CAMBOJAM : a web BLOGiography

C A M B O J A M : Funk to the Future Photo Shoot

2012-02-07T08:33:00.003+07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Funk Phenomenon :-)

The Funkstastic Five

Aya the Japanese Jazz Queen

Philippe the Belgian Drum machine

Bertrand the French Slap master

Fabien the French soloist :-)

KC the Filipino expat in Siem Reap

Don't turn your back on your band :-)

HDR moment

When rockers get funked up

Street side flavors

Tuk-Tuk Time Transport

Airborne funk

Kings of Pub Street :-)

Black and White Moment

Posing at Hotel de La Paix

The Band

spreading good vibes since 2007

Cambojam just hanging out really...

Under Construction : Madame Beergarden Gig

2011-12-07T11:01:00.001+07:00

Cambojam was so psyched to have played a new venue in Siem Reap - Madame Beergarden!!!

Located by the Wat Bo Street, this funkydelic bar and resto is definitely a place to check out. Cool atmosphere, friendly peeps, awesome times!!!

It was the Gries Fest ( i hope I spelled it correctly) by the way - a Mallorcan tradition where in it involves eating a lot of roast pig and sangria.. it was a very good feast actually!

Here are some snaps from yet another crazy gig from the band :-)

Cambojam with Tyrone and Stevie - ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK ;-)

Jade floating through the vibes

This is how we party in Siem Reap LOL!

Friends enjoying a sip while posing for a click

KC (happy constipated face), Aya (no peace sign tonight) and Ida with Deb in the background

Gab singing for the crowd - female vocals of BANNED, Siem Reap's one and only Dance Metal Cover Band...

Phil and KC turning Japanese

live performance

a tale of 2 Anna's... Anna one and Anna two

Phil and Aya candid moment... well at least for Aya cause Phil seemed ready for the shot hehehe with metal horn hands as well.. rock on mate!

BANNED Drummer Paul "The Metal Hair" Soldner

BANNED Bass Guitar Mr. Ray "Rayge Against the Machine" Cheval

Ida smiles and so does she...

Gab posing with her beer....

Happy campers enjoying the gig...

random band shots...

random band shots... again

the crowd curiously listens to the band...

Guest singer Hilde!!!!!!!

good times rolling...

celebrate good times peeps

Stevie in action

Mr. B on the bass... with his signature scarf on the microphone stand hehehe

Ida + Jam

KC sneezing while singing

Paul "Metal Hair" posing while Gab and Emily stalking...

All the way from Norway!!!! Katherine and Hilde

Oli and Zoe chillin'

Fab with his signature cap and wrist sweat bands..

B belts out .. this dude has amazing lung power

Anna and Oyen - Siem Reap songstrss and our beloved "palangga" photographer

the crowd grooving...

Phil having a good time beating his drums ;-)

a lot of expats do practice Yoga... see for yourself...

Aya and Deb caught on indulging on the feast

the crowd is always great... Friends, thank you as always!!!! every gig is for you and we hope that you enjoy the show every time!

To the owners of Madame Beergarden, thank you for the delicious meal and drinks and most importantly, for the opportunity of letting us play your beautiful venue!

Beautiful food, beautiful crowd, beautiful groove...

Looking forward to another themed party at your place in case!

TIPS for a Happy Life

2011-11-24T08:16:00.001+07:00

This photo is one of those rare moments that we get freebies on stage...

The best part about playing the streets is getting those TIPS :-)

It's been a while since we got some free cash actually... Guess the world is indeed in an economic crisis....

Band Fact: Every song request you make with us will cost you USD 5 LOL!

Here's Fab getting a tip. Remember people. The best things in life are not for free.. they cost USD 5 ;-)

CAMBOJAM: Bananarama at the Pub Street

2011-11-08T12:03:00.000+07:00

November 4 gig snaps :-) Mr. Oyen "Shutterbug" Rodriguez, thank you Palangga!

They came, They sang, They conquered

Cambojam with Steve

Steve C. Wonder with Mr. B on the bass

If F4 had a European version, this probably won't be it. Jef, Jam, Baptiste, Peter and Magnus. Thanks guys and great smiles!

Mr. Steve's instrument :-)

Naky, the Cambodian National Hero, checking out the sound and working directly with the speakers

Phil caught off guard

Adriano poses for the camera

The crowd getting drunk with our music :-)

Mr. Ray "Rayge Against the Machine" having an eargasm

Naky with giving us a thumbs up....

Dr. G in the house y'all!

Steve at work...

Gentlemen having a good laugh.. I hope they're not laughing at the band though hehehe

KC on the bass and he's feeling good

Bertrand's battle axe

Fab, Phil and Aya

Fab and Phil.. The French and Belgian

Adriano, Srey Roth and Peter...

KC doing a flag ceremony as the band pauses to sing a song for the late Steve Jobs

Aya smiles for the camera and Phil's head seems to be on top of her keyboard

Naky doing an F/U and OK sign at the same time :-)

Bertrand's bass pose

Team Japan: Mai, Yuki and the Japanese Jazz Princess Mayuko

KC concentrating on his microphone... it looks like his about to throw up or something.. If a vocalist pukes on stage, it what we call stage fireworks...

Adriano is a happy dude :-) He is also a part time DJ by the way

Fred sits in his throne and the girls are playing trip to Jerusalem around him... Good job there buddy

KC wants to pee at this point

Phil in action

KC's battle axe - he named his guitar "The Play for Japan Guitar"

Oli listens closely to the band

Candid shot

Steve and B

Bertrand singing and slapping the bass

The Three Musicteers

The Three Musketeers

Awesome energy as always... to all the Expats of Siem Reap, Thank you! To all the tourists who jammed with us, Thank you! To all the new friends we've made, Thank you! Lets keep the good times rolling guys...

See you on our next gig ;-)

To the Banana Leaf Management, thank you for making Friday nights cool and groovy again.

