basic like khun narin electric phin band perform lines borrowed from various popular songs. Sometimes just 4 or 5 lines played again and again in loops. Such music is made to inform the people that the procession is passing by and to entertain the people on their way to the temple (to walk 2 hours under an heavy sun you need some music!).
3 Esan parade bands similar to khun narin electric phin band
Doolan did not need to go as far as Petchabun*
Those bands are actually from Bangkok!
(*Bangkok/Petchabun: 340km)
(*Bangkok/Petchabun: 340km)
More elaborated dontri hae bands perform some dontri phun muang "local music" (traditional music or musical themes from various forms of lam and popular luk thung). Such bands are backing bands for groups of dancers that can be pretty big (up to 100 dancers, sometimes more). Those trained dancers wear traditional clothes and perform traditional and modernized dances.
Dontri hae groups of modest form can be classified for exemple as "siang phin" (phin sound: small or medium ensemble leaded by a phin), phin prayuk or phin sing (modernized phin: small or medium ensemble leaded by a phin). Such groups generally walk while playing and some speakers are carried on a trolley. Sometimes the musicians are playing at the back of a pick up or a truck named rot hae (parade vehicle).
Another very similar Esan parade band from Ayutthaya (central Thailand)
as a marching band and on a pick up
Bigger and more elaborated ensembles are often run by schools or are of a professional level, they often feature over a dozen musicians: Klong yao Esan (leaded by a group of long drums known as "klong yao") or, during big events, pong lang (the usual neo-traditional Esan instrumental music ensemble) performing on a mobile platform.
Klong yao Esan ensembles sometimes perform on a stage but only during contests, those contest feature choreography made by the musicians and their instruments.
Pong lang, most of the time, perform on stage as backing bands for traditional dances or singers.
Smaller bands like khun narin electric phin band don't perform on stage as they are not made to back dancers or singers. Their performances happen during religious and traditional ceremonies, they are never the main attraction or the reason why people come.
In Esan, there is stricly no instrumental bands performing concerts where people would pay to access. No instrumental groups are the main attraction of any events and their performances is generally not announced and their names not mentioned on any poster or promotional document (like the majority of the Thai tapes featuring instrumental music have no musicians credited). It's concidered a collective practice and nothing surprising or incredible.
There are hundreds of bands like khun narin electric phin band and nobody exept the people surrounding their village know them.
2014: A SPICY ODYSSEY...
Klong yao prayuk Thep Phanom
One day, an american guy found by accident a video of the khun narin electric phin band on youtube and posted it on his blog, a random guy in pyjamas saw that video and instantly belived that this "amazing music" sold to tourists could make him rich. Nobody in Esan ever became rich from being in such band as it's a part time activity which any musician could do to earn some extra cash performing what is considered in Esan as very basic kind of music (even some 10 years old kids often play in bands like khun narin electric phin band).
So, the guy run to the first Thai restaurant nearby (hilarious but true) to ask for help to deal for his new business (lucky they were not Chinese like often in Europe). Well, apparently the restaurant staff was not very helpful as free translating servants so the guy look around on google and find... peter doolan! At this time, doolan who spent 5 years in Thailand did not get much fame from his self made status of specialist yet.
Funny that doolan jumped on the opportunity to get into such stupid project and became the guy who turned a local group of amateur parade musicians into a human zoo. (without him it would never have happened).
If in Cambodia dengue fever have it's own cover band named Cambodia space project. In Thailand, doolan copy his friend maft sai and his shitty paradise Bangkok international molam band with his own tourist trap: khun narin electric phin band!
Within minutes doolan changed their name! and removed:
-The marching band and the trolley that carry the speakers.
-The purpose of such parade band (playing lines of music during parades).
-The intention (being the backing music that entertain villagers on their way to the temple).
-The context (no more religioous or traditional events)
-The environment (no more villagers, no more temples...)
-The environment (no more villagers, no more temples...)
People on their way to the temple:
parades and processions in Esan
Doolan is behind the production of an album and puts the musicians in a new environment, a stage to entertain some tourists who pay an expensive ticket and who actually believe that what they see is:
-Being performed in it's original form
-Some kind of traditional music
-The kind of music locals value as being important in their culture
-The kind of music locals actually listen at home
-Some kind of traditional music
-The kind of music locals value as being important in their culture
-The kind of music locals actually listen at home
-The kind of real local music people like to go to see in concert
-Musicians recognized for their talent.
-Musicians known outside of their village
-"the unique Isan sound" and "contemporary interpretation of traditional Isan music"(advertisement for one of their "concerts").
-Musicians known outside of their village
-"the unique Isan sound" and "contemporary interpretation of traditional Isan music"(advertisement for one of their "concerts").
