Gig Guide: Week Commencing Thursday the 3rd October 2013

Where will you be spending this Pchum Ben weekend? Jack is starting to feel like a lonely boy as everyone begins to leave Phnom Penh for the provinces. A lot of musicians, venues and their patrons are taking a break too, leaving the weekly gig guide looking slimmer than Jack Diamond’s dollar-bill fold. Looks like I’ll be spending my weekend crying into a seventy-five cent glass of beer.

But wait! Before I start getting sentimental, let’s take solace in some precious musical highlights taking place over the next few days. If you are still around on Thursday there are a number of interesting shows happening. First and foremost, Metahouse will be hosting New York City’s Benny Lackner Trio for a Pchum Ben special. This seriously good Jazz ensemble, comprising piano, bass and drums, have played all around the world. Their repertoire is an eclectic mix as they interpret Jimi Hendrix, Prince and contemporary pop alongside Jazz standards.

If classic Khmer-rock tunes are more your thing then head to The Village for Miss Sarawan. This diminutive diva takes the songs of Pan Ron and Ros Sereysothea out of the karaoke bar and marries them with acoustic guitar backing, for a result that can be hypnotic and enchanting.

While a lot of venues are closed over the weekend, Memphis Pub, Slur Bar and Sharky’s still have full programs of live music.

On any given night you are likely to find Thiem Bona and his band Rock Xpress doing their thing at Memphis Pub. The 10-foot tall Jimi Hendrix mural on one wall of the bar is an indication of the musical style to be expected here. These guys don’t mess around, and they have the awesome skills to deliver blazing Jimi, SRV and Pink Floyd covers.

Adobo Conspiracy lead singer Funmi has all the swagger and style to conquer any stage. On Saturday night, her band hit Sharky Bar with some hard rock.

Sharky’s are currently gearing up for the most outrageous musical weekend of the year: Penhstock IV. Three days and nights of live bands will be headlined by guitar hero and New York City music legend Niki Buzz. Dozens of acts will combine for this FREE music festival over the weekend of 8-10 November, confirming the strength and vibrancy of the Cambodian music scene.

Be safe and happy over Pchum Ben, and don’t do anything Jack wouldn’t do. As a taster for the aural assault that will be Penhstock IV, I will leave you with a track from Mr Niki Buzz.

Latest Gigs

Thursday 3-Oct-2013

7:00 PM ~ Benny Lackner Trio * at Meta House
8:30 PM ~ Miss Sarawan at The Village
8:30 PM ~ Open Mic Night at Paddy Rice
9:00 PM ~ Ritchy and Co at The Groove

Friday 4-Oct-2013

9:00 PM ~ Graham Cain * at Sharky Bar
9:00 PM ~ DJ Cyncity , DJ Bree and DJ BBoy Peanut at The Eighty8
9:00 PM ~ DJ Strange Fruit at Paddy Rice
9:30 PM ~ GTS Jazz at The Slur Bar
10:00 PM ~ DJ Angelo at Pontoon

Saturday 5-Oct-2013

7:00 PM ~ At Panha Band at Nest Angkor Cafe-Bar in Siem Reap
9:00 PM ~ The Adobo Conspiracy at Sharky Bar
9:00 PM ~ Smokin' Kenny Smith and Carlos Fandango at The Do It All Club
9:00 PM ~ Drop Dead Disco at The Naga House in Kampot
9:30 PM ~ Diego and Co at The Slur Bar

Monday 7-Oct-2013

7:00 PM ~ Lisa at The Aquarium Bar

Tuesday 8-Oct-2013

9:00 PM ~ Open Mic Session at The Gym Bar

Wednesday 9-Oct-2013

8:00 PM ~ Charlie Corrie at The Doors
8:30 PM ~ Alan Breen at The Village
9:00 PM ~ Danny at The Gym Bar

Coming Up

Jahzad and Jahzad at Equinox, Equinox
BeatboxCoex * at The RiverHouse Lounge
The Fumes at Equinox
Vibratone at Equinox, The Doors
Poni Hoax at NRG FM
Battle of the Bands at Sharky Bar
Phil Manning * at The Led Zephyr
Die Lumpen * at Hotel Cambodiana, Hotel Cambodiana and Hotel Cambodiana
RNA + Friends at The Village, Sharky Bar and Paddy Rice
Akhia Cyxtiel at The Doors
Khmera at The Doors
Charlie Corrie at The Doors
Marsyas at The Doors
Dub Addiction at The Doors, Equinox
Miles Davis at The Doors
Holey Bucket Union at The Doors
Kin Jazz at The Doors
Carin Levine, Anna Steckel and Stephan Rahn * at The Intercontinental Hotel Phnom Penh, Meta House
Mari Jinnai at The CJCC
Stephan Rahn * , Etienne Chenevier * , So Sronos and Rong Sereyvann at The Intercontinental Hotel Phnom Penh
10th International Music Festival at CJCC
"Girl Rising" Film Premiere with Live Music at Meta House
The Underdogs at Equinox
Jaworski 7 at Equinox
Ingolv Haaland, Ouch Savy, DJ White Wine, Stephen Fry and Richard Wagner at Meta House
Richard Wagner and Liszt at Meta House
Invisible Agent at Meta House
DJ Tinc at Nova Penthouse
DJ Deuce Manila * at The RiverHouse Lounge
DJ F.U.D and David Bowie Tribute at Meta House
DJ Tonle Dub and DJ Mercy at Meta House
Monsoon Underground Party at Meta House
DJ Al Mundo at Meta House
James Speck, Tim King and DJ Nicomatic at Meta House