MaD Open Mic Charity Concert at Banana Leaf

2011-11-02T14:50:00.000+07:00

The biggest open mic we've done so far... Fusing various musicians into one groovy sound... the question is... will they all fit on stage? :-)

here are some snap shots from the gig.

MaD collaborates with musicians for this charity event - to help the families that have been devastated by the recent flood. The concert was held last 28th of October 2011

Gab caught staring at the camera

Fabien making a speech at the crowd (or was he sound checking??)

Gig in progress.... KC and Anna singing their hearts out

trick shot... KC drinking while on stage as Ms. Sterling jams with the band

KC and Gab vocalizing... they might be singing Creep at this point which is a song dedicated to KC by the way... A creep A weirdo The Crazy Filipino :-) now f*ck off! LOL!

Aya with the traditional Japanese "Peace" sign and KC with the ethnic Filipino "Everything is OK sir" sign

Song in progress...

Bertrand flirting with the camera... new hair style by the way :-)

Anna takes away the crowd with her soulful notes

Bertrand jams with Gabrielle - the powerful voice from down under

KC poses with Gabrielle... and yes KC secretly wishes that he had Gabrielle's hair as well :-)

Anna really feeling it this time... I wonder why'she's sad? Maybe the microphone smells bad???

KC and Anna singing Imagine

KC trying hard to look at the lyric sheet... He can't really read by the way... :-) Reading's for rich people only :-)

Bertrand sings Let The Sunshine In or something like that... from the movie Hair which up until now, I haven't seen yet...

KC with his game face... its either sad or constipated :-)

Anna - the 4th Queen of England with Benoit, Fabien, Oli, Aya and Steve as her Royal Knights

Sofi sings a groovy song for the crowd!

The new face of metal will be born soon - Gene Simmons tongue and the metal horns

More songs...

The deadly duo - Gab and Anna... combine the two and you have GabAnna!!!! Now where is Dolce??

Tyrone or otherwise known as Mr. Shredder!!!! Man this guy can shred :-)

Steve finally gets caught doing sax in front of the camera :-)

Voyeur shot of Gabrielle.. Naughty Oyen :-)

Aya with yet another peace sign :-) This photo seems like an ad for Tamtravel. Cool! :-)

Steve blowing off steam!!! He loves doing sax in front of people :-)

Ah finally! Fab is caught on camera... he always has the best lighting on stage :-)

I forgot the dude's name but I believe he is Mr. Sophy and he was doing a speech about the flood relief charity concert

Anna singing while the guys at the back are busy re-arranging

All great guitarists have cigarettes in their mouth when they play.. I tried to copy it but it doesn't work for me :-( I think I should grow a goatee instead

Banned soundcheck - Siem Reap's newest metal project :-) Composed of Ray (bass) and Paul (drums)

and the band goes on and on and on and on....

Let the sunshine in baby

low angle shots.. thanks Oyen :-)

Rule of 3rds? hehehehe

Gab Real Hair ( The real meaning of Gabrielle which means awesome authentic hair)

The crowd getting turned on :-)

Anna once again...

Finally ... KC, Gab and Anna = KC and GabAnna

Gab posing with the crowd

Searching for lyrics...

Bertrielle.. that's a nice name

Gab

Sound check blues :-)

and of course a very special thanks to Mr. Lorenz for the beautiful frozen moments :-)

Merci Oyen! J'etaime palangga! Sa uulitin please hehehehe

Once again, to the Siem Reap Musicians - thank you!!!!!!! yes, I mean YOU!!!!!

I would like to take this opportunity to re-introduce the band!!!!!

The Dudettes:

Anna - (Vocals) The 4th Queen of England

Aya - (Keyboards) The Peace Loving Japanese Jazz Queen

Gabrielle - (Vocals) The Vocal Thunder from Down Under

Mayuko - (Bass) Japanese Jazz Princess
Sofi Sterling - (Vocals) The MaD Voice

The Dudes:

Bertrand - (Bass, Trumpet, Vocals) The French Energizer

Ray - (Bass) Mr. Rayge Against the Machine

Fabien - (Lead Guitars) The French Slash

Tyrone - (Lead Guitars) The English Shredder

Michel - (Drums) Mr. Beat

Olivier - (Drums) Mr. Fantastic

Paul - (Drums) The American Idol

Benoit - (Percussion) The Conga Man

Steve - (Sax) Mr. Nice Guy

Naky - (Sound Tech) The Cambodian National Hero

KC - (Vocals) The Creep Keeper

History was made and we're all glad to be a part of it... Thank you for the donations you have extended to the families of the flood victims.

To Mr. Sterling and the whole MaD crew, thank you for making us a part of this.

The John Lennon Beatles Tribute : MILO KILO sessions

2011-10-28T12:19:00.003+07:00

Snapshots from the yearly John Lennon and Beatles Tribute concert (organized by MILO)

KC, along with other musicians namely Matsumoto san, Kawanaka san, Hiraiwa san and Kevin aka Dr. Love has been actively participating in this event.

The stage

Yep! I sing in front of a bar counter table :-)

Pre-gig drinks

KC's Number 1 Fan

2011-10-28T09:14:00.004+07:00

Every band would normally have fan clubs, groupies, stalkers and other sorts of stuff... however this is not the case for us :-)

Cambojam doesn't see fans nor spectators every time we do gigs... what we see are new friends :-)

Take a look at KC, at work, with his number one FAN!!!!! :-)

Isn't she electric?

CAMBOJAM: The Amanjaya Sessions

2011-10-27T18:20:00.001+07:00

This is the first Phnom Penh gig we did. We had a great time and was quite well received at Amanjaya. A special shout out to Mr. Frederic Bession for arranging this event and of course to Giffard for sponsoring the gig :-)

Pre-gig photo

Fabien lights a cigarette for Bertrand as we a brief stop to enjoy the Cambodian Countryside

The mysterious hitch hiker

Being Asian really sucks sometimes cause some people expect you to belong to some tribe or some shit like that. Here is my poor attempt of blending in.

