click here for an audio-visual look at the gig highlights

***for full gig listings jump to the bottom***

Greetings:

Here comes a weekend for visitors from Vietnam.  Luis Zapiola (see Passing Chords below) and Coastal Connection are in Phnom Penh to play Cloud with Skeptical Chemistry on Friday, and in Siem Reap for a show at Atlantis.  Also in Siem Reap this weekend is Hera Paradise who will perform with Alpaca Lips at Arin’s on Friday and with Rod Tolentino and Alberto at the same venue on Sunday.

In Phnom Penh on Friday night Brooke Palmer is at Botanico, and The Tin Hat officially reopens with a show by Smack the Unicorn with Johnny & the Scallywags in support.  Ysabel is at Let It Be Cafe, Scott Bywater is at Little Susie and Can Can hosts an Afrohop night with Izame Siva and 4Mara.  Summer Lee Carlson & Mute Speaker are at Hometown Hangout and later Oscar’s on the Corner celebrate the return of Montra (formerly K’n’E).

On Saturday in Phnom Penh celebrate Indonesia Day with Intan & Yusbel at Craft, while Antonio & the Playful Minds at Botanico, The Broken Cymbal are at Back Street Bar and Summer Lee Carlson & Mute Speaker are at Samai Rum Distillery.  Cambodia Country Band take it late at Oscar’s on the Corner.  In Siem Reap Electric Soup are at Arin’s.

On Sunday Tacos Kokopelli presents the 11th anniversary of the Sunday Sundowners open mic with host Scott Bywater, while The Vine has Stu Cottom and Jazz Sauce are at Back Street Bar.  Later find Bart-Psar (featuring Aisha) at Oscar’s on the Corner.

Department of Recording and Touring

Friend of Leng Pleng 60 Road Studios are offering a special deal until the end of October – $250 for a full eight hour day of recording, $130 for a half day of four hours.  Prices include all staffing, access to studio equipment and delivery of tracks.  Follow in the steps of Kampot Playboys, Japan Guitar Shop, Joe & the Jumping Jacks, Scapegoat Candy, Miss Sarawan, Coz Collective and more – get international  quality recording done in sleepy Siem Reap.

Summer Lee Carlson & Mute Speaker continue the track-by-track release of their new album – you can find the first six songs from Respectable People exclusively on Bandcamp.

Former Phnom Penh band Little Thieves are pleased to announce the release of their long-awaited album Never Frightened.   Find it on YouTube and Spotify.

Geography of the Moon have announced dates for their upcoming tour of Japan over the next couple of moths, and Japan Guitar Shop similarly are heading for Seoul in October.

Looking further ahead, the first confirmed acts have been announced for the Nesat Market Music Festival to be held on New Year’s Eve – already a great line-up.

Passing Chords – a few things you may not know about

Luis Zapiola.  Luis is an Argentine-American songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Vietnam. His music is characterised by anthemic, catchy, and emotional qualities, often with a dark undertone that adds depth to his compositions. His debut album, Dark Days, blends post-Britpop and alternative rock, reflecting his personal experiences and challenges.  Luis is also the drummer for Coastal Connection, an indie rock band based in Vietnam. Both projects are currently promoting their albums through live shows and is embarking on a small tour in Cambodia, performing at Cloud in Phnom Penh on Friday 16 and Atlantis in Siem Reap on Saturday 17th.

Do you have a pet musical hate?

I dislike when people don’t take their music seriously. I have a deep respect for those who honour their craft and put in the effort to improve. It frustrates me when individuals are consistently late, neglect practice, or fail to reach their full potential. This often results in music that lacks depth and fails to resonate meaningfully with others. I suppose it’s a personal issue, but it really bothers me.

A private musical indulgence:

I enjoy exploring underground J-rock, anime songs, and obscure Japanese artists. I find these genres fascinating, especially for their unique chord progressions and instrumentation. Although others might find it a bit unusual, I really like this kind of this music.

The year you first came to Cambodia:

I first visited Cambodia as a backpacker in 2016, spending only a few days in Phnom Penh while doing a visa run to Vietnam. I found Cambodia intriguing and always wanted to return. My next visit was with my band Anesthetic Youth in 2019, where we performed a show in Phnom Penh. We had a fantastic time exploring the city, experiencing the culture, meeting new people, and eating the local food.

