The Evens

After my recent post on Soccer Team, I decided to keep it in the Dischord family and post briefly on the new album by The Evens. As most know by now, The Evens are Amy Farina (formerly of The Warmers) and Ian Mackaye (formerly of Minor Threat, Embrace, hopefully not formerly of Fugazi). The band continues to take on the socio-politically charged themes of both of their previous work, but in a largely stripped down format.

With their album The Evens Get Even, Ian's work on the baritone guitar - an admittedly difficult instrument to play - has progressed from their solid self-title debut. Amy continues her deft drumwork, but provides a greater vocal presence on this album. Her lovely alto, almost PJ Harvey-esque in character.

Check out No Money (mp3) from The Evens Get Even - a definite pick for my top 50 songs of 2006.

Soccer Team

The following statement should not be interpreted as a criticism: The Dischord family is incestuous. In the last several weeks, the longtime purveyors of DC punk/indie/harDCore/experimental music has released records by The Evens (featuring members of Fugazi and The Warmers), French Toast (featuring members of the Nation of Ulysses, Make Up, and Fidelity Jones) and Soccer Team. The latter of which features Ryan Nelson of Beauty Pill and the Most Secret Method and Melissa Quinley who has spent the last several years working in the Dischord office. The result is a beautiful marriage of sounds and styles entitled "Volunteered" Civility and Professionalism.

Soccer Team Solid Ring Fighters (mp3)

Burn to Shine 3 - Portland

The collaboration between filmmaker Christoph Green and producer/drummer Brendan Canty continues with part 3 of their series Burn to Shine. This time out they traveled to Portand, OR for a day of music curated by Chris Funk of The Decemberists. The format remains constant - each band has one hour to set-up, soundcheck and play in a house that set for destruction.

As was the case with the previous volumes shot in DC and Chicago the line-up features some big names (Sleater-Kinney, the Shins, the Decemberists) with lesser-known yet no less capable bands (The Thermals, The Gossip).

After a short intro by Brendan Canty explaining the concept of the series and providing a sense of history of the house about to be destroyed, The Thermals launch into a flawless version of "Welcome to the Planet" - further evidence that this band is on the verge of taking over the planet. Other highlights of the first half of the disc include Quasi (contributing further to my hard to explain crush on Janet Weiss), The Planet The (who may just be the west coast answer to Q and Not U), and an understated performance of "Modern Girl" by the recently disbanded Sleater-Kinney.

The second half of the disc is notable for the first appearance of a hip-hop group, The Lifesavas, in the series. The Shins provide a rawer (read: better) version of Chutes Too Narrow's "Saint Simon". Full disclosure - I don't totally get The Decemberists - I'm sorry but Colin Meloy's voice gets on my last nerve. That said, "The Mariner's Revenge Song" from 2005's Picaresque is well, not bad and definitely worth a view. The disc wraps up at dusk with The Gossip and a seductive version "Listen Up!" - one of the great highlights of the disc.

You can purchase the dvd here.

See my previous post on Volume 2 which was shot in Chicago and featured Wilco, Tortoise and The Ponys.

The Gossip "Listen Up!" (mp3)
The Thermals "A Pillar of Salt" (mp3)
Sleater-Kinney "Jumpers" (mp3)

Death Cab/Ted Leo show

In honor of Election day, today's post focuses on two politically informed groups - Death Cab for Cutie and Ted Leo/Pharmacists. I had the opportunity to see the two play together last Friday at the lovely, if not a little staid setting of the Providence Performing Arts Center. The 3000 seat theater provided for an amazing visual and listening experience, but the true experience was augmented by the almost debilitatingly funny clash of generations. The crowd was largely dominated by high schoolers and their older college-aged counterparts replete with their camera phones that were in perpetual use shooting high quality images of the bands.
Juxtaposed with the youngsters was the crack squad of blue-haired ushers (average age: 74) decked out in their white cable-knit cardigans. Can someone give these poor seniors some ear plugs?