Jessie and KC roadside pose

Welcome drink from the room balcony.

They locked me out from the room because apparently I snore a lot. :-)

Tuk-Tuk ride to buy some guitar strings before the gig

Traditional band pose :-)

KC checking outthe chords on his phone. Tip for guitarists who normally forget chords: Keep 'em in your phone :-)

CAMBOJAM: The Art Deli Sessions

2011-10-27T12:14:00.002+07:00

A few snapshots taken at the Art Deli - One of Siem Reap's coolest and grooviest art cafe. Owned by the Spool artist Mr. Loven Ramos. Thanks for having Cambojam at your place and we look forward to the next one.

Photo credit to Mr. Imthiyaz ( I hope I spelled your name correctly bro)

Band shot with some nice art on the wall

Bertrand happily taps the congas. Did you know that Congas are a subliminal instrument representation of an ass? Notice the color and the two round coned shape figure of it that resembles an ass? I don't even have to explain the tapping part and the original name of it was suppose to be "Congass" but due to censorship, they removed one "s" so as not to make it too obvious. :-)

Patrick with his signature baseball cap and sax. He really loves sax! :-) All Day I Dream About Sax (ADIDAS)

Phil on the carjon and Aya on her melodica

KC - obviously shit faced on this one. tsk tsk. How can one be drunk at 9 pm? :-)

Aya stares at the camera

Crowd gets into the groove...

Fabien playing the guitar with a cigarette in his hand. Move over Slash.

Band Fact: The band would normally smoke while playing on stage. Its not because we want to look cool or whatever but we simply want to get a cigarette company to sponsor our gigs :-)

Did you know that if you want to get a good husky voice, you need to smoke a shitload of cigarettes? This is a very unhealthy tip from Cambojam.

Behind the Scenes : DIY Photo shoot for the FCC Phnom Penh Promo Poster

2011-10-26T17:27:00.000+07:00

Snapshots from our promotional poster shoot for FCC Phnom Penh

first attempt :-) who left the damn battery charger on the floor?

Too close.. have to adjust the zoom...

Argh.. the photo is not centered... or maybe they saved a spot for Jessie :-)

Stop moving guys.. gosh darn it :-).. KC you're not a cheerleader... put the damn hands down....

Phil moved a bit.... he had second thoughts on what pose to do :-)

More movements... I told you not to move!!!

Ok so let's just all take a knee and smile

JCI Japan and JCI Cambodia Presents: MILO KILO

2011-10-26T15:25:00.001+07:00

Here is a glimpse of the gig that MILO and KC had at the Angkor Gyeong Ju Center.

MILO with KILO and PHILO

Kevin a.k.a Dr. Love doing a sniper shot while Aya and Aitey are busy on the keyboard

Ayako with her flute

Aitey singing one for the Cambodian and Japanese crowd with Bazooka in the background

Phil on the drums

Bazooka with his Zou Guitar (Signature Fernandes Guitar - the Japanese has a never ending supply of cool gadgets)

Mystery bass man - i forgot this dude's name - sorry bro and
peace!

Aitey, Ayako and KC doing the Ferris Wheel Pose

Psyched after the gig

KC waves at the crowd with an SB-900 Nikon speedlight

To all the people who watched the concert, orkun charan and arigatou gozaimashita!

Jamming at Jam's Birthday

2011-10-25T14:47:00.006+07:00

Cambojam gig at Borei Angkor Resort and Spa as part of the surprise birthday party of Ms. Jam! :-)

Fabien with a thumbs up and a Lady Gagaesque costume

KC acting and behaving like a kid again

Magic Mike Mahalo joins us in this jam birthday session

Doing some last minute checks

KC tuning his guitar while Fab and Magic Mike continues to discuss which key to play the Happy Birthday song

Bertrand putting on his party face while a mysterious gnome pops out from behind

aaawwww it looks like it's Bertrand's party now.. is that the one of Snow White's dwarves?

KC, Joel, Georgie and Cheers

Another constipated shot of KC

Jessie, Bertrand and some colorful balloons

Cheers jamming with us again

CAMBOJAM: Molly's sessions (A Fabless Gig)

2011-10-25T12:22:00.000+07:00

We did a gig behind Fabien's back one time at Molly's :-)

Now he will find out about it because of these photos :-) Well truth be told I think he was in Phnom Penh for a business trip during this time.

The Fabless gig...

We're all looking so behaved and polite...

Seba checking out his thing - he needs to hit the congas lightly or he will pay the price

The Sausage Diaries

2011-10-25T12:12:00.000+07:00

Well sometimes it sucks to be Asian when men suddenly do this odd conversation about wieners. Quite frankly, I don't understand why sometimes we discuss dingdongs with a beer in our hands. Well here is a sneak peek of one of Cambojam's sausages.

DISCLAIMER: Do not get excited. View picture at your own risk

Photo credit to Cambojam's lead guitarist Fabien for this beautiful sausage photo. Offer good while supply lasts. Only USD 1.80 folks.

Band Contest: Whoever finds this item at the supermarket shall win an actual sausage prize from Cambojam :-) Now who's ready for a sausage fest?

KILO jams with MILO

2011-10-25T10:22:00.000+07:00

Kilo Charlie is doing band adultery :-) He is also jamming with Siem Reap's one and only Japanese band MILO. They would do yearly Beatles tribute concerts at Molly Malones Irish Pub and a couple of charity concerts here and there.

MILO is composed of Aya (President), Bazooka (Dr. Sweet), Aitey (Khmer Idol - not in photo), Ayako (Flute - not in photo), Phil (Drums - another band adulterer and not in photo) and KC (vocals and band adulterer too)

CAMBOJAM: The Silk Garden Sessions

2011-10-25T09:50:00.001+07:00

Here are some photos from our Silk Garden gig days. Thank you DJ D'Tonn for letting us play in your bar.