Parade music on wheels:
A band similar to khun narin (here with phin tuned guitar)
A pong lang studdents ensemble on a truck
Loudspeakers on a parade vehicle (musicians here are replaced by a mp3 player).
In fact nobody in Esan (or related parts of Thailand) ever payed to go to see such "concerts" and I never heard any of my friends who attend molam concert listening to instrumental music at any moment. It's not badly considered or anything wrong, parade music just serves a purpose in
a traditional and religious context. (I have seen and documented such bands during
parades and processions many times). If you tell any of my friends that you payed 20$ to see such concerts, they might laugh at you for half an hour!
It's because it serves a purpose in a traditional context that the transformation of such practice into a product sold as being representative of Esan culture* and of a particularly important musical interest... in fact for the only purpose of producing some ca$h that the product sold by peter doolan and his colleagues have all the characteristics of a modern human zoo! Such zoos are not something from the past or some fantasies , they still exist in many "poor countries" (I ever read some scary hilltribe sex tourism stories happening at some of those places).
*doolan himself never described such music as being from Esan which is really weird as khun narin electric phin band have all the characteristics of Esan style parade bands and hile it's been sold as "the unique Isan sound".
It's because it serves a purpose in a traditional context that the transformation of such practice into a product sold as being representative of Esan culture* and of a particularly important musical interest... in fact for the only purpose of producing some ca$h that the product sold by peter doolan and his colleagues have all the characteristics of a modern human zoo! Such zoos are not something from the past or some fantasies , they still exist in many "poor countries" (I ever read some scary hilltribe sex tourism stories happening at some of those places).
*doolan himself never described such music as being from Esan which is really weird as khun narin electric phin band have all the characteristics of Esan style parade bands and hile it's been sold as "the unique Isan sound".
It's hilarious to note that during some "concerts" of khun narin electric phin band organized for tourists in Thailand, people had to pay a lot more to see amateur musicians playing 1h than what Esan people actually pay to see the world's biggest bands performing amazing shows during up to 9h30mn!
If peter doolan could try to defend himself pretending he was just "helping" such philanthropic project, that human zoo would never have been possible without his involvement and if you wonder why I take so much efforts talking about peter doolan it's not just because this guy tried to back stab his fellow zookeepers as well as the khun narin electric phin band musicians but because peter doolan actually tried to get my help to backstab those people!
On the 24th of september 2014 doolan contacted me via facebook to ask for my help to contact the manager of what he called "a crazy parade band" as he wanted start his own business of Esan parade music for tourists!
If at this time doolan never mentioned me the existence (or his involvement) in the khun narin electric phin band. I was for sure not going to give him any kind of help to get some profit on Esan musicians and I was very surprised that doolan did not even had any friends in Khon Kaen (which is THE major music province in Esan!).
doolan backstabbing his new friends
(I could have send this screenshot to those khun narin folks...
Not sure doolan would still fool people nowadays!).
(I could have send this screenshot to those khun narin folks...
Not sure doolan would still fool people nowadays!).
On the 24th of september 2014 doolan contacted me via facebook to ask for my help to contact the manager of what he called "a crazy parade band" as he wanted start his own business of Esan parade music for tourists!
If at this time doolan never mentioned me the existence (or his involvement) in the khun narin electric phin band. I was for sure not going to give him any kind of help to get some profit on Esan musicians and I was very surprised that doolan did not even had any friends in Khon Kaen (which is THE major music province in Esan!).
I remembered that facebook conversation when I stared to work on this document about R.A.T.S and other tourists scammers so I saved a screen shot of it and checked the date to see if it happened before or after khun narin electric phin ban...
As a matter of facts the khun narin electric phin band first album came out on "Innovative Leisure" (which is a funny name for an "innovative" human zoo project) just 1 month before doolan tried to destroy the project for his own profit!
Basically, with my help, doolan could have done his filthy trick within a week and 1 month later, a CD's would have been for sale... If you watch that video I posted here a while ago, you can understand that in front of those kids named "khana Rung Thawi" and their fun automated skeletons the khun narin electric phin band had strictly no chance to survive at an "international" level!
NOTE; as previously mentioned, the video I posted starts with the theme from a song from the Esan band Rock Salaeng (one of the most famous "rock" Esan song). Like I mentioned before, such parade bands usually plays line borrowed from popular tunes.
NOTE; as previously mentioned, the video I posted starts with the theme from a song from the Esan band Rock Salaeng (one of the most famous "rock" Esan song). Like I mentioned before, such parade bands usually plays line borrowed from popular tunes.