Ted Leo/Pharmacists played an energetic 35 minute set focusing mostly on The Tyranny of Distance ("Biomusicology", "Dial Up", "Timorous Me", "My Vien Ilin") and Shake the Sheets ("Walking to Do", "Me and Mia"). With the exception of "Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone", Hearts of Oak was largely ignored. They did break out one new song "Armybound" which Ted had posted on his website several months ago. The show featured the usual comic ramblings between songs and his fashion choice of a quasi Air Force flightsuit was to be commended (I think). While the set had few holes, it became obvious that this is a band that thrives in a club setting.

Death Cab, on the other hand, used the vastness of space to their great advantage. The band that employs so many layers of texture aurally augmented their sound with a bordering-on-Pink Floyd lightshow. Now I cannot say that I am that knowledgable about the band. I saw them once before, pre-The OC, in 2004 with Pretty Girls Make Graves (once again, I had gone to see the opening band only to stay and be impressed by the headliner). In the two years since that show, Death Cab have really fine-tuned their show for a larger audience. Judging by all the adolescents singing along, the setlist featured many "hits"; while the band worked hard at challenging the crowd with multiple attempts at Sonic Youth meets Sun Ra Arkestra noise collage freakouts (which frankly, totally worked). I left once again impressed.

Ted Leo/Pharmacists
Biomusicology (mp3)
Bleeding Powers (mp3)
Walking Through (mp3)

Death Cab for Cutie
Title and Registration (mp3)
Wait (mp3)
A Move Script Ending (mp3)
Song for Kelly Huckaby (mp3)
For What Reason (mp3)
Champagne From a Paper Cup (mp3)

William Elliot Whitmore

Last year, William Elliot Whitmore cracked my top 20 songs of 2005 with the rollicking "Midnight" powered only by acoutic guitar and a stomping foot. Now he returns with another full length entitled Song of the Blackbird (Southern Records). While I am delinquint in purchasing the LP, I can say without reservation that the simplistic yet gourgeous "Dry" (see below for mp3) is one of the best five songs of 2006. And "The Chariot", with its full backing band demonstrates William's versatility to allow something other than his right foot to drive the beat. In many ways William's music is difficult to describe - yes, it's primarily banjo/acoustic guitar with a folk/bluegrass bent. And yes, his voice draws comparisons of those of Tom Waits and Johnny Cash. But it's his punk foundation/attitude that adds another layer of credibility to his music (he sells skateboard decks with banjos on them for Christ's sake). The only band that I can think of that has come as close bridging the styles of bluegrass/folk and punk is Mule and all of PW Long's subsequent work - not only in style but thematically as well.

Dry (mp3) from Song of the Blackbird
The Chariot (mp3) from Song of the Blackbird
Midnight (mp3) from Ashes to Dust
Cold and Dead (mp3) Hyms for the Hopeless

The Spinanes

You know you have great friends when you don't see them for a year (or more) and when you get together it's like no time has passed at all. You can't say that about everyone, but I have been lucky to have a small group of friends from both high school and college that have given me this gift. I realized in many cases, it is a shared love of good music that keeps us tight. No matter how far away we are from each other, we have the common bond of a good song or album. This past weekend as I sat outside with a few old friends, drinking beer on a warm afternoon we found ourselves talking about the Spinanes - a group that disbanded several years ago. Well before the White Stripes, Rebecca Gates and Scott Plouf created sparse yet beautiful (and rocking) songs as a two-piece on 7" (including the infuckingcredible "Hawaiian Baby") and their debut album, Manos. I was a college DJ when Manos was released and got turned onto the band when they were on tour with Fugazi back in 1993. They recorded two more albums as a band, the latter of which was really a Rebecca Gates album with some help from Jerry Busher of French Toast.

As I searched the great world wide web for Spinanes' mp3s, I came across two good music blogs that had been off my radar. The first is Slowcode, which is run by Norm Arenas of Texas is the Reason fame. I first met Norm back in April of 1995 when he crashed at my apartment in Hartford after traveling up from NYC with my buddy Pat West for a Fugazi show. I went on to see him in Texas is the Reason and I was blown away by his guitar playing. Definitely the heyday of good emo (some may argue that is an oxymoron). The second is rbally, which is chock full of mainstream alternative live recordings. I just download some live Radiohead from 1995. Good stuff.

