I Got the Fever!

Dengue Fever! yes its true - and I'm contagious! Well more like the band Dengue Fever (MySpace or Wiki) - not the disease. I got to go to thier show at the Black Cat almost a week ago with Exit Clov opening (though I missed Cordero's act ).

Exit Clov (who will be playing Austins SXSW festival soon), is definately a band to watch out for in the future - though thier sounds style is wide ranging and cohesive (which shows talent) it is too wide ranging to give them an identity. Lead singers (twin sisters of asian descent which I overheard fullfills 80% of the male populations 16-45 fantasies) are classically trained - violin & piano (translate synth). Using these tools and some good bass lines they put up songs that were melodic (the venue might have been too big for their sound - or maybe it was just drowned out in the rear where I was ), but others just poped out and worked the crowd well like MK ULTRA and DIY (Do It Yourself). Overall a neat little band that I want to give a second chance listen at a smaller venue - say ... March 22nd at IOTA in Arlington.......


But Dengue Fever was the real star of the show.

They are apparently getting rave reviews from Tapei from NPR and across to us here! Better described in others words (I can't do it justice) "vintage Cambodian pop, Western-influenced surf and psychedelic rock sounds".

Sounds complicated? Yes! And it also is FUN!! and very good!

I actually got into the gaggle near the stage , a rarity - but a well worth effort. Seeing lead singer Cchom Nimol in her cool silk Cambodian dress, and the rest of the band - gave it more energy, and you could enjoy the onstage antics of bassist Senon Williams and Lead Guitar Zac Holtzman (jumping up & down in sync as they played) even more. I even managed to grab the set list which was (with a few notes where possible):

• Hold my Hips
• Shave my Beard (cover of old Cambodian traditional song)
• N.Y.E.
• Tiger Phone Card (Fun
• Lost in Laos (lead Guitarist Zac made tha guitar sound like a sitar!)
• Sober Driver ( Sung by Zac w/ CChom, about a long distance relationship)
• Seeing Hands
• Clipped Wings
• Thanks A Lot
• Ah GoGo (Fun Cambodian Pop Song!)
• Pow Pow
• 1000 Tears
• Mr. Orange

Encore:

• SniBong CChom brought 2 people up on stage from the audience to do the songs with her)
• Glass of Wine
• I'm 16

Overall I am a fan of this group now. After the show I got to talk to Senon extensively about their current tour (I wish could remember in more detail), but as you can see by the set list - it wasnt a short show! So hopefully you'll get the fever also!