The buzz: Nestled in the back alleys of Thonglor, an abandoned room in Liberty Plaza building roars back to life with the sound of underground music and a raw industrial design. Among the partners of De Commune are indie rock band Blues Tape’s frontmen and the Keep_Your_Eyes_On visual artists.

The decor: This is a proper live music venue with black painted walls, a stage for bands, a quality (loud!) sound system and a DJ desk for electronic music nights. A lucky few can grab a seat at the counter bar or a spot on a couch up on the mezzanine. But when it gets crowded, gig-goers’ best bet is to sit on the wide stairs flushed with neon red light.

The music: A diverse celebration of all things underground. The lineup (fully booked throughout December) swings from indie veterans like Desktop Error and Stylish Nonsense to upstarts such as Penny Time and Jelly Rocket, as well as trusted nightlife names Phatfunk, Mela and Mendy Indigo.

The drinks: Just the basics. Commercial beers like Singha (B120), Chang (B120) and Heineken (B140), along with some Thai rums (start at B100) and vodka (B140).

The crowd: It depends on what’s on that night. If it’s an indie rock night, expect to glimpse a few The 1975 frontman Matty Healy look-a-likes—scruffy hair, black jeans, oversized tee. A few Hawaiian shirts and rolled-up jeans are spotted now and again but no so-called hipsters.

Why you should care: This is the underground live music venue Bangkok's been missing, run by people in the business. The drinks are pretty cheap for the area, too. It also doubles up as a space for showcasing art, workshops and film screenings. Neon Boonyadhammakul