Estadísticas
Biografía
Inspired by a 1997 trip to Cambodia with a friend that contracted Dengue Fever, organist Ethan Holtzman was taken by ’60’s Cambodian rock and subsequently formed the band named after the disease. Alongside brother Zac Holtzman, member of the alt-country outfit Dieselhed, the pair purged record stores and online outlets for as much Cambodian rock as they could claim. Upon searching for a vocalist who could sing in Khmer, Ethan and Zac stumbled across Cambodian native Chhom Nimol in a Long Beach nightclub and immediately invited her to their ranks. Despite being a well-known pop singer back in Cambodia, Nimol saw it as a fantastic opportunity to earn some money to send back home. Bassist Senon Williams, drummer Paul Smith, and brass player David Ralicke subsequently joined completing the lineup, after which Dengue Fever began crating their debut release.
Following their debut performance in 2002, the band issued their debut, self-titled studio album in 2003. Featuring vocals sung entirely in Khmer, the record won the band a large following which included a number of Hollywood’s elite. Dengue Fever’s subsequent release was a self-titled EP which showcased the band’s first attempt at original material, released later in 2003. Following Matt Dillon including the band’s cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” to the soundtrack of “City of Ghosts”, Nimol was arrested for not holding a legal visa. Funded through benefit concerts, a lawyer was hired to represent the singer and after nearly a year of being in legal limbo, Nimol obtained a two-year visa.
In 2007 the band released the full-length “Escape from Dragon” which, marked by Nimol increased English, was the first release to feature English sung lyrics. Dubbed one of the best albums of 2008 by the iTunes Store, Dengue Fever’s third full-length “Venus On Earth” represented a huge progression for the band as it became the first album sold outside the U.S. In 2009 the band appeared in the Cambodian music documentary “Sleepwalking Through the Mekong”, which they contributed a number of songs to. The same year Dengue Fever released the full-length “In the Ley Lines” once again showcasing a collection of covers, original material, and Ethiopian jazz. The full-length “Cannibal Courtship” arrived in 2011, followed by the Pledge Music funded album “The Deepest Lake” in 2015.
Críticas en vivo
Dengue fever: a tropical disease spread through mosquito bites, causing fever, headaches, joint pains and other symptoms. Or a band. A really catchy, unconventional and cool band. Despite their misleading name, there is nothing but positivity to be gained through catching the bug for this band. Dengue fever’s symptoms include positive energy, insomnia as you replay their lyrics through your head and high levels of excited anticipation as you count down the days till you see them live. You can probably tell from the photo that this is far from your typical American band. And you would be right. Brothers Ethan and Zac Holtzman formed the band with something different in mind: inspired by a trip to Cambodia they wanted to combine the Cambodian pop music they heard there with their own music taste: psychedelic rock. On their travels they met and teamed with Chhom Nimol, whom they saw performing at a local night club. The result was some sort of Cambodian- rock- indie- surf sound hybrid. From chilled out songs such as ‘Hummingbird’, which are perfect for lazy days in the sun to the vastly different ‘Cement Slippers’ which caters more for rock fans and party-goers, there is surely something for everyone with these guys.
Perhaps naming your band after a tropical disease linked to sickness and general annoyance was not the best move for Los Angeles rock outfit. However there is reasoning within the bizarre namesake, the group make an original and unusual blend of psych-rock with Cambodian pop, a region of the world synonymous with the insect carried disease.
The band's music is easily as infectious and over a career span of a decade they have expanded dramatically from their home in LA to achieve a real pull across the States. It is very unpredictable throughout the night yet this goes down well with the gathered fans and curious newcomers alike as the constant jerking between bouncy pop hooks and tumbling rock instrumentals keeps the attention locked on the band and their performance. The six musicians clearly believe in the band and this is evident through the fact the one lineup has remained a constant yet it also very clear by the huge amounts of passion that Dengue Fever display onstage. Do not allow their gruesome namesake put you off from tickets, equally infectious and no need for medication.
Rock was genuinely psychedelic and pop was genuinely Cambodian! A fantastic contradiction that spread dancing energy to the audience! All the band members are fantastic performers but of course it's the glittering Chhom Nimol, shifting from wild rocker to tropical sensual pop star that draws all the attention on her!
I think the singer was secretly looking at me in the front row, but thats ok with me. Great show, especially when the sax player and then some others in the band invited everyone to the stage and dance with them for a few tunes. The Triple Door is a great venue, very personal and nice people there.
The best show I've been in my life. What a band! They are amazing. So much energy and joy, they feel the music and give an amazing show. If you have the chance to go to some of their shows, please do. I went from Bilbao to Berlin and I cannot regret.
WOW what an amazing concert. So cool the vocals Chhom Nimol were mesmerizing. THe whole band had just an incredible energy.
Great songs - Tiger phone card - Sober Driver
Really wanted to hear Seeing hands
It was the best concert of the summer
Great energy, band and music were delicious. Venue terrific. Please come back again and again. Fever fever fever fever fever fever feveridh should be fever gever fever fever fever fever Fred