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

Greetings:

This weekend we’re welcoming back to Cambodia our favourite wanderers Geography of the Moon who begin a month or so of performances on Friday at Craft and on Saturday at Sundance.  Siem Reap next month!

 Travelling from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh this weekend are Angkor Classique, a flute and viola duo who are adding Sharon Lui on violin for performances Thursday at Craft and Friday at Green Pepper.

Thursday night in Phnom Penh find Nestor at Villa Grange, Vanno at The Velvet Room and Kevin Sysyn at Excelsior.  Silver & Taylor close out their October residency at Hub Street Cocktails and The Extraordinary Chambers go late at Oscar’s on the Corner.

On Friday in Phnom Penh, find Greg Beshers at Sra’Art, DORE at Botanico and The Boeung Kak Lifesavers at Little Susie.  Later find the first touch of Halloween celebrations with The Grave Rave with Nightmare AD, Winsum Losesum and After God at Cloud, and rock’n’roll with Montra at Oscar’s on the Corner.  In Siem Reap, there’s the open mic at The Welsh Consulate.

Saturday afternoon get stared at the Noisy Chili Beer Fest with Silver & Taylor before the early Halloween shows get started in earnest.  Prepare to get spooky with Alli G & Friends at Lantern, The Broken Cymbal at Botanico, Arome Khmer at Bat Muk Yu and Maozi at The Tin Hat.  A familiar face is back with Wild Youth at new venue Whistle Sky Bar, while Sinville Roadshow are at Little Susie.  Late and loud find Alli G & TheQuilas at Oscar’s on the Corner.  Rod & Gerard are scaring up Old Palace Lane in Siem Reap.

For the young at heart, Mimi and the Merrymakers will be performing Halloween shows this weekend on Saturday at Hard Rock Cafe Phnom Penh and Sunday at Farm To Table.

We are also going to briefly mention the DJ event CUBIK Halloween: Enter The Horror House at Phantom Club late on Saturday night.

Passing Chords – a few things you may not know about

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angkor Classique.  This duo, who perform the works of Handel, Beethoven and Mozart, was formed in Siem Reap by Simon Gilbert (Belgium) and Leo Salazar (USA).  Simon is an eclectic musician, adept in jazz, classical, folk, and rock; Leo has performed in a wide variety of styles and venues, from classical music to jazz, from full orchestras to small ensembles.  They also form half of the gypsy jazz Salazar Quartet, with Giuliano Torello (guitar) and Toma Willen (drum).   This weekend their Phnom Penh shows are augmented by Sharon Lui (Hong Kong) on violin – you can read her turn at Passing Chords from 2021 here.

Do you have a pet musical hate?

Leo: I appreciate all kinds of music, as long as it’s performed well. If I had anything like a pet hate it would be undeserved acclaim given to musicians with marginal talent.

A private musical indulgence:

Leo: Classic country-western music. Of course the well-known singers and frontmen, such as Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins (gunfighter ballads!), Johnny Cash, Ernest Tubb, Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette, but also old-time groups, such as the Sons of the Pioneers. I like the revival cowboy song groups as well, such as Asleep at the Wheel and Riders in the Sky. And don’t forget Western Swing bands like Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. This is probably the result of two early influences: Dad was a big fan of these old favorites and used to be outside working in his workshop singing Eddy Arnold’s Cattle Call. Also, when I was very young Mom used to put on the Songs of the Cowboy album sung by the Norman Lubofff Choir, of all things, to help me fall asleep. Very soothing, but I remember being frightened by Ghost Riders in the Sky and always hoped I’d be asleep by the time it came on.

Simon: Medieval and Renaissance polyphonies. I came to study these languages by chance and opportunity while studying at the conservatory of music in Liège, making them the main topic of my Master’s degree. I have always had a sweet spot for the music of Josquin des Préz, Guillaume de Machaut, Guillaume Dufay, G. P. Palestrina, or even Tomas Luis Da Victoria has always, since I discovered them.

The year you first came to Cambodia:

Leo: 2019, following travels through Thailand, Vietnam and a year stint doing business in Malaysia.

Simon: 2020, as a result of my obsession to make a living with my music, which, given my qualifications, experiences et contacts turned out to be nearly impossible in Belgium. Whereas Cambodia welcomed me with nearly immediate musical projects (teaching and playing), especially Siem Reap.

An early music memory:

Leo: When I was 12 years old my mother wanted to encourage my growing interest in music and took me to see Van Cliburn. He had just returned from the Soviet Union where he had won the prestigious Tchaikovsky Piano Competition. It was an unprecedented win, the NY Times called it “America’s answer to Sputnik” and Van Cliburn was heralded as a returning hero during this national tour, starting with a ticker tape parade in New York City. It must have been quite a challenge for my mother to afford tickets to this concert for us, with five children to support on my father’s mid-level bureaucrat’s salary. After the concert, while sitting in the car, I got a glimpse of the frustration my mother must have felt at the time because of her position in life. “Lee,” using my childhood moniker, “You’re lucky you’re growing up to be a man in a man’s world.” There was so much sorrow, disappointment and, perhaps, bitterness in her voice that I knew something was wrong. I didn’t realize until later how much it must have cost her, emotionally, to convince my father to creak open his wallet to pay for the tickets.

