Blackfire

Decolonize Your Mind!

Blackfire Comes Home To Rock Rez Vote

by Dean “It’s Dee-NAY To YOU, Whitey!” Bonzani

10.4.04

World traveling indigenous rockers Blackfire are back in town to whip up the masses.

For those who haven’t yet heard of them, the band is composed of brothers Klee (guitar, vocals) and Clayson (drums, vocals) Benally and sister Jeneda (bass, vocals.) Their style “comprises traditional Native American, Punk and Alternative with strong sociopolitical messages about government oppression, relocation of indigenous people, eco-cide, genocide, domestic violence and human rights,” according to the band’s website: www.blackfire.net.

Since their inception in 1998, the members of Blackfire have tirelessly worked for positive change, championing a host of causes relevant to Native Americans and the larger human and natural communities. Currently, they’re taking a break from whirlwind touring of lands across the Atlantic to work on vital matters closer to home.

Blackfire has been busy promoting their latest, full-length album release, One Nation Under, winner of the “Best Pop/Rock” award at the 5th annual Native American Music Awards in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The album features vocal performances by the trio’s father, Dine’ traditional dancer Jones Benally, and the last recorded vocals by family friend and Punk’s Godfather, the late Joey Ramone. It was produced by Don Fleming, known for his work with Sonic Youth, Hole, Screaming Trees and Joan Jett.

The band, who make their home in Northern Arizona, spent their summer touring Mexico in May, joining the Warped Tour in June, hopping over to Ithaca, New York for the Grassroots festival in July, then flying to Europe to knock down dates in France, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. This year, they also managed to play North Africa, at the Essakane Festival, deep in the Mali desert, near the edge of the Sahara.

They’ve returned home to participate in the Rez Rock The Vote! effort, inspiring Native people to employ the greatest gift of Democracy, the first right of all American citizens, the duty of every qualifying, warm blooded individual able to cast one: THE VOTE. (A quick aside here: vote or die!)

After performing in a free show in Heritage Square to benefit the Democracy For America’s Democracy Fest on October 3rd, Blackfire will next play at the Decolonize Your Mind! event at Studio 111, along with 2 Hours Of Bliss, Yaiva, DJ Young Native and 4th World.

Vote. Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote. Or die.

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Blackfire and a whole lot of loudness for a vital cause, Mon., Oct. 11th at Studio 111, 111 S. San Francisco Street. $5. at the door, 7:00 P.M. the fun begins. Bring your rage and your visions.

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