This is a Cambojam Milo Jam session with Mr. Toshiro Yamaguchi - one of the many friends we've made here in Cambodia.

The wholesome threesome doing it outside :-)

CAMBOJAM : The Victorian Sessions

2011-10-25T09:36:00.000+07:00

Here are some photos from a Cellier d'Asie event held at Victoria Angkor Hotel :-)

Cambojam on stage

I wonder what song we were singing on this one

This is a sweet photo... as if we are playing on top of some plants

The Barbecue Sessions

2011-10-25T09:21:00.000+07:00

Back to more band dining moments, this is a typical Wednesday for Cambojam :-) TGIW!!! Thank you Fabien and Jam for the lovely dinner you share with us always.

Two dawgs who don't want to share their meat :-)

Good old times...

Jessie is not in the photo (she's behind the camera)

A sneak peek in the jam room

same pose different clothes

and finally Jessie made it to the photo

Photo credit: Jessie Morcoso

Band on the Bun

2011-10-25T08:59:00.002+07:00

Cambojam would normally take burgers before a gig. Why? I don't know too. Maybe because its the only thing being offered? LOL! I'm kidding but I'm pretty sure we need to write a song about burgers, pizza and beer because it seems to be the band favorite and if Cambojam was a restaurant, you know what we would be serving :-)

"Welcome to Camburger Home of the Camburger Can I take your order?" - if you watched Nickelodeon at one point in your life, you know what I'm talking about.

Here is one of our dining moments at Deadfish Bar and Restaurant.

The band with their buns...

I don't know why KC did this pose. Maybe he is constipated again.

Band Fact: KC's famous complain after every gig is that his stomach would always act up. I'm guessing it's the burgers :-)

Kilo and Section 5

2011-10-25T08:41:00.000+07:00

Cafe Central used to be a live powerhouse as it featured the Filipino rock group Section 5. A high octane band that played mainstream and old school hits. It was all too good to be true though as the band moved to Phnom Penh and continued rocking out in the capital city. Kilo steals a photo with them and yes he does look like a Mexican gangster in this photo.

It would have been nice if Cambojam was able to rock side by side with this band. Well its never too late to dream. All we have to do is find the band :-)

CAMBOJAM : Hanumanalaya Jam Session

2011-10-25T08:32:00.003+07:00

A few snapshots from our Hanumanalaya gig. We got to play on a red carpet :-) unfortunately the carpet doesn't fly but it's fine

KC, Bertrand and Jessie posing with Jeck and Jaby

The crowd eating as the band plays... most of them can't chew their food well cause they tend to sing along :-)

The typical band formation on stage..

The band singing in harmony again.. I'm still pissed that the carpet didn't fly though

When Boys Play

2011-10-24T18:10:00.002+07:00

This is a very rare photo of Cambojam. When we don't play our instruments, we practice our other instruments. Okay that didn't sound right but this is one of the moments we share with the band.

We do music seriously but we also goof off once in a while

Simply priceless :-)

Too bad Aya caught us reading it :-) and I've never seen KC with such a big smile on his face

CAMBOJAM : The Mini Reunion at Miss Wong

2011-10-24T17:58:00.000+07:00

After Brett left the group, we all had a tear in our eyes... ok not really but we did miss out on a couple of things. Brett loves Reggae and he was responsible for some Rasta songs for Cambojam.

This is a shot taken at Miss Wong during our mini reunion in Siem Reap.

Again Fabien didn't stick to the band rule of wearing a black shirt :-)

The Italian Stallion

2011-10-24T17:52:00.002+07:00

I think I don't need to introduce Mr. Sebastian - Siem Reap's one and only funny man. Everybody knows Seba - and yes he was once jamming with Cambojam for quite some time. He brings in a very positive energy on stage and when he cracks a joke, you can't stop laughing... He's a walking "jokebox" - very nice to have him on stage as he never fails to make the crowd happy

Seba was responsible for bringing in classic old school rock to the song list of Cambojam.

He has this classic rocker's voice which also led to improvising the overall genre of Cambojam,

He's the second Italian to have joined the group (there was a time where in we sang a few Italian cover songs) however, he is the one and only Italian Stallion :-)

This pic was taken at Fabien's rockstar party a few years back.

and then there was the Singing Tree...

2011-10-24T15:07:00.001+07:00

here are some of the early gigs we had at Singing Tree Cafe - this is the place where it all began and of course we are still thankful to Michael and his lovely wife and daughter for allowing us to play at their beautiful garden cafe and of course to Eric Demay - the man who made it all possible.

Early beginnings...

KC didn't have a pick holder before so he would normally stick his guitar pick in his forehead :-)

Traditional band photo again hehehe still FOURPlay at this point

Band Fact: Eric Demay (awesome French dude) also played for Cambojam as the digiredoo man (pink color if you may) and his wife Seiko (French speaking Japanese) use to play some beats / congas for Cambojam :-)

CAMBOJAM : The Reunion Session

2011-10-22T11:04:00.006+07:00

A few snapshots from our most recent reunion gig! Do watch out for the new and constantly evolving CAMBOJAM!!!

Bertrand with his soulful vocal power

KC with his one hand lefty mic grip.. He normally writes with his left hand but strangely plays guitars and shoots hoops with his right hand.

Bertrand with his trumpet... We didn't really know that Bertrand played the trumpet but when he did, he blew us all off on stage :-)

Phil's drums... this is where the magic all happens

Vocal harmonies... the band is normally best enjoyed when all members sing in unison :-)

Do look out for our upcoming gigs at the pub street again!!!

A special shout out to Mr. Lorenz "Oyen" Rodriguez for the photos and for joining the reunion gig

Lastly, special thanks to all the friends who came to see us again... It's been nearly 5 years of celebrating good vibes with you all.... orkun charan!

