Upcoming Events in Saigon: Turbo Goth + Demon Slayer @ RFC

 COME TO DADDY 2
featuring TURBO GOTH & DEMON SLAYER
brought to you by iLL

21h-23h | 31 May 2012
@ RFC - 25C Tu Xuong, District 3, HCM
FREE entrance

Leftfield electronic music showcase COME TO DADDY returns this month with Filipino electro-rockers TURBO GOTH and Vietnamese-American artist and multi-instrumentalist DEMON SLAYER at RFC on May 31.

Composed of chef Paolo Peralta (on guitars, drum beats, and electronic sampler) and artist/model Sarah Gaugler (on lead vocals), TURBO GOTH's sound conflates semi-experimental electronic music with distorted bass synths, aggressive beats, and punk-jazz noise guitars, stitched together by icy, ethereal vocals. From hole-in-the-wall venues in Manila to major festivals in Singapore, their live performances have been unpredictable and frenetic audiovisual feasts punctuated by Paolo's spontaneously spastic killer dance moves and Sarah’s monumental poses. Saigon denizens take note, this will be TURBO GOTH's first-ever Vietnam show, as they drop by on their way to CAMA Festival in Hanoi next month.



After half a decade worth of releases, performances and murals around the world, DEMON SLAYER, the nom de guerre of globe-trekking savant and space explorer Dan Nguyen, finally unleashed his much-anticipated new album, "Fears and Lovers", last March 2012. Constantly kinetic, dreamily exotic, and Jetsons-age funky, this show will feature live performances of new material that "pushes the boundaries of experimentation, complex song writing, and the possibilities of where electronic music can go" (SCV).

88:88 by DMNSLYR

Travel Page

We are introducing a new feature for our blog this week: The Travel Page. It has been designed to help you plan your next South-East Asian adventure and is a comprehensive and organized list of all of our past posts in one location. It's a work-in-progress and will be updated as we continue on our rambles, so check it out at your leisure.  Take a look by clicking HERE or on the tab above.

The world is your oyster, so be a pearl and come visit!

Demon Slayer - "Fears & Lovers"

Hey Saigon, support local music.  The much-anticipated album from Demon Slayer, Fears & Lovers, (the nom de guerre of Dan Nguyen) was released a few months ago and on the eve of his show next week @ RFC, you should give it a listen.  A mosaic patchwork of electronic musings both pastiche and now, turn the bass up on your listening device and drift into the beatitude of DMN SLYR's futuresounds world.

http://dmnslyr.wordpress.com/

Graduation Day: Vietnam Can Dance!

Our year-end ceremony for the kindergarten classes was quite the spectacle.  Held in the cavernous and austere Hoa Binh Theater on Ba Thang Hai, students from five different kindergarten campuses from my school were invited to celebrate this big step in their development.

Big chairs, small people.

My three-year-old students, reaping the benefits of showing up to perfunctory events. Look at their loot!

Preparing to walk on stage.

The proud graduates!

Lovely little presenters introduced each group of dancers, our reward after sitting through an interminable amount of picture-taking and award-giving.

The first act of a teenage dance troupe preforming Micheal Jackson renditions. 

The Vietnamese take their synchronized, group dancing very seriously.  There is a slightly off-putting, militaristic precision to it which is completely incongruous to the blaring, modern pop that accompanies the dancing and the overtly provocative dance moves.  Watch the videos below, but BEWARE, the sound is loud, so turn down your speakers before playing!





Next, some kindergarten students performing a ballet-esque, synchronized flower dance.  Charming!

The kindergarten students from my school!  Several of these kiddos were in my class.

Check out the full-length video of their dance.  Keep in mind that they are only five and six years old!  If they manage to apply this much energy and focus to all endeavors in their lives, they just might take over the world.

A contemporary take on traditional Vietnamese dance.

And, finally, a song by a chorus of enthusiastic youngsters.

Before I left, I couldn't help but snapping off a quick pic of the enormous picture of myself in the lobby.  I've never seen myself so large! Simultaneously terrifying and self-satisfying.

This Weekend

 Dinner with friends at Nha Hang Ngon @ 160 Pasteur.

On the table: Mien Xao Cua (glass noodles with crab) and Goi Cuon Chay (vegetarian fresh spring rolls).

Cha Gio Chay (fried vegetarian spring rolls)

Vegetarian Curry with noodles and Bot Chein (fried rice cakes with egg and slices of green mango)

A drop by Thi Cafe @ 224 De Tham to watch "Like a Boss" throw down some future sounds.

The return of a friend...

Late night snack of Bo Bia Ngot.

A crepe filled with coconut shards, honey comb, and black sesame seeds. Yummmmm.

Acupuncture, massage, cupping and blood letting for two weary and worn souls, each with a whole different set of ailments.

Lizard spotting in District 7!

Lunch at Tokyo Deli @ SC6-1 Parkview Building, District 7.

Octopus Sashimi and edamame.

Salmon Sashimi and a salmon avocado roll.

Cucumber roll and a salmon terriyaki hand roll.

Spicy California Roll.

Bubble tea for two.

A cab ride back into town and a sunny afternoon enjoyed on the river side.

Rum Bar @ 15 Pham Van Dat.

Kindergarten Graduation at Hoa Binh Theater.  A veritable army of munchkins (more to come tomorrow...).