Gig Guide of Cambodia - Wednesday the 26th of May, 2010

Good day,

Well, Phnom Penh jazz seems to be making a surge recently as demonstrated by the The Phnom Penh Hot Strings Jazz Club last weekend. It was a totally impressive gig and we are all hanging for more of the same at a later date. It is also evidenced by the formation and imminent debut of Eastern Jazz Brigade (name to be finalized) which will debut at Le Jardin sometime very soon - looking forward to that too. There is also the stream of jazz emanating from Studio 182. Michelle Manzo will be down there for only a short while longer - so if you haven't seen her yet then you had better get down there. This all augers well for the music scene here.

The Chinese House is proving to be a great venue for live music (albeit a little warm downstairs - renovations are in the pipeline to convert it to a fully functional live music venue). I suggest you do not miss this weekends  special performances at this venue. On Friday there will be another highly anticipated gig by the Mekong Pirates. They are always a great time and usually play to a packed house - it will be a totally great. Saturday night sees the Bong Thom dot Com 10th Anniversary Party that will feature 4 bands - including a special appearance by the Espresso Thmei. Musicians will be invited get up and play later on in the night - so feel free to suggest it to the organizers. The party is FREE to get inside together with the Chinese House is offering a special $15 Open Bar all night - This includes water, soft-drinks, beer, wine and cocktails.

Also, keep your eyes open for a brand new music venue opening very soon. It will be called Dream Up and has been created as a live music venue in mind - with a permanent stage and equipment. It is the brain-child of Sergei (or Russian Dave as you may know him by). More details on that soon.

Also, The Cavern is back up again with the Bluesberry Jam Night - it is happening this Thursday and all musicians are welcome. If you are looking to join or start a band then this is a good place to start. More details via the link below.

If you are looking for something a bit different music wise then CCF are offering a Krom Monster - which is being billed as experimental contemporary Khmer music. This will be performed together with a video presentation. CCF will also organize the annual Fête de la Musique next month that will feature the Parisian group Java. They bill the band as a subtle mix of a rap beat with the sounds of accordion and a funky rhythm. Sounds coool!

OK, here is this weeks guide.

Live Music Gigs

1. Wednesday 26-May-2010 - Bayon Blues at the Gym Bar [MORE INFO]
2. Wednesday 26-May-2010 - The G10s at Gasolina [MORE INFO]
3. Thursday 27-May-2010 - BluesBerry Jam at The Cavern [MORE INFO]
4. Friday 28-May-2010 - Bayon Blues at the Velkommen Inn [MORE INFO]
5. Friday 28-May-2010 - Masters of "King's Musick" at the CJCC [MORE INFO]
6. Friday 28-May-2010 - The Mekong Pirates at the Chinese House [MORE INFO]
   
7. Friday 28-May-2010 - Jam in Electro Jazz at Studio 182 [MORE INFO]
8. Friday 28-May-2010 - Cambojam at the Banana Leaf [MORE INFO]
9. Friday and Saturday 28 & 29-May-2010 - Lost Highway at Sharky Bar [MORE INFO] 
10. Saturday 29-May-2010 - Espresso Thmei, The Hellhounds, The Cambodian Space Project and Bayon Blues at the Bong Thom dot Com 10th Anniversary Party at the Chinese House [MORE INFO]
11. Sunday 30-May-2010 - D'Sco: The Geckos of Love at Paddy Rice  [MORE INFO]
12. Monday 31-May-2010 - Krom Monster at CCF [MORE INFO]
13. Monday 31-May-2010 - Hachimoko at Paddy Rice [MORE INFO]
14. Wednesday 2-Jun-2010 - Bayon Blues at the Gym Bar [MORE INFO]
    

DJ Gigs

1. Thursday 27-May-2010 - DJ Jedie at the Riverhouse Lounge [MORE INFO]
2. Friday 28-May-2010 - The  Phnom Penh Follies at the Riverhouse Lounge [MORE INFO]
3. Friday 28-May-2010 - DJ Roxy June at the Platinum Club [MORE INFO]
4. Friday 28-May-2010 - DJ Achaya and DJ Rob Little at Pontoon [MORE INFO]
   
