Kevin Bronson on March 30th, 2009

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[News & notes from a weekend of catching up …]

‣ I recently revisited “Sleepwalking Through the Mekong,” the 75-minute film by John Pirozzi that documents Los Angeles sextet Dengue Fever’s 2005 visit to singer Chhom Nimol’s native Cambodia. It’s just as striking now as it seemed when I saw one of the initial screenings two years ago – a band reviving and taking back to its source its take on the Cambodian pop that was all but obliterated by the Pol Pot regime. On April 14, “Sleepwalking” will be released as part of a two-disc DVD/CD package, with Pirozzi’s comments and other backgrounding segments augmenting the DVD and a soundtrack including tracks from Cambodian artists. Highly recommended. [Above, from the film: Dengue Fever visits Kampot.]

‣ So drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has departed the Smashing Pumpkins, but Billy Corgan is carrying on, and sounding rather upbeat about it. He’s working on five new demos and reports, with exclamation points, “The songs sound like spring!”

‣ A little later than originally planned, Origami Vinyl, the new record store a couple doors down from the Echo, will open Friday.

‣ U2 just announced its only California tour date – Oct. 25 at the Rose Bowl. Details (including “innovative” stadium production design) will be up on U2.com, but the press release says general admission tickets will cost $56.50. All good, but it would have been nice if L.A. could have done better than to get the Black Eyed Peas as an opening act.

‣ File this under sticking with a sure draw: M.I.A. will be back at Coachella, for the third time in four years. Remember when the festival rarely ever had repeat performers? The British songstress will perform on Saturday night prior to the Killers.

‣ Not usually a proponent of pay-to-play, but here’s one instance you can get behind: A mainstage slot at Sunday’s Bamboozle Left Festival (at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre) is being auctioned off on eBay. Proceeds will go to help defray the medical costs of Deftones bass player Chi Cheng, who is in a coma after injuries sustained in a November automobile accident. As of this morning, bidding for the slot was over $1,300; the auction closes at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

‣ Had to chuckle at Axl Rose’s quote about hiring DJ Ashba (Sixx:A.M.) as Guns N’ Roses’ new guitarist: “Once DJ’s name was in the hat, the hat disappeared,” Rose said. Rumors are that there were quite a few tryouts for the gig, which included axemen Yogi Lonich (Buckcherry, Chris Cornell) and John Sykes (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy).

‣ Anybody signed up for Shockhound? There are three or four tracks worth grabbing in its giveaway.

‣ Nice to see the revamped Buddyhead website is back up and throwing stinkbombs.