Punch Line Loser (mp3)

The Wrens - Updated Website

Everyone's favorite indie rock band of thirty/forty-somethings from North Jersey have updated their website. Not exactly cutting edge, but so much better than before. Complete with the usual fare of news, tourdates and mp3s, the big addition for me was the inclusion of all of their videos (also available on YouTube). Also of note, some folks are working on a Wrens' documentary, which could be interesting given that these guys work regular jobs and live together - not exactly the taudry tales one might find in say a Motley Crue movie.

Everyone Choose Sides (mp3)
This Boy is Exhausted (mp3)
Boy You Won't (mp3)

Dinosaur Jr.

Another quiet Saturday night in Providence found the Mrs. and I watching the Henry Rollins' Show on IFC with musical guests, Dinosaur Jr. I have to admit I had been less than enthusiastic about the reunion of all these bands that had a huge impact on me during late high school and college (the aforementioned Dinosaur as well as the Pixies, etc.). But with re-release of Green Mind and their performance of "Forget the Swan" on the Rollins show, I did get a little nostalgic. That said, seeing J. Mascis with his shoulder length silver hair reminded me of how much time has passed in the 17 years since I first heard You're Living All Over Me (half my life, in fact).

Dinosaur Jr. Freak Scene (mp3)

Jennifer O'Connor

Last September, NYC-based singer-songwriter Jennifer O'Connor signed to Matador Records. Described as the label's next Cat Power, I quickly downloaded "The Color and the Light" from her website and was quickly blown away (See my Top 20 songs of 2005 for more details). And while her first long-player for the label won't be released until this August, she has released a single entitled "Exeter, Rhode Island" on the Matador website. This Rhode Islander, for one, wants to know the backstory.

Exeter, Rhode Island (mp3)

The Color and the Light (mp3)

Sister (mp3)

Remember the great Chisel

I received an email last night from one of my oldest, closest friends with whom I hadn't talked with in some time. Our friendship spans over 20 years, countless drinks as well as more shows than I can remember. One of the greatest musical gifts he gave me was introducing me to Chisel back in 1996. At the time, we were roommates in Arlington, Virginia and Chisel were at their height in neighboring DC. The obvious Paul Weller influences on 8AM All Day was a welcome addition to my heavy rotation of post-hardcore and indie rock at that time.

I never got a chance to see them live, but in late 1997 or early 1998 (i can't quite remember which) I did get to see Ted Leo's first post-Chisel band at a fashion show in DC. This was not your average fashion show (although I have no idea what an average show is) as it featured the designs of Marge Marshall of Slant 6 and the models were those crazy Italian twins from Blonde Redhead, Amy Farina of the Warmers and now, the Evens, as well as Steve Gamboa from The Make Up (who is also Marge's husband). Pure absurdity! The show concluded with a set from the alway entertaining Make Up (see post below). I know, ridiculous tale that means nothing to most readers, but still fun for me to write about.

Chisel - 8AM All Day (mp3)
Chisel - Do Go On (mp3)

Spoon's plans for 2006

Wow, a full month without a post. Sorry about that. I was reading on Pitchfork Media this morning that the great Spoon are planning a 2006 release in addition to a number of other projects for the incredibly talented Britt Daniels (solo release, film score, etc etc etc). As I have mentioned in previous posts, Gimme Fiction was one of my favorite albums of 2005, so I am eagerly anticipating new material. In the meantime, consider checking out some songs from 2002's Kill the Moonlight and 2001's Girls Can Tell courtesy of Epitonic.com. Enjoy.

The Way We Get By (mp3)
Jonathon Fisk (mp3)
Lines in the Suit (mp3)
Me and the Bean (mp3)

Ian Svenonius

Misunderstood Artist? Mad Genius? Or just plain ol' Weirdo? I found myself recently reflecting on the career of the former Sassiest Boy in America. Rediscovering the brilliant 13-Point Program to Destroy America by his first band The Nation of Ulysses was the first step. Now I am eagerly awaiting my copy of the just released live album by Make Up (pictured above) entitled Untouchable Sound. Recorded in 2000 at the Black Cat in DC (a show which included yours truly in the audience), the recording features many of the bands amazing Gospel Yeah Yeah stylings including a rousing cover of "Wade in the Water". I have been less enamored with his latest band, Weird War, although I have to give him credit for continuing to push the envelope - check out their videos below to see what I mean.

