When I first came to live in Thailand almost a decade ago, I started checking out the local underground music scene and I found that most of the bands I really liked were connected with a label called Panda Records. This small music company is quite a rarity these days — a true indie label run purely for the love of music, with little thought given to achieving big commercial success or even making a profit. Consistently quirky and interesting, the music that Panda releases fulfills an important role by providing an alternative to what the mainstream entertainment world offers.
Panda Records is holding a special concert to celebrate their 16th anniversary (read all about it on page 15 of this week's SW!) on October 31. As most ghouls and girls will already know, the last day in October is also Halloween.
Halloween was never much of a big deal in Australia when I was growing up, but I've always liked the idea of people dressing up and celebrating all things spooky, scary and scream-inducing. Music and literature that explores the dark sides of life and Halloween themes are always fun, as can be horror movies and thrillers. I'm personally not so much a fan of the really gory and violent stuff, but I love many of the spooky, low-budget horror classics that have been made over the years.
On pages 8-9 of this issue, you can read about five super-scary horror flicks selected by Student Weekly that will make anybody's Halloween a horrifying experience (in a good way). If you prefer to check out a killer thriller at the cinema, check out the new Thai horror film Ghost Ship, which is previewed on page 17. Rounding out the Halloween theme is this week's Biographic (page 14), which features the legendary actor Christopher Lee, who starred in countless classic horror movies and supernatural thrillers over a period of several decades.
Whether you spend October 31 celebrating some of Bangkok's best independent music at the Panda Records anniversary concert, watching some scary movies, or doing something completely different, have a good one, and Happy Halloween!
Ben Edwards
Editor
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