Lauren Yee's Cambodian Rock Band kicks off with Yol Aularong's "Jeas Cyclo," bringing the sounds of sunny skies and the heat of the '60s and '70s to the Jungle's stage in the Jungle/Mu co-production that runs through Jul 31. It's just the first of many songs, though: Before the night is done, the five-person band will also hit up bluesy melancholy, cheeky flirtiness, and biting rage as they make their way through the 13-song soundtrack full of Khmer classics, Dengue Fever hits, and even some Bob Dylan. 

Because the music is such an integral part of the show and because the Cyclos band becomes this symbol of joy and resilience, it was a no-brainer to make the band the focus of the show's merchandise.

Mu staff knew they wanted to feature the actual Jungle/Mu cast by creating a silhouette from one of Rich Ryan's promotional photos. Graphic designer Kalalyna Murphy of KNOCK Inc. was able to push that idea even further by creating a backdrop of psychedelic oranges and pinks (or blues and pinks, depending on which T-shirt design you chose). "It had to be retro and funky," Murphy says. "Record covers of that era of Cambodian music are saturated in these super bright colors that people often associate with the '60s and '70s. I thought that adding those oozy elements and choosing that font [for the Cyclos] would just kind of emphasize this idea of psychedelic rock." 

Cambodian Rock Band's songs sometimes fit within the play's scenes, but just as often they're a non-sequitur transition and a mood amplifier. No matter the scenario, though, the melodies always act as a bridge across time, language, and cultures. They're a powerful vehicle for the themes in Lauren Yee's script, which gives life to a story that is both so specific and yet so universally human.

"I think the thing that stood out the most to [my mom and me] was realizing that these were stories we’ve both heard growing up, but it felt like we were seeing a different perspective," Murphy says after seeing the show. "Our family is from the country, so the stories are very different compared to what we were hearing. It gave us new insight of the other families who suffered the same fate. For me personally, hearing the music of that era sung live and not from a recording was also just a really full circle experience for me."

Check out Theater Mu's Cambodian Rock Band Cyclos T-shirts at its online store, or grab a Cyclos band pin during intermission at the Jungle Theater. Cambodian Rock Band is playing now through Jul 31.