Leng Pleng

Anyone who’s tried to keep a band together in Cambodia over a prolonged period, or even tried to follow one, knows how difficult it can be, given the transience of the scene and the rate at which players come and go.  Someone arriving in Phnom Penh today knows nothing of, say, Vibratone,  Hypnotic Fist Technique or Little Thieves, once prominent combos in the kingdom; Joe & the Jumping Jacks, who will celebrate their tenth anniversary next year, has had over 50 members over that time.  As Mike Dynamo of HFT once said, in Phnom Penh you’re always running for office.

With that in mind, consider the case of Alli Gecikarana, better known as Alli G, well known for his solo performances, especially in Siem Reap and latterly in Phnom Penh. He has recently emerged with a series of gigs with a more stable backing band, The Quilas – although stable is probably not the right word.  He sat down with LengPleng to explain the concept behind the new outfit.

Firstly, the name.  The Quilas, Alli explains, is a bit of wordplay, whichever way you slice it.  Killers, tequilas… “It’s over the top, like tequila is.  Also in Malay language it means: you are crazy.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

With co-conspirators Gaby and Alex at Oscar’s last month

Secondly, the concept is more than just a band, and the people in the background are as important as the people standing out the front.  “We don’t want to be just a band, we are more like a collective.  We have a photographer, a videographer, graphic designer, and we want to bring them to the front.”  You may have already seen their video posters on Facebook for upcoming events or sharing photos from the previous weekend, creating something a little more dynamic in the midst of the scroll.  “We want to be more like an indie movement. We don’t mind being underground, we like the independence.  And hopefully other people will follow.”

Thirdly, don’t ever expect to see the same show twice.  While Alli G is the common thread, line-ups will change frequently, and the repertoire will respond.  “For example, there are five or six drummers that I like to play with.  It gives me a good feeling to try someone new out and see what they do – Leandro is more jazzy, Chema is a bit more punkish.  I like the chance to promote different players – sure, I will play with you again, who shall I ask? Who will say yes?  Everyone needs to change, evolution is important.  So it’s like thinking next week I’ll play with Chema, and then the week after I’ll play with Ricky – it gets me excited, it brings new energy to play with new people.”

 

 

 

 

 

With Rod, Chema and Andrey at Star Bar, 15 October 2022

The concept has created a particularly high energy stage show, and they are keen to keep expanding beyond their boundaries.  “With The Quilas I can show many different thigs – we’ve had fire spinners, we’ve had a poet, Rithy Pong, maybe some time we can have a painter come on stage while we’re playing.  A lap steel, a harp, a sitar?  Why not?”

And of course the collective has its own team to document this alchemic experiment.   “The photographer and videographer are part of the whole.  It’s important to me to involve people like that.  If we can do it when we are this small, who knows what we can do in the future?  We can grow together.  While I might be good at rock, but I’m not good at country.  I want to find a way to make other musicians shine, and be pushed myself.  As Buddy Guy said,  if the thrill is gone, why do you keep on playing?”

Find Alli G solo at 5 Drunk Men on Friday night, and with The Quilas at Oscar’s on the Corner on Saturday night – t-shirts will be on sale.