5. Friday 28-May-2010 - DJ  Clockwork Soul at Rubies [MORE INFO]
   
6. Saturday 29-May-2010 - Moulin Rouge party at the FCC Phnom Penh [MORE INFO]
7. Saturday 29-May-2010 - DJ Radioactive Anne at St. Tropez and FLY Lounge
8. Saturday 29-May-2010 - DJ Blue and DJ Illest at Pontoon [MORE INFO]
   
9. Saturday 29-May-2010 - Fat Black Pussycat, DJ Tech 12 and MC Hydrophonics at the Riverhouse Lounge [MORE INFO]

Coming Up

• Eastern Jazz Brigade at Le Jardin [MORE INFO]
• Wanted Posse at the Chenla Theatre [MORE INFO]
• Fête de la Musique with CCF [MORE INFO]
• Lazy Jazz Drunks at Sharky Bar [MORE INFO]
• Mayors of Simpleton, Los Poporks and DJ Frankie at the Friends International 15th Anniversary Party [MORE INFO]
• Major Lazer at Pontoon [MORE INFO]
• Cambodian Space Project at Lotus Blanc and La Croisette
• The Phnom Penh Hot Strings Jazz Club at the Chinese House [MORE INFO]
• Bayon Blues at the Chinese House [MORE INFO]
• Bad Neighbors at the FCC Phnom Penh  [MORE INFO]
• Kheltica at the FCC Phnom Penh  [MORE INFO]

Cheers and see you around the traps !

Bong Thom dot Com 10th Year Anniversary Party

The domain www.BongThom.com was first registered on the 29th of May, 2000. In order to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the web site, a party will be held on Saturday the 29th of May, 2010 at the Chinese House. You are hereby cordially invited.

The party will feature no less than 4 of Phnom Penh’s best live musical performances – including the Cambodian Space Project, The Hellhounds, the Bayon Blues and Espresso Thmei. The Chinese House is also offering a special deal for the party where, if you like, you can pay $15 for all you can drink of soft-drinks, beer, wine and cocktails all night.

It will be great night of music, dance and celebration!!!!  Hope to see you there.

Cheers

Gig Guide of Cambodia - Thursday the 20th of May, 2010

Hey,

Yep - well have to say that things are on the up-and-up. This coming week there are 13 different live music acts playing around town. This involves three international artists, including Michelle Manzo, who is playing a month-long series of gigs at Studio 182, and The G10s - who are playing at the Gasolina next Wednesday. Additionally next week there are already 13 acts slated to for the next couple of weeks. So, in a word - cooool!

A less than happy piece of news is that one of Phnom Penh's classic venues, Talkin to a Stranger, will be closing its doors on the 11th of June, 2010 after 8 great years of operation. The bar has been one of the biggest and best supporters of live music over this time and has hosted some of Phnom Penh's best ever live music gigs - including Dengue Fever, Betty Ford and the GT Falcons, The Happy Lucky Love You Long Time Band, Dimple World Music and many others. Not only did they have great taste in hosting a lot of good music, they also helped promote and engage with the live music scene in Phnom Penh for many years. I am sure the future will be bright for Derek and Wendy so all of us from the Phnom Penh music scene past and present wish them the best in their coming ventures.

Paddy & Rice are now a venue for regular live music gigs. They are located on the riverfront - the same place as where the Hope & Anchor used to be. They have a new performer this Friday in the form of TJ. TJ plays rhythm guitar, harmonica and sings - mostly Americana/bluegrass style. He is looking for others to play with - particularly any banjo or mandolin players. If you are looking for someone with whom to play then get down there this Friday, listen and have a chat. If you get together and can produce 4 or 5 songs then you could be one of the preliminary acts for Sharky Bar's multiple act formats as mentioned in last weeks gig guide.

TJ is not the only new act on the scene, the Phnom Penh Hot Strings Jazz Club will be making their debut at the Chinese House this Friday also. This ensemble will feature a variety of musicians on a variety of instruments and should be a enjoyable and relaxed way to spend a Friday night with a mojito in hand. Paul from the Chinese House is making as best use of the ivory keys they have there on a short-term basis. Also, Scoddy (from Following the Applause) is onto to a new thing in the form of a solo act and he will totally rock, roll and swoon you at Gasolina this Friday - so get down there.

