It’s a bird! No, it’s a plane. And on that plane is TJ Brown, beloved and much-missed leader of bluegrass band Grass Snake Union, who returned home to Colorado earlier this year. TJ is now making a brief visit to Phnom Penh for a wedding and will use the occasion to play a one-night stand with Grass Snake Union at Equinox on November 21. For those who need to come up to speed here, and may be wondering how on earth a bluegrass band could survive in Cambodia, GSU was a fixture on the live music scene in Phnom Penh for a couple of years. They were most famous for long, sweaty performances with ecstatic dancing crowds; the most unexpected covers given bluegrass treatment; ripping banjo and fiddle solos; occasional trips to rock Kampot, and a whole-of-band vocal sharing of the rock standard The Weight. All the while, the never-suppressed enthusiasm of TJ bubbled and strummed at the helm. The Advisor coaxed him into staying his guitar strings for a few bars and here’s what he had to say:
What do you miss more in Colorado: the heat or the music?
The music! Phnom Penh has such a ridiculously fun music scene, from the amazing local and international musicians covering most genres, to the live music supporters who are always up for dancing their faces off. The musical and creative energy in Phnom Penh is off the charts.
So, this is a ‘for one night only’ thing, huh?
One night only for me. You’ll have to lean on the lads to keep playing together.
In the beginning, there was no bluegrass here. What catapulted Grass Snake Union to the forefront of the live music scene?
We just wanted to have fun and play music. Bluegrass/Americana music is about community and it’s meant to be shared with the community in a live setting. The music is fun to play and a hoot to enjoy live. The genre was also new to many in Phnom Penh, including several of the band members! We had a blast on stage playing together and when the band has fun the crowd usually follows, thus fuelling the band even more… a symbiotic relationship.
What plans are there for swimming in the Kampot River this time around?
No Kampot River cruises. No boats. If there are no boats, there will be no capsized boats and ruined instruments. Not happening.
The lads have been dabbling with Hank Williams and consorting with other singers. Will you be putting them in their place, or what?
I’m just so pumped to be playing together again. They are amazing musicians and we always have a great time on stage; I doubt this show will be any different. In fact it will be even more celebratory on the eve of the wedding weekend! I also look forward to having several guests join us throughout the evening. Can’t wait to play those foot-stompin’ tunes in Phnom Penh again!
WHO: Grass Snake Union
WHAT: Bluegrass returns to Phnom Penh
WHERE: Equinox Bar, #3a Street 278
WHEN: 9pm November 21
WHY: They’ll make you dance your face off, honest!