Name: Lee Shamrock.
Age: 39. Been the same age for the last 22 years. Born and brought up: In my parent's house. Family: I was raised an only child, which really annoyed my sister. Education: Yup. Where do you live? Bangkok. Profession: Troubadour. First job: MacDonalds. What instruments can you play? Kazoo, Comb with paper, Hornucopian dronepipe (among others - ed). When did you first become interested in music? I was about five years old and there was this cute girl next door who I wanted to impress. I think she was 16 or so. Do you write music? Yes, I write the best music in the world but no one wants to hear it. Who are your all-time favorite musicians? Justin Bieber, Yoko Ono, Leonard Nimoy (ever hear his Hobbit song? Awesome! The video is great too!). How long in Thailand? 22 years, 3 months, 17 days. What brought you to Thailand? A big jet airplane. What’s keeping you here? Gravity. Your first gig in Thailand? Delaney's, Soi Convent. Where can we see you play? Nowhere due to the Chinese Plague. Favorite music venues to visit and enjoy the show? Father Ted's Irish Pub, Hua Hin. What kind of music do you normally play? Polka, Klezmer!! |
Do you ever play traditional Irish ballads? Lots of 'em, often.
Any difficult audience requests? The most difficult song I play is ‘You'll Never Walk Alone’. Lots of chords! My favorite song is American Pie. Fortunately, just about everyone in the world can sing along to the chorus.
Any music you’d like to play but doesn’t work with local audiences? Just about anything I play will work at one time or another. The song ‘Taxi’ by Harry Chapin is one of my favorites but it's long and not a lot of people here know it. An expat from the US who I knew for a couple of years, but had never seen me play, came into the pub and requested Taxi. I played it. He said, "That's impressive". He left and never came to see me play again, even though he lived in the neighborhood.
Ever faced hecklers? Love 'em!
Best compliment you’ve ever received as a musician? Someone once gave me a hundred dollar bill. Another time a group of people were sitting at the back of the pub all evening. When I finished one of guys came to the stage and said, "That was really good. Where's your iPad or your tablet?". I said I don't have one. He said, "You can't just KNOW ALL those songs."
When not performing, how do you relax? This is a family magazine.
Any difficult audience requests? The most difficult song I play is ‘You'll Never Walk Alone’. Lots of chords! My favorite song is American Pie. Fortunately, just about everyone in the world can sing along to the chorus.
Any music you’d like to play but doesn’t work with local audiences? Just about anything I play will work at one time or another. The song ‘Taxi’ by Harry Chapin is one of my favorites but it's long and not a lot of people here know it. An expat from the US who I knew for a couple of years, but had never seen me play, came into the pub and requested Taxi. I played it. He said, "That's impressive". He left and never came to see me play again, even though he lived in the neighborhood.
Ever faced hecklers? Love 'em!
Best compliment you’ve ever received as a musician? Someone once gave me a hundred dollar bill. Another time a group of people were sitting at the back of the pub all evening. When I finished one of guys came to the stage and said, "That was really good. Where's your iPad or your tablet?". I said I don't have one. He said, "You can't just KNOW ALL those songs."
When not performing, how do you relax? This is a family magazine.
Strangest or funniest moment in Thailand? A ladyboy joined me on stage playing tambourine. I played ‘Stand By Your man,’ The first line of the song is "Sometimes it's hard to be a woman". S/he turned to me and said, "No it isn't."
Anything else? A young couple from Finland were in the pub and when I took a break the guy came up and asked me if he could propose marriage to his partner on the microphone. I introduced him to the audience saying he had something very important to say. With his bottle of beer in one hand he took the microphone in the other, looked over at his girl sitting at the table, and yelled, as if angry, "ANNA! WILL YOU MARRY ME?" She stood up, picked up her bottle of beer, guzzled it, slammed the empty bottle on the table and yelled back, "YES!" I asked her to come up and kiss him and slow dance. As I played Unchained Melody they held each other close, swaying back and forth and I realized she needed another beer. While playing I asked the staff to bring her a beer so they both had one as they danced romantically. |
I had another marriage proposal by a young guy who said, "Jennifer, We've known each other a long time, and we've been boyfriend and girlfriend for two years now, and you've been bugging me for the last few months ever since you got pregnant so I guess it's about time we got married. So, will you marry me?" She was laughing so hard and finally said yes. I played Unchained Melody as they danced.
Yet another proposal was made at a pub where I was playing. The guy wanted to propose at the romantic restaurant at State Tower but they wouldn't let him in because he was wearing shorts. He asked me to make the proposal for him while he sat at the bar with his girl and presented her the ring. She said yes, and I played Unchained Melody as they danced. |
I was quiz master at a pub and a friend asked me to make his proposal a quiz question. It was the final question of the round and I walked over to where they were sitting, looked at her and said, "Question number 10. Will you marry that guy?" as he presented her the ring. It took a moment for her to figure out what was happening and then she said, "Of course!"
Your favorite getaway destination in Thailand? My room. Most interesting person you’ve met in Thailand? Paul Watson of Tropical Murphy's on Koh Samui. Great guy! Great publican. And the most boring / irritating? Paul Watson of Tropical Murphy's on Koh Samui. Beer or wine? Or Guinness? My drink is a Dirty Ho. If you don't know what it is you need to come and see me play. Any recommendations for improving the local music scene? Yes, but I can't play that often, I'll lose my voice. |
What’s next for you? If I survive the plague... during normal times I'm at The Australian Pub on Sukhumvit, Soi 11 every Tuesday, 9 to midnight. The Clubhouse, Sukhumvit Soi 23 the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month from 8 to 11 pm. Weekends at Father Ted's Irish Pub in Hua Hin.