CAMBOJAM : Alila Sothea Gig

2011-10-22T10:51:00.002+07:00

We had the opportunity and pleasure to have played a gig at the Alila Sothea Hotel. Thank you Ms. Sarah for making it happen. :-)

Point a finger at each other pose

KC pretending not to look at the camera

the multi-tasking Bertrand!!! Singing while slapping his carjon

and yes the rumors are true... Fabien has his own body charger and he is plugged during gigs :-)

CAMBOJAM : Raffles Grand d'Angkor Gig

2011-10-22T10:38:00.003+07:00

One of our gigs at the Raffles Grand Hotel's Elephant Bar

We're wearing neckties... it strains the vocal chords :-)

it's rare to have the opportunity to play under the steps...

Song in progress...

Sebastian holding his egg... shaker

Traditional Band pose. At this point, we have recently recruited Sebastian - Siem Reap's one and only Italian Stallion LOL!

When Dead Fish was still alive...

2011-10-22T10:33:00.004+07:00

We had our regular gigs at Deadfish Bar and Restaurant before however, the place is closed now and we all have left are sweet memories :-)

The band would like to thank Maboon - the owner - for the opportunity and the burgers that you have given us. I still think that all your staff looked great in their Nurse and Doctor themed uniforms.

CAMBOJAM : FCC Angkor Rooftop Sessions

2011-10-22T10:30:00.002+07:00

it's hard to believe but I think its cool that we are able to play even on rooftops :-)

here are some shots from our FCC Angkor gigs

Another Banana Gig in the Wall

2011-10-22T10:21:00.003+07:00

A gig with Nettie and Cheers :-)

Betrand with his bass and cigarette

Nettie with a smile :-)

Cheers pouring it on her microphone

Fabien is obviously flirting with the camera :-)

Phil keeping it cool

Nettie and Cheers faces off in a vocal battle

Bertrand sings for the crowd

Another great gig at Pub Street

Once again, Monsieur Jeff Perigois, thank you for the frozen moments :-)

New Year at the Alley

2011-10-22T09:53:00.005+07:00

Celebrate good times c'mon!!!!!! Happy New Year Everyone!

Nettie looks ecstatic on this photo.. I wonder what song she's singing on this one?

Aya with her melodica - Did you know that Paul McCartney originally wanted to play harmonica however he decided not to because he figured how he would be able to sing if he had a harmonica in his mouth. This information has no relation whatsoever with a melodica

KC looks constipated in this photo... or is he campaigning or something?

Fabien with his patented stripe shirt :-) how can one play killer licks and remain cool at the same time? KC and Bazooka (MILO Guitarist) are in the background

Phil having a good time with his drumsticks :-) Definitely one kick ass drummer in Siem Reap

Betrand might have some evil plans after the gig

One of Cjammers' guest vocalist - Cheers from the Philippines (with Nettie who is half Filipina by the way)

We all looked stoked! :-)

Another shout out for Jeff Perigois for the cool photos!

Where's the LOVE?

2011-10-22T09:46:00.005+07:00

the unspoken bond between the band :-)

Shouldn't be Jessie the one holding the flowers?

Cambojam is not a band - it's a family ;-)

Scenes from Fete De La Musique

2011-10-22T09:30:00.007+07:00

Some snapshots from the Fete De La Musique :-)

Fabien and Bertrand in action

Betrand belts one out for the crowd

Cambojam and MILO jams together on stage

KC takes a photo of the crowd

Fabien thinking of the next chord to play hehehe

Jessie and Bertrand posing

Bertrand and KC goofing off before the gig

The band enjoying some grub at Le Malraux

Band Fact: Fete De La Musique is an International day of music. Cambojam and MILO played the said event.

The Kingdom of Cambojam :-)

2011-10-22T09:14:00.003+07:00

Well it's official. Cambojam was able to finally play at one of the temples in Angkor Wat. The feeling was exciting and one of a kind. It's not everyday you play a venue which dates back to a thousand years.

We now join artists like Placebo and Duncan Sheik as one of the chosen few to have played within the Angkor Wat.

Traditional Band pose hehehe.. taken at Prasat Kravann

Jessie striking a pose...

KC does his signature side guitar stage jump

Fabien joins in the fun by doing a flying seating guitar playing position...

and of course Bertrand happily floats in the air with his "carjon"

The CAMBOJAM Effect

2011-10-22T08:55:00.006+07:00

The longest gig we've played is about 5 hrs. straight with no bathroom breaks. My friends back in the Philippines would ask me, how do yo do it? Do I have a sleek high-tech medical device connected to my dingdong which allows me urinate if I'm on stage? Truth be told, I wish I had but the answer is no. The reason for this energy is simply amazing and I can't describe them in words so just let the photos speak for themselves

Ladies and Gentlemen, the reason why Cambojam continues to play music

its our friends who keep us energized...

they're the main inspiration...

Pub street is where it all happens...

It feels like new year every Friday...

and thus the crowd keeps us going and going... like the energizer bunny

the energy is excellent.. everytime!!!

every gig is party time...

cause were here to bring you a good time :-)

We appreciate people who clap and cheer for us every time we perform however, in reality, it's us who should clap and cheer for you because without you, there will be no us.

CAMBOJAM : Magazine Article

2011-10-22T08:45:00.002+07:00

An article written about Cambojam on one issue of L'echo Cambodge

Special thanks to Jeff Perigois for making this happen :-)

CAMBOJAM : Sokha Beach Gig in Sihanoukville

2011-10-22T08:13:00.004+07:00

ah yes! sand, sea and sex---y grooves really does get you in the mood :-) a few snapshots from Cambojam's gig in Sihaoukville

Traditional Band pose ;-)

Use your imagination to figure out if this is a groan, a moan or if something is happening down below him (a hammer on his foot or stepped on a starfish maybe - stop thinking dirty please :-)

Phil smiling for the cam...

If Edward Cullen and Jacob Black were in a band, I believe they would be in Cambojam :-)

Jessie practicing her vocals for the upcoming gig

Band Fact: We were joined by a former Cambojammer in Sihanoukville - the Italian rocker Sebastian!!!