Simon: it would probably be my very first orchestral experience. In 2001, at the cathedral of Nivelles, I was part of the violin stands for a performance of Britten’s Noah’s Ark. If I had always been sensitive to music until then, that experience really motivated me to make music a main focus in my life.

The last thing you had to eat:

Leo: A Pepperidge Farm “Captiva” cookie.

Simon: why, a fried rice, of course!

A country you want to visit:

Leo: China. So much to see and experience. I have many standing invitations from clients of mine, if I can convince the Chinese government to grant me a visa.

Simon: India or Mongolia. Both for the same reasons: their traditional/classical musical cultures have always been a great source of interest to me and the prospect of going on site and learning with a master either of carnatic music (India), or throat singing (Mongolia) sounds to me like a dream-like experience.

What languages do you have?

Leo: English (native), Dutch (fluent), German and Spanish (both passably)

Simon: French (native), English (fluent), Khmer (for basic discussions only)

Your primary instrument, and when you started playing it:

Leo: Flute is my primary. When first presented with the possibility of studying music in public school, around the age of 10, for some reason I chose clarinet, of all things. Meaning no disrespect, of course, but thank God the owner of Cooper’s Music in Riverside, California thought my mouth was better shaped for flute.

Simon: Violin is my primary instrument. I started learning it at the age of 5, upon my own decision. My mother had always noticed a particular sensitivity to music, and particularly the violin.

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

Leo: The premiere of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, 29 May 1913, at the brand-new Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris. Imagine all the literati and famous in the crowd, as well as the riot this clash between the primitive and the modern caused. What a night!

Simon: I would go back in 2008/2009, when, in Iceland, I discovered Shostakovich’s 7th Symphony with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, under the conducting of a Russian conductor (of whom I forgot the name). That experience was one of the most powerful and emotional musical experience I have lived as an audience and not as a performer. I suddenly understood the full potential contained within a symphonic orchestra in terms of nuances, dynamics, power. So much so, that I had to sit there quietly for five full minutes in order to collect myself after the last note had finished resonating.

Department of Mutual Support:  Friends of LengPleng

This week we welcome Robert Marleigh / Gone Marshall as a new Friend of LengPleng, ahead of the launch new dual artist EP, 25th Century Crooner, at the end of next month.

Being a Friend of LengPleng gets your logo 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 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next generation – Meas Superstars from their showcase show at The Deck, 21 October 2023

If you wish to receive LengPleng in your inbox every Thursday please send a subscribe email to gigs@lengpleng.com.

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 26 October 2023

** 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:

  • Miss Sarawan, 6.30 pm, 3 November, Lantern
  • Arome Khmer, 6.30 pm, 3 November, Craft
  • Scott Bywater, 7 pm, 3 November, Botanico
  • Greg Beshers, 8 pm, 3 November, Voodoo Boulevard
  • Tennyson King, 9 pm, 3 November, Oscar’s on the Corner
  • Geography of the Moon, 8 pm, The Tin Hat
  • Cardboard Lo-Fi, 7.30 pm, 4 November, The Velvet Room
  • Penh Pals, 8 pm, Welsh Consulate (Phnom Penh)
  • Japan Guitar Shop plus We Are Ewe, 8 pm, 4 November, Monkey Republic (Kampot)
  • Geography of the Moon, 9 pm, 4 November, Back Street Bar
  • Geography of the Moon, 5 pm, 5 November, The Vine
  • Bald Gringos, 7.30 pm, 7 November, Karma Traders (Kampot)
  • Japan Guitar Shop plus Alli G & Pervez, 5 pm, 11 November, Craft
  • Graham Cain followed by Scott Bywater, 5 pm, 12 November, The Vine
  • Geography of the Moon, 6 pm, 17 November, Sra’Art
  • Fallen Apples, 8 pm, 17 November, Voodoo Boulevard
  • Geography of the Moon, 8 pm, 18 November, The Deck
  • Cove Aaronoff & Frank Scarfone, 5 pm, 19 November, The Vine
  • Geography of the Moon, 9 pm, 24 November, Laundry (Siem Reap)
  • Bon Om Touk Festival featuring Sam Rocker, Scapegoat Candy, Kampot Playboys, Jam Cha!, Joe & the Jumping Jacks, Japan Guitar Shop, Geography of the Moon, 25 November, 60 Road Studios (Siem Reap)
  • The Sock Essentials, 7 pm, 25 November, Botanico

 

 

 

 

 

By Weekly Wrap