As it says in the conversation, doolan's plan was not to produce a new CD but just to buy the rights (probably around 100$ as doolan knew already). Such tiny investment for doolan who just started to learn to promote a CD as he was answering interviews** about khun narin electric phin band just had to contact the people who commented the khun narin* CD with a copy of his own product and a video of those dancing skeletons and no more khun narin!
Doolan have been welcomed by those people at their houses, he's been eating the rice they grow, he gained their trust! The first thing he did after that was trying to fool them and trying to take advantage of what he learned next to them to kill the hope he gave them. For that, he tried to use me and, as I wasen't going to help him he had no other options and his plans miserably failed!
Funny that I could get in touch with any Esan musicians (including some I don't even know) within a few hours like anybody involved in the scene could! (If that clueless maft sai guy could, anyone can!).
As doolan's plans failed, he kept talking to those khun narin guys, he toured with them, made profit on their work (same goes to his human zoo colleagues who could have been also very surprised if doolan opened his business)... R.A.T.S LIKE DOOLAN DESERVE NO RESPECT!
Doolan have been welcomed by those people at their houses, he's been eating the rice they grow, he gained their trust! The first thing he did after that was trying to fool them and trying to take advantage of what he learned next to them to kill the hope he gave them. For that, he tried to use me and, as I wasen't going to help him he had no other options and his plans miserably failed!
Funny that I could get in touch with any Esan musicians (including some I don't even know) within a few hours like anybody involved in the scene could! (If that clueless maft sai guy could, anyone can!).
As doolan's plans failed, he kept talking to those khun narin guys, he toured with them, made profit on their work (same goes to his human zoo colleagues who could have been also very surprised if doolan opened his business)... R.A.T.S LIKE DOOLAN DESERVE NO RESPECT!
No more cages or chains
at modern human zoos...
*khun narin electric phin band musicians did not ask to get
involved in such thing but sure could not refuse some cash even is most
of the profit is of course not for them.
**Indeed, doolan who has never been playing any music answered interviews for the promotion of the CD's of khun narin electric phin band just like if the guy who carry the guitars of the rolling stones would explain how they made their new album!
In such interviews where the music of khun narin electric phin band is often described as a "Psychedelic Rock Band" doolan never mention the fact such music is Esan (even if the band is not technically located in Esan) or that this music such band play is purely covers of lines borrowed from famous songs... Unlike that maft sai idiot, doolan never call his product "instrumental molam" and avoid to mention his beloved mentor. It's interesting that if doolan was clearly involved in the production of a human zoo, he also let some pretty weird description of his amateur musicians band spread online like for this silly event promoting the tourista music scene in Bangkok!
An event where tourista bands are described as "the unique Isan sound" and "contemporary interpretation of traditional Isan music" which is totally surrealist! Still this event is historical as it's the very first (and only) tourista music festival ever!
Peter doolan* also forget to mention that such music gets very little interest outside of it's context and that nobody in Thailand would ever pay to see such band on a stage! A very little interest shared by doolan who did not show much love for "parade music" on his blog, even if he could have collected some CD's in Thailand for just 1$!
*Funny to note that Thai people usually call the first crockroach they see in a house Peter... END OF THE STORY!
In such interviews where the music of khun narin electric phin band is often described as a "Psychedelic Rock Band" doolan never mention the fact such music is Esan (even if the band is not technically located in Esan) or that this music such band play is purely covers of lines borrowed from famous songs... Unlike that maft sai idiot, doolan never call his product "instrumental molam" and avoid to mention his beloved mentor. It's interesting that if doolan was clearly involved in the production of a human zoo, he also let some pretty weird description of his amateur musicians band spread online like for this silly event promoting the tourista music scene in Bangkok!
Peter doolan* also forget to mention that such music gets very little interest outside of it's context and that nobody in Thailand would ever pay to see such band on a stage! A very little interest shared by doolan who did not show much love for "parade music" on his blog, even if he could have collected some CD's in Thailand for just 1$!
*Funny to note that Thai people usually call the first crockroach they see in a house Peter... END OF THE STORY!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
-All
the photos signed "Saobao Esan" are all taken by myself. Those only
show regular events in their most usual forms. Nothing unique or
exceptional, nothing tricky. What you see here happen very often.
-All the tapes and other formats cover pictures signed "Saobao Esan" are from my personal collection.
-Everything
you read here is part of my personal researches and not some
copy/pasted unverified information. If you want to quote anything from
my work, you should contact me first.
-The documents I
quote are not information and can't be seen as "work", those are
fraudulent propaganda I compare to facts. Such propaganda not only
discredit Esan culture but it also fools YOU. The people paying those
frauds are either victims or "partners in crime", Their reaction (or
absence of reaction) following my publications will show their
positions.
All the people mentioned in this serie of
documents are welcome to express their point of view here (I can add
more document showing they are clueless liars upon request).