Molly Malones' Guiness Night Gig

2011-10-21T17:55:00.005+07:00

Another one of our special sets we do at Molly Malones from time to time. It was the Guiness Night so we all had to wear the Guiness shirts and drink the beer :-)

We personally don't know who Mr. Guiness is but whoever he was, it was an honor to have celebrated this event for him.

Thank you Molly's for the hospitality as always!

Band Fact: Molly Malones is a popular Irish Pub in Siem Reap and one of the few venues in town who holds musical events for bands like Cambojam, MILO, Mahalo & Friends and etc.

CAMBOJAM : Sofitel Gig

2011-10-21T17:44:00.005+07:00

We would normally play gigs for various groups around various hotels in Siem Reap. The reason we love to play such gigs cause we get to dress a little bit nicer plus I get to wear my black shoes.

Here is a photo before the gig. Dinner photo by the bar trying to behave.

In this photo, you will see Siem Reap's awesome saxman - Patrick!!!

Here is the stage set up we would normally have in the hotel.

and of course the set list - very important. don't leave home without it.

Band Fact: We normally wear black colored tees or clothing during every gig. Fabien seem to have forgotten the rule for this gig.

CAMBOJAM : Red Piano Gig with Dr. Claude

2011-10-21T17:33:00.004+07:00

The band had a wonderful live gig at Red Piano featuring Dr. Claude and Ms. Nettie!!!

Dr. Claude is one explosive performer. When he sings, you will surely dance. Red Piano never felt so alive that night.

Cambojam also featured the lovely Nettie! A powerful voice from Australia :-)

Band Fact: Cambojam adopted one very infectious song from Dr. Claude. and the best part is; the lyric is only composed of two letters :-) aaaaahhh aahh aaaaaaahhhhh a very sexy beat as well. The band would normally play this tune in between sets.

We wanted to be on TV - Thank you Photofunia Website

2011-10-21T17:24:00.004+07:00

Every band's dream is definitely to be on TV. We couldn't wait that long and thanks to Photofunia.com, the dream turned into a reality.

The only downside though is that this is an old ass TV set. A flat HD screen would have been nice.

CAMBOJAM : The New Logo

2011-10-21T17:15:00.004+07:00

The band has always carried out the silhouette grungy font logo combination since their formation however, eventually the band wanted to have something more creative and fun to be able to fully describe the personality and ambiance of the band. Hence, the new logo!!!

spreading music since 2007 is a fitting slogan for the group to use as this is what every gig is all about - to spread positive vibes and give you a good time through our instruments :-) ok that sounds a bit perverted but for us, the main goal is to always put on good and fun show for both tourists and expats alike

we are still open to new logo ideas. this logo was designed by Kilo Charlie and quite frankly, he is not a very big fan of his own work so if there are any ideas out there, please do not hesitate to let us know. ( ^_^ ) b

Band Fact: If we can save enough money from playing the streets, we wish to make this logo a real label on a jam jar someday. LOL!

CAMBOJAM : Rebirth

2011-10-21T17:08:00.003+07:00

Cambojam shoot for the FCC Phnom Penh gig. Ms. Aya joins the band as well :-)

Photo credit and design: Brewster Bonifacio

Band Fact: What makes Cambojam quite interesting is the fact that the band has been having various musicians joining the line up however due to the fact that most of them have to go somewhere else, only 2 original members where left and have been having this stable line up for quite some time now.

CAMBOJAM : Pub Street Sessions

2011-10-21T17:03:00.004+07:00

Cambojam playing Banana Leaf at the Pub Street.

Band Fact: Kilo Charlie could still wear medium sized shirts before. Too bad he can't anymore :-)

CAMBOJAM @ John McDermott's Annex Gallery Opening

2011-10-21T16:35:00.005+07:00

we did a gig at the opening of John McDermott's Annex Gallery. drinks. friends. grooves. great times.

KC on vocals and rhythms - looks tipsy here :-)

Fabien on lead guitar - obviously looking at one of the guests :-)

Brett'ster on rhythm guitars - camera shy as always

Jessie on vocals - potentially checking out a guest on the 2nd floor

Band jamming going on

band pose - for media purposes :-)

Band drinks before the gig

Photo credit to Mr. Loven Ramos

Band Fact: CAMBOJAM was originally known as FOURPlay however, after a few beers and some pizza plus after the online research that we did, we stopped using FOURPlay and went on to use the name Cambojam as it fits the band more in terms of meaning, musicality and purpose.

plus we would normally have minors in the audience and FOURPlay is a very suggestive name :-) Everybody loves FOURPLAY!!! :-)

CAMBOJAM @ Molly's : The Early Gigs

2011-10-21T16:27:00.003+07:00

Here's the original line up from Cambojam. Meet Jessie, Brett, Fabien and KC during their early gigs at Molly Malone's Irish Pub Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia

and we don't remember the person who took the photo so whoever you are - thank you!

New and Improved

2011-10-21T16:10:00.003+07:00

Ladies and Gents, its been a while since I've last updated this blog. So first things' first, let me re-introduce - CAMBOJAM

kilo charlie - once part of a local rock alternative group in the philippines, kilo uses his grungy melancholic voice and energy to bring in a different type of sound and ambiance for the band. He really wants to join american idol but he is not american unfortunately

fabien - a creative and very versatile guitar player, he brings in the funk and the tempo in the band by doing his signature guitar licks and chord progressions. having played various locations in france, he brings in a variety of sound and musical expression to the band... not to mention a great selection of wine during practice sessions.

bertrand - a multi-talented french man who gives the bass and beats for the band. also in charge of vocal harmonization and sound engineering, he plays guitar, belts out a powerful voice and writes musical compositions as well. he is the best dancer among the group.

philippe - the most dynamic member of the band, his inputs brought the band into upbeat songs and led them into a more dancing atmosphere. His background of being the drummer for a reggae band in Belgium has allowed him to mix various levels of drum rhythms and beats and has ability to switch genres in a snap of a finger

aya - her accurate knowledge of music is expressed through keyboards, trombone and melodica. With her high ability to play on any kind of musical ambiance, she brings harmony and positive energies. She also plays with Milo and with the Cambodian Space Project.

performances:

cambojam has already performed in some of siem reap's popular restaurants/cafe's/pubs namely: the singing tree, molly malone's irish pub, abacus, red orchid brasserie, rega restaurant, silk garden, dead fish tower, east india, x-bar, chilli si dang & banana leaf.