Make Up
White Belts (mp3)
C'mon, Let's Spawn (mp3)
Gospel 2000 (mp3)
Born on the Floor (mp3)

Weird War videos
Mental Poisoning
Illuminated
Girls Like That

Ted Leo signs to Touch & Go

After three spectacular albums on the now failing Lookout Records brand, Ted Leo and his Pharmacists have moved over to the king of the indie labels, Chicago's Touch and Go Records. The label that brought us Quasi, Dirty Three , Man or Astro-man? and the great Jesus Lizard had the following to say:

Touch and Go is thrilled to announce the addition of Ted Leo to our roster of artists. Known as much for his exuberant live performances as for his stellar pop-punk anthems and intelligent songwriting, Ted has a long and distinguished indie rock pedigree. Albums such as The Tyranny of Distance, Hearts of Oak, and Shake the Sheets (all recorded with his band The Pharmacists) have garnered heaps of critical acclaim and the appreciation of scores of dedicated fans. And it's not hard to see why: Ted's songwriting prowess is matched equally by his ferocious guitar playing. His energy, dedication, and unending commitment to his work are inspiring, and the entire Touch and Go camp is truly honored to have him join our family!

Biomusicology (mp3)
Me and Mia (mp3)
Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone (mp3)
Loyal to My Sorrowful Country (mp3)

The Oranges Band

Baltimore's The Oranges Band has always held a special place in my heart. Maybe it's the fact that they are from Charm City or that they seem like four totally normal guys who just like to rock out. But what I think it really comes down to is taking everything that's great about garage rock and making it their own without creating some sort of awful bastardization of it. Smart lyrics, simple melodies and driving beats without any sense of pretension. If you like what you hear, be sure and vote for them for Spin's Band of the Year contest and check out their site on Myspace.com.

Ride the Nuclear Wave (mp3)
White Ride (mp3)
My Street (mp3)
OK Apartment (mp3)

New Mates of State Single

The former teacher and cancer researcher/indie rock husband & wife supercouple have done it again with their new single Fraud in the 80's. Ever since catching them at the Black Cat in DC a few years back opening for Rainer Maria I have been enamored with their quirky vocals and dynamic song structures. Check out their new album Bring it Back set for release in March on Barsuk Records or on the road in March and April.

Mates of State "Fraud in the 80's" (mp3)

Gern Blandsten Records

I have always had a sweet spot for this label since my friend Mike turned me onto Chisel in the mid 1990's. Home to defunct DC bands like the aforementioned Chisel (Ted Leo's old band), The Impossible Five and Canyon - Gern Blansten Records, based in Jersey continues to put out great music from the Mid-Atlantic. Former Canyon frontman, Brandon Butler, put out Killer on the Road last year to great reviews. And the label's active roster includes some of Boston (like Victory At Sea and The Movies), New Jersey (Rye Coalition) and New York's best new bands. The New York contingent includes the post-punk a la Jawbox sounds of Pilot to Gunner, as well as the retro new wave stylings of The Flesh and Watchers.

Chisel "8 AM All Day" (mp3)
Canyon "Ten Good Eyes" (mp3)
Watchers "To The Rooftops" (mp3)
The Flesh "Sweet Defeat" (mp3)
The Impossible Five "Zero Zero" (mp3)
Pilot to Gunner "Zero Return" (mp3)
Brandon Butler "Next Time" (mp3)

The Visitations

The Visitations aka Davey Wrathgeber aka David Rathgeber, Jr is probably the most creative person I've ever met in my life. In the 20 + years that we've been friends, he has never ceased to amaze me with his musical abilities - sometimes strange, sometimes funny, sometimes mindblowing, and always unique. You will never confuse Davey's voice or songwriting skills with anyone else. After leaving the DC suburbs for the University of Georgia in 1990 - Davey's freshmen year roommate was Andrew Reiger of Elf Power - he started the folk/rock/alt-country freakshow FableFactory and toured the country playing with his brenthren in the Elephant 6 collective. On a roadtrip to Athens to visit Davey in January of '98 with my friend, Mike, we had coffee with members of Of Montreal and Neutral Milk Hotel before visiting Olivia Tremor Control in the studio. It was quite an absurb amount of musical talent all hanging out together in one place.


