A treasure trove of Britpop on Thonglor
THE fourth floor of a narrow building tucked away down Sing Waet Lom Alley on Thonglor (between Sois 5 and 7) is probably the last place on earth you’d expect to find a treasure trove of late nineties Britpop records – but, hey, this is Bangkok. And stranger things have happened.
Wander up the small staircase beyond Black Amber Barbershop and Smitheries craft studio and you’ll emerge onto a tiny rooftop garden. Swing a left, and you’ll find the door to 1979 Vinyl and Unknown Pleasures.
Owned and operated by four friends who met whilst studying at Chulalongkorn University – Praowpan Tansitpong, Tippamet Kaosaiyanon, Punlerd Plubrukarn, and Krittikorn Sittichai – the shop takes its name from the seminal Smashing Pumpkins’ single, 1979, and is stocked with a wide range of Britpop, Brit-rock and American alt-rock albums from the ’60s till the early aughts. As per the shop’s name, most of the music is on vinyl (original and collectibles), but there are some CDs too (mainly local indie artists’ work).
Wander up the small staircase beyond Black Amber Barbershop and Smitheries craft studio and you’ll emerge onto a tiny rooftop garden. Swing a left, and you’ll find the door to 1979 Vinyl and Unknown Pleasures.
Owned and operated by four friends who met whilst studying at Chulalongkorn University – Praowpan Tansitpong, Tippamet Kaosaiyanon, Punlerd Plubrukarn, and Krittikorn Sittichai – the shop takes its name from the seminal Smashing Pumpkins’ single, 1979, and is stocked with a wide range of Britpop, Brit-rock and American alt-rock albums from the ’60s till the early aughts. As per the shop’s name, most of the music is on vinyl (original and collectibles), but there are some CDs too (mainly local indie artists’ work).
Vinyl records range in price from B100 to B6,000 (the latter will get you an original pressing of (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis, while international CDs vary in price depending on age and condition.
Much more than just a music shop, 1979 Vinyl and Unknown Pleasures has become a big draw for local artists looking to gain experience playing in front of an audience, and it now hosts a monthly gig featuring up-and-coming indie acts – both Thai and foreign bands.
Tickets are usually B100 (B200 if they have more than one band on the billing) and are limited to 40. Even then it’s an exceptionally tight squeeze – worth it for the atmosphere, though, and for maybe getting to see Bangkok’s next big thing before, well, they’re big.
Hot tip: Triggs & the Longest Day (B350).
Much more than just a music shop, 1979 Vinyl and Unknown Pleasures has become a big draw for local artists looking to gain experience playing in front of an audience, and it now hosts a monthly gig featuring up-and-coming indie acts – both Thai and foreign bands.
Tickets are usually B100 (B200 if they have more than one band on the billing) and are limited to 40. Even then it’s an exceptionally tight squeeze – worth it for the atmosphere, though, and for maybe getting to see Bangkok’s next big thing before, well, they’re big.
Hot tip: Triggs & the Longest Day (B350).
Getting there
While 1979 Vinyl and Unknown Pleasures is walkable from Thonglor BTS station (around 10 mins), if you’re worried about getting hot and sweaty simply hop in a taxi at the beginning of the Soi. Hop out at Thonglor Soi 7 and walk back towards Sukhumvit (about 100 metres) until you reach Sing Waet Lom Alley. Head to the fourth floor of the Black Amber Building and, voila!, you’re there. The shop opens every Tues – Sun from 1pm-9pm (closed Mon). www.facebook.com/1979vinyl
While 1979 Vinyl and Unknown Pleasures is walkable from Thonglor BTS station (around 10 mins), if you’re worried about getting hot and sweaty simply hop in a taxi at the beginning of the Soi. Hop out at Thonglor Soi 7 and walk back towards Sukhumvit (about 100 metres) until you reach Sing Waet Lom Alley. Head to the fourth floor of the Black Amber Building and, voila!, you’re there. The shop opens every Tues – Sun from 1pm-9pm (closed Mon). www.facebook.com/1979vinyl