....more recently in hotels namely: the sothea, raffles grand d'angkor hotel, sofitel angkor phokeethra golf & spa resort, le meridien angkor, victoria angkor hotel, fcc angkor, hanumanalaya, angkor paradisel (kravan temple) and paradise eco resort (full moon party gig)...

The band was also invited to perform for centre culturel francais- (ccf) for la fete de la musique (music festival) last june 2008 & june 2009.

Covered

2008-11-03T21:13:00.006+07:00

"imitation is the highest form of flattery"

Life without music is simply unacceptable, unimaginable and impossible. Life without notes and harmony would mean nothing. Music has various purposes in each and everyone of us. You may not notice it but it works its magic upon every soul on this planet that we live in. It lifts us up whenever we feel down, it encourages us when no one would, it speaks to us when no one listens, it accepts us when everyone rejects, it understands us in a way that no one can, it gives us hope even though everything else fails, it gives us strength to achieve and move on, it helps us find whatever that is lost and it even reminds us of how beautiful life is and there's never ever a reason to end it. Quite simply put, it's simply miraculous and unexplainable. We all grew up listening to songs that basically molded up the very foundation of our character and outlook in life. Whatever the genre is, you simply connect to the music mainly because it speaks to you. Bands all have their signature and original hits that have shook the whole world upon its release. These are the songs that you would hum to when you wake up, or going to school or while in the shower or while on a cigarette break and so on and so forth. You have to admire the lyrical and musical talent for creating such masterpieces. This achievement however is not done overnight; well unless you're that talented but under normal circumstances, it takes a lot of time, inspiration and patience to finish one decent and meaningful song. Who said that rockstars have fun all day? Not when they're on the drawing board. This is why our next point of discussion is to explain why bands do covers.

Cambojam has been doing covers from the beginning mainly because they wanted to make acoustic interpretations of songs that they love to groove to and of course they haven't really ventured into writing their own stuff at this point; well at least not yet. The band, being the music lovers that they are grew up with various heroes that they love to mimic and play to show their appreciation for their craft. This explains the various flavor of the band. They would normally play music that has an impact on them and sharing it with the crowd and also play music that their audience would appreciate. The reason for doing covers is to try and experiment on various sounds and interpretations and then later on find and apply their own sound. The band admits that there are a lot of great songs to cover and quite simply said imitation is the highest form of flattery. Cambojam owes it to these great bands the very reason why they play music and is only but right that they cover their songs as a straight and simple way of paying homage and respect; besides it might take years to have a great hit so until then the band will keep the love alive through their various cover songs. Do watch out for their original songs to be posted here soon.

Acoustic or Electric?

2008-10-25T16:07:00.005+07:00

"beauty is found in its simplest form"

Bands normally give out their best performance every time during live concerts. People enjoy going to live concerts mainly because they want to feed off the energy from the band. Do you remember bobbing your head whenever you hear a solo guitar rips out killer licks? or whenever the drummer gives you a pound for pound drum solo? do you also remember the time where in you close your eyes and groove every time the vocalist nails a high pitched note or when the bass player gives you slap and sliding beats? For sure there are the moments that you connect with the band. A high octane performance combined with showmanship, stage effects and a good crowd always end up in a rocked out performance. The joys of playing live is indeed one hell of a feeling. It's so good that that you just forget about the world and drown yourself in the music. This is how powerful a live set can be.

Bands always have the tendency to go plugged and rock out with different gadgets and effects that electronically create various sounds and styles. It will always depend on the members on what kind of sound they will produce but in general, bands have always depended on technology to further innovate and fuse different sounds to create music. This is not the case for Cambojam.

Cambojam, from the very beginning chose to play acoustic sets. The reason being is that they wanted to create an atmosphere that is laid back, relaxed and a fitting compliment to the aura of Siem Reap. Despite the bands' previous musical experiences, they have decided to take a shift from their normal sessions and trim it down back to basics. The band has experimented on various song genres and have transformed it acoustically. Why acoustic? When you play a song in its acoustic form, you get to appreciate the harmony, the arrangement and the voice that make you appreciate a song even further. There are a lot of great songs all over the world but truth be told, a lot of them got even better when they had acoustic versions. Breaking a song into its simplest form is not an easy task but when achieved, creates a totally new sound experience. It's a different kind of adrenaline. It's raw and so plain that it gives you musical satisfaction to a new level. This is the reason why the band enjoys playing acoustic sets. It's a different kind of high for them. the band feeds on this type of energy. Living in Siem Reap can be tiring and exhausting and at the end of the day, you need something to chill out to and relax. Try listening to acoustic songs when your tired or just chilling. Believe me it makes a difference.

The Name Game

2008-10-22T12:41:00.004+07:00

"our name is our music"

Call it tradition or a curse but for some reason, it's always hard to find a name for a band. A band's name; as it's traditional purpose is needed to create an identity for the group and for the public to identify them. As generations have passed, band names were simple then became complicated. Over the years, we have heard various band names that are catchy, plain and easy. As time went on, names started to get complex, hard to read and were in foreign languages already. The world would always follow a fad if there's a new trend that is being set and as band names were soon becoming tools of marketing, the more bands tried to create names that nearly sounded like brands or corporate companies. Completely pointless if you look at it but to be able to define a band is more than just names, its a combination of things. In choosing a band's name, it has to basically give the public an idea or a clue of how the band would sound like. International bands from all over the globe have been successful in doing so by associating their music with their names although sometimes the case may not be always like this. There is no real secret in finding a good name for a band. The best way to do it however is to make a list of ideas from every member and then discuss it as a group. Make sure the name feels comfortable and does justice to what kind of music you play.

