I hope y’all had a good Mardi Gras – I sure did, one of the best. Lawrence Palmer was my neighbor when I lived up on Magazine Street — I took this picture of him in February 2005 when he was on his way to a function of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, of which he was a proud, lifelong member. Mister Palmer was a good neighbor, a wisecracking, friendly guy who, far from being annoyed, thought it was hilarious and cool when I’d have loud rock n’ roll bands playing in my living room. He was in his 80s and still going to work every day. He died 2 years ago.
Norm Arenas and Ray Cappo wrestling, Los Angeles, CA, November 1997.
Oh yeah, total coolness. I picked this album up at my spot today. From the liner notes : This music was recorded in the 1960s and early 70s soon after Cambodia became an independent nation. It was a period of rapid modernization that not only influenced music, but also architecture, sculpture, painting, dance, and cinema. For many it was Cambodia’s own artistic renaissance, a time pointing to a hopeful future. This golden era came to a sudden end when the Khmer RougeĀ took control of the country in 1975 and brutally attempted to destroy any trace of modern society. Sadly, while many of the recordings of modern Cambodian rock n’ roll survived, most of the artists who created it did not. Over the last decade Dengue Fever has culled this compilation of their favorite 60s and early 70s Cambodian rock from many different cassette tapes. The great music you’ll find here is a testament to the spirit of a modern Cambodia that existed not so long ago and should be remembered today. If you like this stuff, be sure to check out the band who put the compilation together, Dengue Fever.
01. Pan Ron : ” Unknown Title “
01. Pan Ron : ” Unknown Title ”
02. Ros Sereysothea : ” Shave Your Beard “
02. Ros Sereysothea : ” Shave Your Beard ”
03. Pan Ron : ” I Will Marry You “
03. Pan Ron : ” I Will Marry You ”
04. Ros Sereysothea : ” I Want To Shout “
04. Ros Sereysothea : ” I Want To Shout ”
Bonus! Here’s Dengue Fever doing their version of Ros Sereysothea’s Shave Your Beard – I recorded this with my little Zoom D4 at the International Festival, Lafayette LA, on April 26, 2009.
Dengue Fever : ” Shave Your Beard ” ( Live )
Dengue Fever : ” Shave Your Beard ” ( Live )