Weekly Gig Guide - Week Commencing Thursday the 23rd January 2014

‘Roots music’ a wonderfully unspecific term applied to many genres. It can be used to describe music as diverse as Rock, Reggae, Folk and Blues. The writer’s friend, it is often seen hanging around in the same sentence as the simplistic and overused label ‘World music’. ‘Roots’ is an easy word to employ, a difficult one to define. It suggests authenticity, a music that is traditional, true, timeless and undiluted. ‘Roots’ music is as opposed to ‘Fusion’ or ‘Avant Garde’. It is never modernist, but it is often post-modernist. It involves reaching back towards the birth of a musical style. If I reach back far enough am I playing ‘Roots’ music? Or am I just being ‘retro’?...

[Editor’s note – the next 2,000 words of Jack Diamond’s piece on ‘Roots’ music  have been removed for brevity. You can read more in his university thesis ‘The Ages of Man’. Unfortunately, he was not awarded a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism - which may help to explain why he is currently sitting next to me in the back streets of Phnom Penh, writing for Leng Pleng – Television Ted.]

Like waiting for a London bus, we hang around for one good Roots band to show up... then three or four arrive at once. The Wanderlusters are a five-piece act based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, living in self-imposed exile from their homeland – the good ol’ U.S. of A. Band leader, vocalist and mandolinist Davis Zunk was visiting Cambodia in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina decimated his native city of New Orleans. Davis called home to hear ‘there’s nothing left’ and promptly decided ‘OK, I guess I better stay here then’. The South-East Asian music scene has benefited ever since, as this multi-instrumentalist has contributed his great talent to a number of awesome groups. The Wanderlusters play a blend of Bluegrass, Country and Gospel that Davis poetically describes as ‘Hillbilly Soul’. The band’s stage outfits are pretty special too. Catch their set this Friday at Oscars 51 or on Saturday at Equinox.

The Wanderlusters

When an Englishman sings in a Southern ‘Americana’ drawl, he can risk some unfavourable comparisons. Like the difference between the majestic, wide-brimmed, fur-felt headwear donned by The Wanderlusters and a white plastic cowboy hat purchased for five dollars at Central Market. However, some of these guys (or ‘limeys’, ‘poms’, ‘brits’)  really get it right - pouring enough heart and soul into their performances to evoke Townes Van Zandt himself. Which brings us to the welcome return of RJ Marshall to Phnom Penh. RJ has a powerful but fragile voice reminiscent of his hero Gram Parsons. Check out his early evening set at Le Jardin on Friday or at his new monthly open mic night at Equinox on Wednesday.

Dave Cox is a master steel-guitar player from the UK, spicing up his holiday in Cambodia with some well-received guest spots as a member of The Kampot Playboys and The Jumping Jacks. Dave’s secret weapon is an arsenal of inspiring original songs - Steve Earle-esque dustbowl ballads and Delta-blues stompers. You can hear all about it when he is accompanied by cowboy-wannabe Joe Wrigley at Paddy Rice this Friday night.

Dave Cox

Roots-Reggae is on the menu at Equinox this Friday when Vibratone take the stage. The band started off good and are becoming really good, growing in confidence and making additions to their (all-original) repertoire with every gig. There is a really great dynamic in the rhythm section as the minimal, chunky, dub bass-lines of Julien combine with the flamboyant, crazy drumming style of Luis.

Jack will be dusting off his dancing shoes in preparation for Saturday night, when a block-rocking posse of DJs and MCs will throw down at Slur Bar. The launch party of the ‘Wat a Gwaan’ reggae collective features the esteemed Professor Kinski, the creative DJ Polak and the incredible vocal dexterity of MC Kaztet D. They will face off with a visiting collective of reggae-heads from Siem Reap, Chass Sound. For more good vibes, but with a higher tempo, try Swagger at Meta House where the cafe-bar will be ripped out, soundproofed and locked down to transform it into a Berlin-style dance-den.

The weekend is rounded off with a special gig at the luscious music lounge that is The Groove. Superstar Canadian Violinist Brian Larson is accompanied by the astounding drumming talents of Lewis Pragasam and on piano by Phil ‘the music flows from his fingers’ Javelle. Brian Larson is a 23-year veteran of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, a contributor to Hollywood soundtracks and musical collaborator with a cavalcade of A-list rock stars. The Groove are doing something extraordinary on Sunday - even by their own high standards. Tickets $5, reservations recommended at info@thegroove.asia .

