Involvement in AIDS causes is nothing new to the Soi Dog Blues Band—in fact, "Fight AIDS—the Dogs do" is up front on their website. The Bangkok band has lined up eight of Bangkok's most prominent blues artists and groups for two full nights of music to raise funds for the cause.

Their March 19-20 event will be at Tokyo Joe's Blues Bar, newest addition to the growing blues scene in Bangkok. Players are giving their time free of charge and Tokyo Joe's will pay the groups' fees to the charity. Jeff Thomsen, of Soi Dog Blues, is one of the owners of Tokyo Joe's, which, he is happy to say, "makes it a lot easier to get things done right... We are looking forward to two nights of non-stop music beginning at 8 p.m. until closing and expect the fans of all the artists involved to show their support."

Jeff is an expat living in Thailand for most of his life; he's been into the blues for more than 20 years—the last five, playing in Bangkok with his band (guitar and vocal). Bass player, Tony, and drummer, Thot, are 15-year veterans of the blues, and guitarist/vocalist, Dang, comes from a jazz and funk background. "It makes for some interesting interactions between his blues and mine," describes Jeff. "I stick more to the traditional styles and have a tendency toward SRV and Hendrix as the evening wears on. Our sets include everything from Howlin' Wolf to B.B. King to John Lee Hooker, the two Albert's, King and Collins, some Freddie King as well as Hound Dog Taylor and even some influences from Tampa Red. We also do Robert Johnson and just about anything else connected with the blues. We play for a love of the music and our audiences follow us around as we move from venue to venue."

A limited-edition T-shirt with OWB and Keep A Child Alive logos are in the works as is a possible CD (proceeds to go to a local charity which helps street children). Their event listing. (Soi in Thai means "lane.")