The biggest surprise hit of PENHSTOCK 2 was probably the young French marching Band, OCTOPUS, with 7 young men playing every type of popular brass instrument to upbeat tunes, and with coordinated dance moves similar to The Blues Brothers and playing shirtless, they brought the house down the last night of PENHSTOCK 2.
Well, they returned to Sharkys on Thursday night for a Farewell Gig prior to their leaving Phnom Penh and travelling to Nepal and Katmandhu in search of “The Perfect Gig” before they returned to University in France in 6 months from now. With more time than the 25 minutes allotted to each Band playing in PENHSTOCK, they played the first set of 50 minutes to a mostly female expat crowd who couldn’t get enough of them a few days before. The women bobbed, weaved, rocked, and danced heavily to the cool tunes of the now 8 person original OCTOPUS Band as the missing 8th member, an Asian female raised in France, joined them for this performance. After a 30 minute break after their first set (fully clothed, mind you), OCTOPUS came back out on the Sharky stage shirtless again (except the young female played fully clothed, unfortunately) and jumped around the stage, down onto the Bar floor, up onto the Bar and danced, played, and whaled together while the Bar crowd cheered them on !!
A great performance by a young Band who, undoubtedly, will be back to Phnom Penh some time in the future and will always be welcomed by Sharky’s!
Also, I was interviewed by 2 members of the Band and they were sending it to “Le Figaro” French newspaper who requested information from OCTOPUS re: nightlife in Phnom Penh and is following the crusade of this young Band. If the interview ever gets printed, we will be sure it is published on Sharky Bar’s Blog Spot…
Friday, 4 March, 2011
A new band from Sihanoukville that auditioned for Sharkys, just prior to the opening of PENHSTOCK 2, impressed us with their professionalism, and strong playing of a wide variety of metal bands e.g. AC/DC, ZZ Top, to the Stones. Playing to a smaller than usual Friday night crowd, but more appreciative of their music, MUSIC BUDDIES (Yes, they are going to change their gay name), rocked for 3 hours almost non-stop.Led by the strong drumming of American Dave, and harmonies of the other Band members from U.S.,Australia and UK.
When it was time to stop playing at 11:30 pm, in accordance with local Sangkat Guidelines, the boisterous rock music loving Sharky crowd wouldn’t let them leave and shouted “More, More, More”!! And More hard metal music came and pleased the appreciative audience with more AC/DC’s “TNT” and ZZ Top’s “La Grange”…
Another cool, fun nite at Sharky’s…
Saturday, 5 March
Sharky’s favorite Band, Lost Highway, came back up from Sihanoukville ( No, not along with Music Buddies) and re-appeared with Lead Guitarist, Kenny, who was out sick for a few weeks and missed playing at PENHSTOCK 2. But Kenny showed that he lost none of his rhythm, talent for Rock Star lead guitar stage moves, and LH played together with re-invogorated energy, and song balance to the delight of a skeptical, but numerous, Bar crowd.
Lost Highway is back at Sharky’s soon so stop by to check out Chris, the Band’s new Bass Guitarist, a U.S. Expat who is also emerging from the Rock and Roll Closet to come out to newly found admiration and cheers for his talent at blending right into the rapidly building Phnom Penh Music Scene..
Sharky (Tiger Shark) Mike
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