Dengue Fever (band)

Dengue Fever is a six-member band from Los Angeles who combine Cambodian pop music and lyrics with psychedelic rock. They were formed in 2001 by Ethan Holtzman and his brother Zac after Ethan was inspired by a trip to Cambodia. As Ethan and Zac were searching for a vocalist to sing in Khmer, lead Singer Chhom Nimol was discovered in a nightclub in Little Phnom Penh area of Long Beach. She was already a well-known karaoke singer from Cambodia, but decided to move out here after visiting her sister, and thought it was a good chance to make more money to send to her family back home. Zac performs vocals and guitar, while Ethan plays the Farfisa organ. Rounding out the band are bassist Senon Williams (who also plays in Radar Bros), drummer Paul Smith, and David Ralicke on brass.

Their self-titled debut album was released in 2003. All lyrics on the earlier albums are sung in Khmer, whilst the third album introduces some songs in English. Many of the songs are covers of 1960s Cambodian rock tunes by such artists as Sinn Sisamouth and Ros Sereysothea, but some are originals, first written in English by the Holtzmans before being translated.

Their second album, Escape from Dragon House, was released in 2005, and contained more original songs. It was re-released on limited edition colored vinyl on August 26th, 2008. Escape from Dragon House was one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005.

In June 2008, Real World Records released “Venus On Earth” in all territories outside of the U.S. and Canada. Peter Gabriel founder of Real World Records said this of the deal: "We have Dengue Fever coming out on Real World Records (outside of the USA) - it’s really cool stuff, with the small Cambodian singer and big American guys behind! They’re California based but have taken 60’s Cambodian pop as their main source of inspiration and it’s done with a lot of style. It’s spirited, impassioned stuff."

Discography

• Dengue Fever (2003)
• Dengue Fever EP (EP, 2005)
• Escape from Dragon House (2005)
• Sip Off the Mekong (EP, 2006)
• Venus On Earth (2008)

Film & Television

The band is the subject of the documentary film, Sleepwalking Through the Mekong. The film chronicles the bands visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, during the Bon Om Thook water festival in 2005. This trip was the homecoming of singer Chhom Nimol and a transformation for the rest of the band as they performed with master musicians and recorded new songs along the way. The film reveals modern Cambodia as the band tours through Phnom Penh and beyond, crossing a great cultural chasm with the same spirit of Cambodia's original rock pioneers.

"Ethanopium", a cover of a song by Ethiopian jazz musician Mulatu Astatke, was included in the soundtrack of Jim Jarmusch's 2005 film, Broken Flowers.

"One Thousand Tears of a Tarantula" was included on the soundtrack for the second season of the Showtime series "Weeds"

"Both Sides Now", a Joni Mitchell cover, was included on the soundtrack of Matt Dillon's 2002 film, City of Ghosts.

"Escape From Dragon House" was featured in an episode of the same name on the HBO show "True Blood."

Sources

• Mindenhall, Chuck (June 21, 2002). Reverb 2002 East of the Moon LA Weekly
• Bardeen, Sarah (November 3, 2005). Dengue Fever: 'Escape from Dragon House' NPR
• Huey, Steve. Dengue Fever Allmusic
• SuicideGirls interview with Ethan Holtzman

References

External links

• Sleep Walking Through The Mekong (documentary about Dengue Fever)
• Dengue Fever at Allmusic
• Dengue Fever at Facebook
• Dengue Fever at iMeem

Listening

• Dengue Fever Review from National Public Radio, November 3, 2005
• Dengue Fever interview from National Public Radio, January 31, 2008
• Dengue Fever interview on Fresh Air radio program, February 25, 2008
• Dengue Fever interview on The World radio program, 4 April 2008

Video

• Dengue Fever's YouTube Channel
• Dengue Fever (kcet.org)
• "Seeing Hands" on Fuel TV
• "Tiger Phone Card" on Fuel TV