Also, you might want to catch the Stiff Little Punks who will actually - and this might shock you..... - have a real live drummer this week. This might be due to the fact that they will be going up against Bum N Draze in a showdown of truly heavy-metal-punk proportions. It is on this Friday at Sharky Bar. Additionally, you may have received an email earlier this week from  Bum N Draze drummer Twilight Dzouns in regard to the passing of Ronnie James Dio (American heavy-metal vocalist and songwriter). If not then you can read his tribute here. 

Also, look out next week for the Bong Thom dot Com 10th Anniversary Party (yes, that's right the domain name was first registered on the 29th of May, 2000). The party will feature several local bands, including The Cambodian Space Project, The Hellhounds, and Bayon Blues. More details soon.

Here is this weeks guide:  

Live Music Gigs

1. Thursday 20-May-2010 - The Hellhounds at Sharky Bar [MORE INFO]
2. Thursday 20-May-2010 -  Mark Hodgen at Studio 182
3. Friday 21-May-2010 - Scoddy at Gasolina  [MORE INFO]
4. Friday 21-May-2010 - Bum N Draze V The Stiff Little Punks at Sharky Bar [MORE INFO]
5. Friday 21-May-2010 - Tree at the Velkommen Inn [MORE INFO]
6. Friday  21-May-2010 - TJ at Paddy & Rice [MORE INFO]
7. Friday 21-May-2010 - The Phnom Penh Hot Strings Jazz Club at the Chinese House  [MORE INFO]
8. Friday and Saturday 21 & 22-May-2010 - Juram and Band at the FCC Phnom Penh [MORE INFO]
9. Saturday 22-May-2010 - Kheltica at Paddy & Rice [MORE INFO]
10. Saturday 22-May-2010 - D'Sco: The Geckos of Love at the Chinese House [MORE INFO]
11. Wednesday 26-May-2010 - Bayon Blues at the Gym Bar [MORE INFO]
12. Wednesday 26-May-2010 - The G10s at Gasolina [MORE INFO]

DJ Gigs

1. Thursday 20-May-2010 - DJ Yukie at the Riverhouse Lounge [MORE INFO]
2. Saturday 22-May-2010 - DJ Blue at Pontoon  [MORE INFO]

Coming Up

• 4 bands at the Bong Thom dot Com 10th Anniversary Party at the Chinese House
• Bayon Blues at the Velkommen Inn
• Moulin Rouge party at the FCC Phnom Penh [MORE INFO]
• Masters of "King's Musick" at the CJCC [MORE INFO]
• DJ Roxy June at the Platinum Club [MORE INFO]
• DJ Jedie at the Riverhouse Lounge [MORE INFO]
• Lost Highway at Sharky Bar and Paddy & Rice 
• Lazy Jazz Drunks at Sharky Bar
• Mekong Pirates at the Chinese House [MORE INFO]
• Eastern Jazz Brigade at Le Jardin
• D'Sco: The Geckos of Love at Paddy & Rice
• MC "Tubbs" Hydrophonics, DJ "Crockett" Tech 12 and  Dirty Disco Daryl at the Riverhouse Lounge [MORE INFO]
• Wanted Posse at the Chenla Theatre [MORE INFO]
• DJ Yukie at the Riverhouse Lounge  [MORE INFO]

Cheers and see you around the traps !

Early Gig Guide of Cambodia - Pre-Kings Birthday Holidays Edition

Verifiably schmmmmmokin',

Sending it out a little early due to the holidays which will start on Thursday - whoooo-hoooooooo!!!!!

Bob Marley Night at the Silk Garden in Siem Reap tonight if you are there. That will be a great way to cruuuuuuuuiiiise into the Kings Birthday holiday.


Dengue Fever on tonight at the auditorium within the Parkway Center followed, I am unreliably told, by a party at The Garage Bar afterward. I am not sure where that is but looking it up on the yellow pages resulted in over 150 positive hits !! The Discussion Forum is definitely on at the Chinese House tomorrow as is the free concert in the park on Thursday.

