Live: Luna Negra
Sat Mar 16, FCC Phnom Penh
Since 2010, Luna Negra have been resident at the Saigon Saigon Bar atop the famed Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (once home to Warapo, another of Cuba's most famous musical sons and a regular here at The FCC in Phnom Penh). Inspiration, say the band, includes Grammy award-winning Colombian singer and composer Carlos Vives, along with Dominican singer/songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, who at last count had sold more than 30 million albums. And critics have called Luna Negra's work 'a new twist on the classic Cuban sound': expect soul-stirring electric violin, trademark Latin rhythms and emotive lyrics. "The concept of 'Latin music' covers a tremendous wealth, influence and originality adopted between the discoverers and clearly perfected by the natives of each region," says Luna Negra keyboardist Yunichi Acosta Hernández. "Undoubtedly, this style is one of the richest musical worldwide. In its general form, Latin music reflects both the music and dances of the world: hispano America. You cannot fail to mention in Latin music, los Latinos! That perfectly reflects their idiosyncrasies. That spontaneous joy they exude through the pores, and the constant desire to spend a very good time [and] to share with the world his eternal carnival." Doors at 8:30 p.m. No cover.
LIVE: Dub Addiction
Sat March 23, FCC Phnom Penh
Cambodia's first and only ragamuffin dub band, Dub Addiction channels the spirit of Bob Marley through an eclectic blend of danceable dub and Buddhist-chant-inspired Khmer vocals. When bassist Sébastien Adnot first played reggae in front of Jamaican friends, they proved a tough crowd. "When I started learning, they told me they couldn't dance to what I was playing," says the founder of Cambodia's first and only ragamuffin dub band, Dub Addiction. "'Try to dance with your fingers,' they said. That's how they taught me. They don't know the names of chords or music theory, it's all about feeling." Today, Dub Addiction -- poised to release a new album -- count among their vocalists DJ Khla, 'Cambodia's tightest ragga MC' and a staple of the local music scene. Along with Sonpore, MC Curly, and Professor Kinski, DJ Khla lays an uplifting veneer of Khmer vocals over the bombastic basslines (Seb) and drums (Toma Willen) of Dub Addiction, who played the Sometimes A Great Notion Festival in the US last year. Kae Lhassen adds spooky, spaced-out backing vocals to Sylvie's keys, and the sound is pinned together by guitar rhythms from Benoit Carre. Doors at 8:30 p.m. No cover.
Live: Durian
Sat Mar 30, FCC Phnom Penh
A heavy beat and a bass line that keeps people moving is imperative, says the bass player of Phnom Penh's most well-known funk band, Durian. Durian's influences include funk and soul and R&B artists, including DÁngelo, Curtis Mayfield, Parliament-Funkadelic, Sharon Jones, Mark Ronson, Bill Withers, James Brown, Jamiroquai, Ottis Redding, Ray Charles and Etta James. The band plays carefully selected cover songs. "The important thing is to keep them dancing," Rompre says, adding, "We play some of the very best funk classics, but we're also constantly searching out old archival tunes and underground contemporary tunes that people wouldn't necessarily be exposed to otherwise." Doors at 8:30 p.m. No cover.