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

Greetings:

Tonight in Phnom Penh things get started with Green Leaf Motif at Penh 278, Kevin Sysyn at Botanico and Miss Sarawan & Joe Wrigley at Voodoo Boulevard.  Derrick Big D Walker & the Blue Conspiracy Band are at Hideout and later The Extraordinary Chambers are at Oscar’s on the Corner.  In Siem Reap, The Exile are at Pasta La Vista and Leo, Giuliano & Andrey are at Villa D, while Mikayla & Giuliano play for both Harry’s and The Welsh Consulate.

On Friday night in Phnom Penh Hugo Marcellesi is at Craft, a night of original Cambodian music, Mic Szn, with Mariya Phan, Wrenology, Ruby Bouth, Felix Sea is at Autumn, and Penh Pals plus comic Sam Thomas are The Box Office.  You can find Joshua Chiang & Greg Beshers at The Tin Hat, The Broken Cymbal at Hideout and Efren at Beer O’Clock.  Temple go late at Oscar’s on the Corner.  In Kampot, the Jampot open mic is hosted by Nico Thoma at Karma Traders and Erhan is at Pasta La Vista in Siem Reap.

On Saturday get an early start with Phil Javelle playing for the belated grand opening of The Tin Hat, then The Broken Cymbal are at Seekers Spirits and Phil O’Flaherty is at Botanico while Cloud hosts Mary & Takeshi.  Later on Green Leaf Motif open up for K’n’E at Oscar’s on the Corner.  In Kampot, Kampot Playboys are at The Bay, while Siem Reap offers Quartz Jazz Quartet at Navutu Dreams Resort, The Exile at Pasta La Vista, Mr Zee at Villa D and Jam Cha at Laundry.

Come Sunday, Metta Legita & Marianna Hensley begin the mellow afternoon at Paradise Home, The Vine’s Sunday sessions feature Khalil Jridi and Cove Aaronoff, and as usual there’s Stu Cottom at Bar Oz and the Sunday Sundowners open mic with Scott Bywater at Tacos Kokopelli.  Later, Joe & The Jumping Jacks are at Oscar’s on the Corner, and Leo, Simon & Giuliano Jazz Trio are at Villa D in Siem Reap.

Looking forward to 14 February events, pro and anti-Valentine as the case may be, in Phnom Penh Alli G Rockustic will be at Hemisphere and Metta Legita will play Green Pepper, while the Sing musical theatre social club will be held at The Box Office, Stu Cottom is at Craft and you can find the classic hard rock of Temple at Oscar’s on the Corner.  In Kampot, Christian Herve is at Karma Traders and Kampot Playboys play KAPAL.  In Siem Reap choose between Soul Urge at JJ’s Sport Hive, Sokunthea Duk & Kevin Keo at Villa D and Giuliano Turello & Friends at Beatnik Speakeasy.

Department of Something New

Rock/blues/hiphop outfit Japan Guitar Shop have released a new song, Last Dance, on YouTube – check it out here.

 

Passing Chords – a few things you may not know about

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Felix McFadden, drummer in Soselo Summer, and keyboard player sitting in with some gigs with The Blue Souls and other outfits.   “I was born in New York, to a French father and an American mother. We moved to Brussels, Belgium when I was 5 and I stayed there until I was done with all my studies and university. I have an MBA, a Master’s in education and degree in jazz piano from the Royal Music Conservatory of Brussels. I had been working in international schools in China for 7 years before I moved to Cambodia last summer.

Do you have a pet musical hate?
I’m pretty open-minded and I listen to lots of different styles actually. I won’t hate any style but rather certain bands or artists that make the music sound too predictable and uninteresting. I really don’t understand why all my students like Taylor Swift so much.

A private musical indulgence:
As a teenager I was a metal fan. When I’m alone I’ll still happily play Tool’s latest album, some Deftones, Animals as Leaders…

The year you first came to Cambodia:
July 2022

An early music memory:
I remember when I was only 4 years old, without any prior experience or lessons I would just sit down at the family piano (that no one ever played) for what seemed like hours. I would try to create mysterious atmospheric soundscapes by pressing down on the keys. I remember loving the dissonant sounds I was making and I guess that was my first time experimenting with sounds and the whole creative process. Later when I was six, my older brother and I became huge fans of Duran Duran (don’t ask me how or why). That same year my father gave in and took us to watch them live. I must have been the youngest one in the audience. Today when I listen to them I still think they were a pretty solid band as far as pop-rock goes. I could have done a lot worse as a six year old!

The last thing you had to eat:
Pork on rice with fried egg for 6000 riel

A country you would like to visit:
Colombia

A book or movie you keep going back to:
One of my favorite books as a teenager was The Chess Player by Stephan Zweig. Lately I’ve mostly been reading about world history. The last two good movies that I remember watching were Joker and First they Killed My Father. Only uplifting stuff!

What languages do you have?
I speak fluent English, French, and Spanish, I’m conversational in Mandarin, and I studied German for about 13 years in school and university

Your primary instrument, and when you started playing it:
Piano.  I started taking lessons when I was about 6. I didn’t play very seriously and I was going to quit until someone taught me how to play some Beatles songs and improvise on some chords using the pentatonic scale. Then I got into jazz and started taking music much more seriously.

Something people might be surprised to know about you:
I wish I had learned to play the guitar instead of the piano. I think I would have rocked!

You have a time machine and a magic ticket to one gig or festival in the past. What do you choose?
Hmmm… Wembley 1985, or Woodstock 69 are obvious ones. I don’t go to many festivals to be honest. I would have loved to see Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis play live the 60s.

A question from the last participant: What is a weird personal habit you have?
I feel like I have OCD in terms of washing my hands. Maybe it comes from trying to avoid getting my instruments all dirty. But yeah, I scrub my hands with soap way more than the average person I’m sure.

Steve Porte Photo of the Week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas Hommeyer and Sharon Lui of PRERNA  at Cloud on 4 February 2023.

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See you around the traps.
your correspondent,

 

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

Weekly Gig Guide – week commencing Thursday 9 February 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:

By Weekly Wrap