Bayon Blues will be a-slidin' at the Gym Bar this Wednesday - if you haven't seen them yet then get down there and start your holiday off on the right foot - have a beer with Randal while you are at it. Also, although not listed there is a good chance there will be live music on again this Friday at the Velkommen Inn - so if you are in town it could be a good chance for a Friday beer.

Also some news. Sharkys are instantiating a new format for their gigs. They are looking at putting on 2 acts a night. The first act will constitute a smaller set of 30 minutes to an hour, followed by the main act. What this means is that if you have a band / performance / set of songs that you think you might want to try out BUT are not fully ready for a whole show then this could be what you are looking for. It will give you a chance to get up and try out the new arrangements etc. and then give you more of a chance to sort it out and aim for a full gig type thing. If you are interested then give Ross a call at Sharkys or drop me a line here.

Also, you might want to check this little piece of creativity with an outrageous bass-line from The Gone Marshalls, who were an outfit based in Phnom Penh earlier this decade. They have an MP3 song called Barangutang available for download here:

http://www.camerado.com/the_gone_marshall/thegonemarshall_BARANGUTANG.mp3

and they have their first Phnom Penh produced album for sale here

http://www.amazon.com/Crunch-Gone-Marshall/dp/B000W4RT4Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1273134208&sr=8-4

Let me know what you think. Here is the coming weeks gig guide.


Live Music Gigs

1. Tuesday 11-May-2010 - Dengue Fever at The Parkway Center [MORE INFO]
2. Wednesday 12-May-2010 - Discussion Forum at the Chinese House [MORE INFO]
3. Wednesday 12-May-2010 - Bayon Blues at the Gym Bar [MORE INFO]
4. Thursday 13-May-2010 - Dengue Fever free concert in the Cambodian-Vietnamese Friendship Park [MORE INFO]
5. Thursday 13-May-2010 - Mouron at the Chinese House [MORE INFO]

DJ Gigs

1. Thursday 13-May-2010 - DJ Benze at the Riverhouse Lounge [MORE INFO]
2. Thursday and Saturday 13 & 15-May-2010 - Rob Little at Pontoon [MORE INFO]

Coming Up

• Kheltica at Paddy and Rice [MORE INFO]
• DJ Tech at the Pontoon [MORE INFO]
• DJ Roxy June at an unspecified location [MORE INFO]
• D'Sco: The Geckos of Love at the Chinese House
• Stiff Little Punks, Bum 'N Draze and The Fumes at Sharky Bar

  Cheers and see you around the traps !!!

Gig Guide of Cambodia - Thursday the 6th of May, 2010

Whoooooooo yeah!!

Things have picked up since the new year break in the middle of last month. Live music is on nearly every day between now and next Saturday. There is another 5 day holiday next week so the following weekend maaaaaaay be a little sparse live-music-wise.

One of the main reasons why there is so much live music is the support given by Mike, Ross, Jim and the boys at Sharkys. This week they have had Lost Highway on for two nights and will then have The Hellhounds on tonight (Thursday) followed by the Lazy Jazz Drunks on Friday night.

Another reason is the new band the Bayon Blues - who are the cause of a bit of buzz around town presently and who will play at 3 venues over the coming week. This will include a huuuuuuuuuuge gig debuting at the Gym Bar for Wednesday night. This will be worth getting to as it will be blast off for the Kings Birthday holidays. Please get down and support the Gym Bar for this gig - it may ensure another venue that will have regular live music gigs.

Before you go to the Gym Bar, however, you may want to slip down to the Chinese House and catch the boutique version of the Cambodian Space Project. The band will perform a short set of acoustic songs with Srey Thy before a discussion forum on Cambodian music of the 60s until now. This has been organized by Overseas Press Club and will include members of the Cambodian Space Project, Dengue Fever and other distinguished and knowledgeable guests.

The other main reason for the plethora of music this week is, of course, the arrival of the globally popular Dengue Fever. They arrive early next week and will make three appearances. They play first in a gig to raise money for Cambodia Living Arts on Tuesday the 11th at the Parkway Center (?!). Tickets are $10 and it should be a great way to see the band. On the Wednesday, three of the band members will be involved in the forum discussion at the Chinese House (as mentioned above). On Thursday they will play their main concert as sponsored by the U.S. Embassy. It will be in the park opposite Wat Botum (and opposite the Hong Kong Center). It should be a huge crowd and a great time for everyone.