An early music memory:

My parents are musicians, so as a child I often accompanied them to hotels and restaurants, watching them set up and perform. While they played, I would sit nearby with my Gameboy while eating chips and listening to them.  Maybe subconsciously, I began learning about different instruments and chords by listening to those classic tunes from the ’60s to the ’90s repeatedly.

The last thing you had to eat:

The last thing I had to eat was “Bún thịt nướng chả giò”. It’s a Vietnamese dish featuring grilled pork served over rice noodles with crispy fried spring rolls. It’s topped with fresh herbs, vegetables, and peanuts, and usually accompanied by a tangy fish sauce dressing. Love it!

A country you want to visit:

I’d love to visit Japan to explore its music scene, learn more about its history, and dive deeper into the culture I’ve admired through anime. I’m also excited about the possibility of playing a show there next year! It would be awesome.

A book or movie you keep going back to:

Though I don’t typically watch movies or read books, I always return to a series called Death Parade. It explores complex themes such as morality, the afterlife, and the nature of human behavior. The series is set in a mysterious bar where deceased individuals are judged based on their actions and decisions during their lives. Through various games and challenges, it delves into questions about the essence of good and evil, the impact of choices, and the role of fate and divine intervention.

What languages do you have?

I can speak Spanish, English and a little bit of Vietnamese.

Your primary instrument, and when you started playing it:

The first instrument I picked up was the acoustic guitar. With my parents being musicians and my older brother playing nu metal guitar all day, I wasn’t initially interested. However, one day I decided to give the acoustic guitar a try. After a few years, I got an electric guitar and spent my days playing covers of my favorite pop punk and Britpop songs. Although the guitar is my main instrument, I feel I’m more proficient as a drummer and bassist. For me, the guitar, like other instruments, is a tool for songwriting and music creation.

Something people might be surprised to know about you:

I have a deep interest in studying and reading about spirituality and religion. Although I’m not particularly spiritual or religious myself, I like reading about the nature of reality, our existence, consciousness and the connection between the material and spiritual. I’m curious about how different cultures understand existence, the concept of the divine, and how these beliefs shape human experience.

You have a time machine and a magic ticket to one gig or festival in the past. What do you choose?

I would revisit November of last year, when my band and I performed at the HOZO Talent Festival in Ho Chi Minh City. Being the only foreign artist in the lineup was an honour and something really special, and playing in front of such a large crowd was a magical experience we’ll never forget. After years in Vietnam, it felt like the perfect way to close out the year and kick off the Dark Days cycle of my album.

A question from the last participant: Where would you live if money was no object?

I’d choose to live in Vietnam because of its relaxed lifestyle and peaceful atmosphere. The weather is great, and having my friends and band here makes it even better.

Department of Mutual Support:  Friends of LengPleng

Being a Friend of LengPleng is open to venues, acts, and even private individuals; if you value the service we provide please consider assisting us financially.   For a modest contribution ($25 for three months, $40 for six months, $75 for 12 months), you get the logo of your choice into the weekly email and onto the weekly wrap page, and an automatically click through to a page on our website for further information, photos, videos and so on – we like to think of it as an alternative to Facebook.

We also pay special attention when you have a good story for us – an upcoming event or an artist you wish to highlight.  Email gigs@lengpleng.com for further details or bail up Scoddy wherever you see him.

      

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Porte Photo of the Week

Aisha, the new singer for Bart-Psar (formerly the Oscar Band) gets amongst it at Oscar’s on the Corner, Sunday 11 August 2024.

 

 

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Musicians, venues, punters:  if there are things you know that LengPleng should know, please tell us and we’ll do our best to tell the world.

See you around the traps.
your correspondent,

 

 

Guillermo Wheremount
LengPleng.com
gigs@lengpleng.com (mailto:gigs@lengpleng.com

 

Weekly Gig Guide – week commencing Thursday 15 August 2024

** residency/weekly

For DJs and clubs, we recommend Phnom Penh Underground

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

*Note that Wednesday events are often not announced until early in the week – check back here for updates*

Coming soon:

By Weekly Wrap