In the wake of FableFactory's demise a few years back, Davey formed The Visitations and released the album Propaganda in 2004 with help from Jason Nesmith and Derek Almstead of Of Montreal. Davey sticks to his strengths on the album melding folk music with current events and humor. It is the most literal critique of the current administration ever put to music.

Osama And Your SUV (mp3)
Questionable Intelligence (mp3)
Talkin Hate Radio Blues (mp3)
Television (mp3)
Burn a Flag (4 July) (mp3)
Florida (mp3)

Top 20 Songs of 2005 (10 - 1)

10. Jennifer O'Connor "The Color and the Light" Red Panda

Somewhere near the intersection of Hope Sandoval and Lucinda Williams lives the music of Jennifer O'Connor.

9. Cat Power "The Greatest" Matador Records

From the as yet unreleased album of the same name. Chan Marshall recorded the album in Memphis with local session players. The result recalls Dusty Springfield's classic album recorded in the same city.

8. The National “All the Wine” Beggars Banquet

The best of the song-oriented bands from NYC. Matt Berninger's voice evokes comparisons to Mark Eitzel as does the songwriting. Excellent song from one of the best albums of the year, Alligator.

7. Ponce De Leon “Snap the Gator Jaw” Thorn01

Without a doubt, this is the most absurdist song on the list. Ponce De Leon take dance punk to a new level. "Snap the Gator Jaw" infuses '80's era new wave with punk attitude and completely bizarre lyrics.

6. Spoon “The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine” Merge

There are probably three or four other songs that I could have picked from Gimme Fiction that are just as good ("I Summon You", "Beast and Dragon, Adored", etc.), but Monsieur Valentine just won out. Brit Daniels does more with less than any musician I can think of. Also check out "I Turn My Camera On"

5. Anders Parker “I Found You” Baryon Records/Redeye

The former frontman of alt-country outfit, Varnaline, continues to impress me as the best singer-songwriter out there, or at least in Brooklyn. Following up 2004's amazing Tell it to the Dust, Anders released the EP The Wounded Astronaut earlier this year. Moving back and forth between piano and guitar on the EP, "I Found You" is as straight ahead a rocker as you could find in 2005. Also check out "Tell it to the Dust"

4. Okkervil River “The Latest Toughs” Jagjaguar/IODA

Who says New Hampshire doesn't rock? "The Latest Toughs" exhibits that this often alt-country band can do indie-pop like nobody's business. Also check out "Black"

3. Koufax “Why Bother At All” Doghouse

With all due respect to The Killers and Franz Ferndinand, Koufax does the retro new wave thing better than anybody - just listen to this song and you will know of what I speak.

2. Bloc Party "Helicopter" Vice

Also check out the remix of "Helicopter"

1. Sufjan Stevens "Chicago" Asthmatic Kitty

Sufjan is kind of a like a enigma wrapped in a puzzle encased in a riddle. I mean, what's the deal with the Christianity bit and how far does he think he can take this 50 albums for the 50 states schitk? That said, Illinoise has garnered more accolades than any other album (that I would listen to) this year, save the efforts from Spoon and The New Pornographers. While 22 songs on one album allows for a lot to choose from, it's the beautiful orchestration and harmonies of "Chicago" that sets this song apart. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you number one.

Top 20 Songs of 2005 (20 - 11)

I am back from Cambodia, so I guess that means writing about music again. While sites like Pitchfork Media and CokemachineGlow, in addition to nearly every music/mp3 blog, have offerred their take on the best albums or singles of the year I will follow suit... because really, who loves lists more than me (answer: no one - at least no one who should really be spending the bulk of their free time with their wife and child or busy learning medicine). I decided to rank songs, not singles, because I often find at this stage of my life I am just as likely to love some random album track as I am the single released by the artist (or label). So today, I present songs 20 to 11, with 10 to 1 to follow in the next few days. When possible I have included a link to a free and legal mp3 version of the songs, so check them out.