The new Saint Tropez is causing quite a buzz as a new piped, DJ music venue. It is located near the Walkabout and is reportedly a great place to dance. DJ Joy and Theo Dj will be on there this Saturday.

If you like this email and blog - please tell your friends to sign up for the mailing list. Here is this weeks guide:

Live Music Gigs

1. Thursday 6-May-2010 - The Hellhounds at Sharky Bar [MORE INFO]
2. Friday 7-May-2010 - The Lazy Jazz Drunks at Sharky Bar [MORE INFO]
3. Friday 7-May-2010 - Bayon Blues at the Velkommen Inn [MORE INFO]
4. Saturday 8-May-2010 - Bayon Blues at the Chinese House [MORE INFO]
5. Sunday 9-May-2010 - Ritchy & Phil at the FCC Phnom Penh [MORE INFO]
6. Tuesday 11-May-2010 - Dengue Fever at The Parkway Center [MORE INFO]
7. Wednesday 12-May-2010 - Bayon Blues at the Gym Bar [MORE INFO]
8. Wednesday 12-May-2010 -  Cambodian Space Project  (Boutique Session) at the Chinese House + discussion forum with Dengue Fever [MORE INFO]
9. Thursday 13-May-2010 - Dengue Fever free concert in the Cambodian-Vietnamese Friendship Park [MORE INFO]

DJ Gigs

1. Thursday 6-May-2010 - DJ Illest and Old Skizzooool Bobbby at the Riverhouse Lounge [MORE INFO]
2. Saturday 8-May-2010 - DJ.Boy and Theo DJ at Saint Tropez [MORE INFO]
3. Saturday 8-May-2010 -DJ DSK, Hydro Phonics, Tiny Toones, DJ Illest and DJ Blue at the Pontoon [MORE INFO]

Coming Up

• Cambodian Space Project at the PSE restaurant
• Kheltica at Paddy & Rice [MORE INFO]
• DJ Benze at the Riverhouse Lounge [MORE INFO]
• DJ Tech at the Pontoon [MORE INFO]

Cheers and see you around the traps !

P.S.: There have been some problems with BLOGGER and, as such, most blogspot web pages have been down. LengPleng.com is still working mostly at this point.

Keyboard for Sale

Dear all,

As I am leaving Cambodia at the beginning of June I am selling my piano keyboard. It has the look of a keyboard, but the keys and sound is like a piano. I bought it one year ago.

I am selling it for $300.

If you are interested let me know soon and I will take it to PP.

Thank you,

Olga

017 472774
olgavdpolTAKE THIS ONE OUT@gmail.com

World Folk Music and the Phnom Penh Hippies

For those wishing to play "World Folk Music" in a BIG band the Phnom Penh Hippies are rehearsing every Monday between 7PM to 9PM. Local and international musicians are cordially invited to bring instruments to #164-ZB Norodom Blvd. 800m south of the Independence Monument and behind the Adidas shop.

The band will have good long-term access to a rehearsal studio in the near future.

For more details contact Mat on 012 966414

Dengue Fever Benefit Concert on May 11

All is confirmed for the Dengue Fever benefit concert in support of the Cambodian Living Arts Center (http://www.cambodianlivingarts.org) . Here are the details:

Dengue Fever Benefit Concert for Cambodian Living Arts
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Time: 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Location:  PARKWAY CENTER, Phnom Penh
Street: 113 Mao Tse Toung Blvd. (St. 245)

Tickets are $10 and are on sale at Rubies, Garage, Java, and CLA  For more info call 023 986 032 or see the CLA web site at www.CambodianLivingArts.org.

For those unfamiliar with Dengue Fever - they are one of Cambodia's most well known and liked contemporary, international bands. The band was originally created in the U.S. by Zac and Ethan Holzman who recruited recently expatriated Cambodian Chlom Nimol as the bands lead vocalist. With roots in the Khmer twangy rock & roll from the 60s the band has now released several albums and tours globally.