I’ll leave you with an entertaining glimpse into the world of The Wanderlusters, courtesy of http://thewanderlustersvn.com/

Stay safe when wandering at night,

All the best,

JACK DIAMOND

Latest Gigs

Thursday  23-Jan-2014

• 7:00 PM ~ Swing Penh at The Village
• 7:30 PM ~ Leon Kondo Trio at The Cabaret Restaurant
• 8:00 PM ~ Miss Sarawan at The Aquarium Bar
• 8:30 PM ~ Euan Gray at The Doors
• 9:00 PM ~ DJ Tam at The RiverHouse Lounge
• 9:00 PM ~ Philippe Javelle and Ritchy Boisson at The Groove
• 9:00 PM ~ DJ Norris Norisk at Meta House
• 9:00 PM ~ DJ Wez-T at Dusk till Dawn
• 9:30 PM ~ DJ U and Elvis Fandango at Oscars 51
• 11:00 PM ~ DJ Jack Malipan at Pontoon

Friday  24-Jan-2014

• 6:00 PM ~ RJ Marshall and Roddy Fraser at Le Jardin
• 7:30 PM ~ Louise Norup and Barry Speirs at The Cabaret Restaurant
• 8:00 PM ~ DJ Chin Chang and DJ Rith at Lavo Restaurant & Lounge
• 8:00 PM ~ Billy Page at The Village
• 8:00 PM ~ Kin Jazz at The Doors
• 9:00 PM ~ Joe Wrigley & Dave Cox at Paddy Rice
• 9:00 PM ~ VibraTone at Equinox
• 9:00 PM ~ Dr. Wah Wah , DJ Nico and DJ Bart Ricardo at Meta House
• 9:30 PM ~ Gypsy Vacation at The Slur Bar
• 9:30 PM ~ The Wanderlusters * at Oscars 51
• 10:00 PM ~ DJ Flo , DJ Ricardo and Wes_T at Code
• 11:00 PM ~ DJ Shine and DJ Nas at Pontoon

Saturday  25-Jan-2014

• 7:00 PM ~ Billy Page at Le Jardin
• 8:30 PM ~ MWAUKA & The Gang at FCC - The Mansion
• 9:00 PM ~ Swagger at Meta House
• 9:00 PM ~ Philippe Javelle and Ritchy Boisson at The Groove
• 9:00 PM ~ The Wanderlusters * at Equinox
• 9:30 PM ~ Wat A Gwaan and Chass Sound at The Slur Bar
• 9:30 PM ~ Diego's Latin Trio at Oscars 51
• 10:00 PM ~ DJ Dan Beck , DJ Sequence and DJ Simon C Vent at Dusk till Dawn
• 11:00 PM ~ DJ Tech 12 and MC Hydro Phonics at Pontoon
• 11:00 PM ~ DJ Flo at The Pontoon Bistro

Sunday  26-Jan-2014

• 4:30 PM ~ Ringtail at The 3Mangos Guesthouse
• 7:30 PM ~ Bona Thiem at The Cabaret Restaurant
• 8:00 PM ~ Anton Isselhardt The and TRIOthlon Ensemble at Meta House
• 9:00 PM ~ Lewis Pragasam , Philippe Javelle and Brian Larson * at The Groove

Monday  27-Jan-2014

• 9:30 PM ~ Billy Page at The Slur Bar

Tuesday  28-Jan-2014

• 7:30 PM ~ Stephane Routier at The Cabaret Restaurant
• 9:00 PM ~ Pop Music Quiz Night at Equinox

Wednesday  29-Jan-2014

• 9:00 PM ~ RJ Marshall at Equinox

Coming Up

• The Fumes at Equinox
• Gabi Faja and AI Iawasaki at The Doors
• Sangvar Day and Michelle Flemming at Equinox
• Electric Universe at Meta House
• Belgian Beats at Meta House
• The Underdogs at Equinox
• The Adobo Conspiracy at Equinox
• Joe Wrigley and Miss Sarawan at The Doors
• Bona Thiem at The Cabaret Restaurant
• Jazz Shanghai 30's at Cabaret Restaurant
• Jahzad at Equinox
• Miss Sarawan at The Alley Cat Cafe
• Leeroy Thornhill * at Code
• DJ Star, DJz Nme, DJ Tam and DJ Maily at The RiverHouse Lounge
• DJ Sequence, DJ Donabelle and DJ Alan Ritchie at Phnom Penh Passenger Port
• DJ Star, DJ Tam and DJ Maily at The RiverHouse Lounge
• DJ BBoy Peanut and DJ Gigahurtz at Star Palace Night Club
• Nova - Chinese New Year 2014 at Nova Penthouse
• The Cuban Brothers * at Code