Cambojam had a long list of names before they settled with their current identity. Truth be told, the band was actually known as Jessie and the Singing Tree Band (to show their appreciation to the place where they all met) in the beginning then eventually evolved into FOURPlay then later on found out that this name was already in use and it was quite hard for them to tell their name to minors so immediately, the band had to replace their name to avoid any confusion whatsoever. The band had various ideas from one another and the list was long and hilarious to be exact. Six Stringed Samurai, Bar Street Acoustics, After Work, Tits Ahoy, Cocks and Rubbers to name a few. Some were good, but most of them were vulgar in a comedic way. So the search continued until it all came down one morning when everyone decided to try out and go for the name CAMBOJAM. The name itself is self explanatory. They are a group of expats currently residing in CAMBOdia and they formed a group to be able to JAM with one another. It's not a fancy name but it works. Local people thought they we're called CAMBODIANS but it just has the same ring to it. Pretty much this is the history of the band's name and how it is connected with their music. Their mission is to jam and create music with other musicians and interpret songs with their own arrangements. How do they sound like? Try to watch them live.

Roots and Influences

2008-10-22T10:25:00.005+07:00

"we are what we play"

Every band needs to create their own sound to be able to distinguish themselves amongst others. Finding your signature sound is just as hard as finding a name for your group. This challenge however, is where the interesting part normally is. How does one define their sound? Basically, you go down to your roots and influences. You have to dig deep within you to uncover what kind of musical genre you are really inclined to. You have to know what kind of music did you grow up with. Be it rock, pop, classical, reggae or just about anything else, it's very vital that you distinguish and pinpoint your very own personal musical taste. The reason being is that if you're playing music that you really like, then rest assured that you're always at your peak performance. If you play a song that really speaks who you are, then people would respond and further appreciate what you're doing and thus being able to really entertain. Influences play a big part in every musician as it basically defines the very foundation of their playing skills and abilities. We've all looked up to our band heroes as we grew up and quite simply they're the very reason why we decided to learn how to play an instrument. Your musical influence pretty much tells you what kind of music you would normally be playing.

Cambojam had to face this challenge in the beginning. The band itself is an interesting mix of culture and sound. Coming from different parts of the globe, the band had to fuse 4 musical tastes into one progressive sound.

To better give you an idea of how Cambojam sounds, let's take a look at their brief musical history:

Jessie is more inclined to R&B, songs from the heart and power ballads that are heavily influenced by American and Filipino artists. Having played with a pop group in the Philippines, her music is more mainstream and has a strong mass appeal. Jessie's sweet voice creates a warmth and mood that is very pleasant and comforting to listen to.

Fabien is a very versatile guitarist. Mainly influenced with European rhythms, he is quite expressive and very impressive whenever he does his solo licks and playful riffs. Having jammed with musicians all over France and across the globe, Fabien was able to create his own distinct style by combining jazz, blues, reggae and classical style that creates an upbeat and positive sound.

Brett is very much into blues and reggae. He is known as the slide master as he uses his bottleneck effectively on songs that you won't expect to hear a slide riff. Having played with a blues / reggae band in Australia, Brett's riffs creates a sound that you can groove and chill out to. In addition, Brett is also a bass guitar player and is very creative with his lyrics that makes him a very well rounded musician. The sound he produces is laid back and relax.

Kilo is pretty much the opposite of the three. His main influences would be punk, rock, gothic, emo and alternative. Having played with a rock / metal band in the Philippines, his sound is more dark and angst driven. He is the testosterone of the group. The typical guy who would jump on stage and do a stage dive if he can. His riffs would be noticeably on minor chords and has a strong inclination to what we call rebel music. The sound he creates are nostalgic and melancholic.

From the above given facts, the band needed to create something out of these musical backgrounds. Being able to fuse sound to create a better or a new one is not an easy task as it should appeal to the preferences of the other members and also keeping in mind the reaction of the listeners as well. In the end, Cambojam is acoustically taking various musical genre and covering it uniquely with their own personal styles creating a sound that is basic and yet melodious. How do they sound like? That's for you to conclude.

One Fateful Sunday

2008-10-21T15:22:00.016+07:00

"When the music calls, you have to answer"

Cambojam was actually formed at this local garden cafe by the Wat Bo area called the Singing Tree. Fabien, Brett and Kilo all met there - for the first time. It was rather surprising to see them when they met up as the three was an interesting mix of a French, an Australian and a Filipino Guitarist. People had no clue with regards to what kind of music they'll produce. After their short introductions to one another, the three men wasted no time, tuned their guitars and started playing immediately. It was an instant hit!

They played like they've known each other before. They were surprisingly in tune and in sync with one another. It turned out to be a great and progressive Sunday afternoon that continued constantly. Every Sunday was interesting. The chords and the riffs were all flowing smoothly. It was harmonious. It was clear to them that they needed to form a band sooner or later. The plan was laid out and the practice sessions were ongoing but eventually, the band needed a voice; something to compliment the three's catchy and innovative riffs; and this is where Jessie came into the picture. Brett and Jessie were actually playing a gig at this Irish Pub called Molly Malone's. Jessie was invited to try out and sing for the band one day and just like that, she blended in perfectly and thus the band was formed. This is where it all began. 4 individuals, 4 different influences, 4 different voices, 1 musical passion. They are CAMBOJAM.

The music called upon them. Everyone had their own careers during the day but its the passion and love of music that brought them together to play gigs and share their music to everybody. The band doesn't play the music but it's the music that plays the band (excerpt from Bamboo). It's more than passion. It's an addiction. It's an obsession.