20. The Oranges Band "Ride the Nuclear Wave" Lookout
Simple pop perfection from Baltimore's The Oranges Band. Great harmonies, smart lyrics and the feeling that this song could have been written in 1965 just as easily as 2005.

19. …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead “Will You Smile Again” Interscope
Exploding with dueling guitars before evolving into a musical death march, this song features the best six minute build up into sonic frenzy of the year. Also check out "The Rest Will Follow" from the same album.

18. Pela “Episodes (Diphenhydramine)” Brassland
While it seems like every band from Brooklyn is the next "It" band, Pela are living under the radar playing their own intelligent brand of indie rock a la American Music Club and The National. More importantly, this is the best song featuring an antihistamine in its title out there.

17. William Elliot Whitmore “Midnight” Southern
Just like Rachel's made chamber music cool for the indie crowd, William Elliot Whitmore has made bluegrass cool for the punk crowd. Employing only an acoustic guitar and simple percussion, it's William's voice from the beyond (sort of a young Tom Waits) that drives this song.

16. Ted Leo “Since U Been Gone”
Ted's live cover of the Kelly Clarkson song (with an homage to The Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Maps" thrown in) was never intended to be a joke - He likes the original, which is actually quite catchy if I say so myself (I just shed all of the remaining credibility that I may have still had).

15. Fiona Apple “Red Red Red” Sony
Just because someone is crazy, doesn't mean that they can't have a beautiful voice and write great songs (see Brian Wilson for historical perspective).

14. Thievery Corporation “Warning Shots” Eighteenth Street Lounge
In the past, my interest in electronic music was somewhat limited to New Order and Stereolab, but downtempo has changed that all for me. DC's Thieverry Corporation continue to produce new and interesting downtempo fusing world music, hip hop and social activism.

13. Anthony and the Johnsons “Hope There’s Someone” Secretly Canadian
The folks at Pitchfork Media named this song their #1 single of the year so check out why THEY think the song is SO GREAT. I like it because of its' simple melodies and Antony's unique vocals. What does Pitchfork have on me?

12. Bloc Party "Like Eating Glass" Vice
The only non-American band on the list (I'm such a homer) who put out one of the best albums of the year, Silent Alarm. This is the first of two of their songs that made the list.

11. Sleater-Kinney “Entertain” Subpop
I like my Sleater-Kinney loud and angry. And while "Entertain" draws from the same energy that drove "Dig Me Out", it also exposes the band at the peak of its' maturity. Bravo Corin, Bravo Janet, Bravo Carrie.

Out With The Guys

Well, I'm in Bangkok. I can't even start to try to explain this place. It's absurd beyond most methods of description. So I will concentrate this post on my final days in Cambodia and get back to Bangkok once it sets in.

My time in Cambodia was clearly time well spent. The experience at the hospital and out in the community will clearly stay with me forever. It's my sincere hope to make it back there again in the near (or distant) future, but next time with Shannon. While I could attempt to tug at your hearstrings with one final tale of some child overcoming poverty or illness or a landmine injury, I thought I would describe for you my most insane night in Cambodia - Thursday night when we went out with the Maintenance Guys.

Let me give you the cast of characters:
1. Ben - 22 from Berkeley, California. Ben, as I mentioned in a previous post is Angkor Hospital for Children's Face Man (the Dirk Benedict character from 1980's hit action TV program The A-Team). He's confident and handsome in a way that gets shit done both at the Hospital and out at the bars. He's also the ringleader for the story I will tell henceforth.
2. Roy - 27 from Los Angeles. My trusty med student. You all know him well by this point.
3. Ian - 24 from Sydney, Australia. Ian is the boyfriend of the lovely Bernadette who is a med student working at the hospital. Ian, who is in finance by training, traveled with Bernadette and has been helping out painting as well as playing with the kids. For the purposes of the following tail, Ian will be known as my Wingman.
4. Josh - 25 from Wyoming, USA. Josh is a mechanical engineer who was backpacking in Cambodia and heard the hospital needed some computer help so he stayed in town for a few weeks to work.
5. The Maintenance Guys - 33 to 35 from Siem Reap, Cambodia although all of them can tell you where there "adoptive" parents live in America ("For the cost of a cup of coffee a day, you can help a child...). Also add to this group the Bookeeper from the hospital, his girlfriend, and the brother in law of one of the Maintenance Guys.

