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Sometimes I run into music in the weirdest
ways. I had no idea who "Indigenous" were until a co-worker
showed me some teaser sound files online. I was intrigued enough
that I asked my editor about them, and lucky me, their album
was available.
"Indigenous" is a very special
Blues group. Two brothers, a sister and a cousin, raised in the
Yankton Sioux reservation in Marty, SD. They have developed a
distinct sound that reminds me of why Stevie Ray and the "Fabulous
Thunderbirds" were so great.
Mato, the lead singer, is a dead ringer
for Stevie Ray. He's got a great voice, and he uses it perfectly.
There is not a single weak track on this whole CD. Every single
one shows a powerful singer with a very solid band to back him
up. Mato also plays a decent guitar. Sister Wanbdi (actually
Wanbdi Waste Win- Good Eagle Woman) is also pretty good at the
drums.
What is so remarkable about "Indigenous,"
is that they managed to create their own distinctive sound, while
borrowing the Stevie Ray Vaughan touch. I say "borrow"
and I mean it, not like others that limit themselves to copying.
Brother Pte on the bass guitar, and cousin Horse on the congas,
provide a nice rhythm, that, at times, gives their music a little
bit of a jazzy flavor. I also like the "Fabulous Thunderbirds"
touch here and there. The seventh track, "Begin To Wonder,"
is pure dynamite.
"What's Going On" is classic
blues, and has everything. Here Mato really sounds like Stevie
Ray. I wonder if he's forcing his voice at all, or does he really
sound like that? Well, I'll have to wait until I can catch them
live. There's also some slow and heavy stuff, my favorite kind.
The most notable is "Holdin' Out," in which the guitar
finally picks a pace pretty familiar to Led Zeppelin fans. There
is also some influence that can be traced back to Santana, but
its mostly mechanical, and does not influence the sound of the
band as a whole, only Mato's individual playing style.
If you like the Blues, run and get this
one. You can't go wrong. If you don't like the Blues, check it
out anyway, maybe it will help you change your mind. If you still
don't like the Blues after listening to "Indigenous,"
then you're pretty much hopeless. |
