Sixties rockers take up old Sai Gon Hotel residency

Nuts about their music: One of the most famous rock bands in the country in the late sixties and seventies, Peanut, return to the stage at the Palace Sai Gon Hotel's Calibre Charner restaurant, every night from 8.30- 11.30pm. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The Peanut is back. The band of four brothers that began rocking Sai Gon audiences more than four decades years ago has reached an agreement to perform every evening at the Palace Sai Gon Hotel under their first name.

Forty-four years ago, the four brothers created a psychedelic pop/rock band called Peanut. The band featured Bernard Tam (guitar/vocals), Francois Thien (drums), Michel Chi (bass/vocals) and Patrick Trung (keyboard, vocals).

Along with CBC, Crazy Dogs and Hammers, they were among the most famous rock bands nationwide during the 1960s and 1970s.

In 1975, the band changed its name to Sao Sang (Bright Star) and began performing for international hotels and diplomatic representative offices in the country. They continued to perform over the years in local clubs and bars.

The band, with members in their sixties now, will reassume its first name now and remain faithful to the classic pop/rock genre in its performances, said Phan Ngoc Thanh Tam, marketing executive for the Bong Sen Corporation, which manages the hotel.

She said the band will perform popular classics including: Don't Let Me Down (Beatles); I Started a Joke (Bee Gees); We Gotta Get out of This Place (The Animals); I Can't Get o Satisfaction (The Rolling Stones); and Hotel California (Eagles).

Peanut will perform every evening from 8:30-11:30pm at the hotel's Calibre Charner Restaurant. — VNS

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Vietnamese models to take part in Seoul festival

HA NOI — Models Nguyen Ngoc Lan Huong and Quang Thinh will participate in the 6th Asia Model Festival today in Seoul, South Korea.

Huong, 1.75m tall, was named as fourth placed runner-up in the Miss Model of the World 2009 beauty contest held in China last year. Meanwhile, male model Thinh is 1.85m tall and won fourth prize at the Viet Nam Manhunt 2006. He also won Best Supermodel Photo 2008, Promising Model 2008 and Most Beloved at Manhunt 2008 in South Korea.

The Asia Model Festival Awards are presented annually by the Korean Models' Association. This year's event will draw over 30 models from 16 countries and will be graced by a bevy of South Korean stars and celebrities.

New TV series showcases local fashion designers

HCM CITY — VCTV12 started broadcasting fashion series The Maze in HCM City yesterday.

Top models Thanh Hang, Vo Hoang Yen, Ngoc Quyen and Kim Minh will display collections by top local designers like Hoang Ngan, Vo Phan Huy, Chung Thanh Phong, and Kelly Bui.

Ngo Quang Hai, who produced art-house movie favourite Pao's Story and the 2008 Dep Fashion Show 2008 directed the show.

Hard Rock Cafe seeks VN entries for London gig

HCM CITY — Hard Rock Cafe is giving Vietnamese bands the chance to be one of four Global Ambassadors of Rock to play at Hard Rock Calling 2011 in London's Hyde Park, one of the world's most anticipated music festivals.

In celebration of the brand's 40 anniversary, Hard Rock has launched its first Global Ambassadors of Rock Battle of the Bands, giving the rock bands the opportunity of a lifetime.

Hard Rock Cafe HCM City has asked for Vietnamese entries for the qualification round.

The best 12 bands will have an audition with a judging panel made up of famous musicians and rock music experts on February 16.

The winner will represent Viet Nam at the regional finals.

Bands need to apply to participate by sending in entries to Uyen Tran – Chloe of Hard Rock Cafe HCM City via email uyen.tran@vtijs.com.

The entry email should contain a demo in MP3 format, profile photographs and a 50-100 word bio.

Deadline for entries is January 31. — VNS

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UK rock band primed for tour

Goober Gun: After tonight's performance at the Factory Bar in Ha Noi, English band Goober Gun will rock HCM City fans on December 9 & 12. — File Photo

HA NOI — Ha Noi rock fans will have the opportunity to catch one of the United Kingdom's best underground rock bands as they stop in the capital for one night only tonight.

Southampton sensation Goober Gun will take to the stage at the Factory Bar, Bao Khanh Street at 9pm, and promise a night of stadium sized rock, unforgettable melodies and great harmonies with a full on, engaging and energetic live performance.

With influences such as Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, The Wildhearts and Jimmy Eat World, Goober Gun craft slabs of modern rock, combined with a lyrical and musical depth that has won over audiences around the UK and beyond.

Goober Gun vocalist and drummer Tim Hardwick promises a great night out: "We love playing our songs live, and I know the audience can see what a fun we're having. Night after night our aim is for them to enjoy it as much as we are."

It's this simple desire to entertain that has brought Goober Gun a superb fan base and critical acclaim, including a win at the BT Digital Music Search for Talent in 2008.

In the summer of 2009 Goober Gun recorded their new album 1979 which caught the attention of promoters the world over, and kick-started Goober Gun's tours of Taiwan and Thailand.

Goober Gun is a three-man band with Tim Hardwick on drum and vocals, Jon Reynolds on guitar and vocals and Ian Hardwick playing bass and vocals. Tickets cost VND100,000 which includes one free Coors beer.

In HCM City, the band will perform at the SuperSize Sai Gon at Vasco 74/7D Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1 at 9pm on December 9. Entrance will cost VND100,000, and at LoretoFest International Music Festival at RMIT, 702 Nguyen Van Linh Parkway in District 7 at 2pm on December 11 where tickets will cost VND500,000 to 650,000. — VNS

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I Am Giant heats up Hard Rock Café

Four piece rock band, I Am Giant, from the U.K - Photo: Courtesy of the Hard Rock Cafe

U.K rock band, I Am Giant, will play two nights, November 10 and 11 at the Hard Rock Café in HCMC’s District 1. 

“After the first performance at Tiger Translate – a cross-cultural platform highlighting Asian creativeness and collaboration with Western visionaries in Danang City in May, we all wished to have another chance to play for more rock fans in Vietnam,”  the band said in an email.

The music of the four-piece is a quintessence of alternative/indie/melodic rock inspired by Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Muse and Rage Against the Machine.

“We have played before with two famous Vietnamese rock bands, Ngu Cung and Microwave… We could not understand their songs but we could feel the same rock language when we performed on stage with them.”

The band just finished a popular tour of New Zealand. I Am Giant has also been invited to play at surfing contests in the U.K, France and Bali.

Tickets are VND100,000 inclusive of a Coors Light Beer or a Jim Beam Cola plus a place in the draw for prizes from Hard Rock and Coors Light.

 Hard Rock Café is at 39 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1, HCMC.

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