So Ben kept talking about how we all needed to go out with the Maintenace Guys for a night out at a real Khmer restaurant and then on to karaoke - Cambodian Style. The restaurant experience started out well enough. We were brought plates of delicious meats and vegetables and were having a grand old time. At this particular establishment, the "ladies" who served beer worked for the beer company of the particular beer they served. So each "lady" would attempt to get you to drink their beer and be quite attentive pouring and grabbing more bottles, way before anyone was ready for the next. They were quite competitive with one another and occasionally one would sit down with us and pour herself a drink. Rumor has it that they were "available" for after hours pouring, if you know what I mean.

Well, about 45 minutes into the festivities just as a nice buzz was setting in, one of the Maintenance Guys who appeared several levels of buzzed beyond myself decided to get a little handsy with me. Now I recognize there are cultural differences out there and I was chalking it up to that for about the first 15 minutes. "Hey, this guy is married with two kids, he can't possibly be gay" - sort of like the Cambodian Brokeback Mountain. As I've mentioned in previous posts humor is my best defense mechanism and I tried in vain to get Touchy McToucher to back off. Ben and Ian, of course, were having a great time laughing their asses off.

The last straw was the following: With Touchy McToucher on my left, I turned to my right and said to Ian "I am going to the bathroom, if this dude gets up and follows me, you must fucking tackle him". I get up and walk to the "bathroom" - I need to stop here and give you all the following background. There are about 150 people in this open air restaurant, of which five of us are Western. The bathroom consists of a toilet at one end of the dining area surrounded on three and a half sides by a four foot high brick wall (I'm 6'1 for the record). Now, I am nervous enough peeing in front of 150 strangers, but Touchy has really ratcheted up the anxiety level. Miraculously, there was no stage fright ("Hooray Beer") and I made it out alive. As I walk back to the table I noticed out of the corner of my eye, Ian forming a human shield and talking to Touchy about 20 feet from the table. As it turned out, about 20 seconds after I left for my bathroom excursion, Touchy stood up and started walking to the bathroom. Alarmed, Ian yelled across the table to Ben that he was to tackle Touchy if he were to follow me to the loo. Ben, with the assuredness of any Vietnam Vet accused of a crime he didn't commit, yelled back to Ian "well, you better go fucking tackle him!". Bravo Ian. Bravo Ben.

We then rode on to karaoke, which was not quite like hitting Cafe Japone on P Street. Hey, I like karaoke. I just like it when I am eating sushi and I can get up after a Sapporo tallboy and belt out a little Neil Diamond with crowd of strangers singing along. And yes, singing with everyone requires that you to have to listen to that horrible group of tone deaf sorrority sisters singing some awful Belinda Carlise song.

Our karoake experience was a little different. Karaoke in Cambodia is like karaoke in a lot of Asian countries as each group has their own private room complete with tv and wireless mics. This experience was different because in addition to said audio visual equipment, we were each provided with a young lay who would pour our beer and dance with us to the most god awful music I have ever heard in my life. I am quite sure that this was the most awkward I have felt since getting turned down to dance by Heather Cox at the James Fennimore Cooper Intermediate School 7th grade dance. I should also remind all the readers out there that I am a pediatrician and while everyone in Cambodia appears younger than their true age, that theory wasn't really helping my comfort level at the time. The songs were either in Khmer to some awful dance beat or were the most out of date crappy 60's faux-folk songs. That said, everyone put on a good face and tried to have a good time, and I ditched Touchy as he made his way over to Josh. Roy made the most of the evening, taking over on mic and singing songs in both English and Khmer (using the phonetic spelling at the bottom of the screen). It was not unlike a bachelor party although no one was getting married... and everyone was properly clothed, calm down. After about a hour, Ben was busy making an oragami rose for his "lady", and Ian and I were quite sure that we had enough. So we bade adieu and headed home.

A night like that only served to aclimatize (spelling?) me to the Kraziness of Bangkok. I will keep you posted.