I was with my kola (friend), Elwin Braveheart from Kyle, SD. We were throwing rocks into the night. One of the rocks I threw kissed some barbed wire on its downward flight. It flashed brilliantly in the distant darkness. It was magic on an enchanting evening. It took me years to understand that songs can travel on a flash of light.
It was Christmas, Christmas morning, it was early in the morning, it was below freezing, here comes the Santa Claus, Ho, ho, ho, ho, hey, heyda.
I heard this song in Laguna, NM…
NDN Kars
NDN Kars
My first NDN Kar was called, The Spy Car. I bought it from a teacher for one hundred dollars. It was a blue 67 Newport Chrysler; complete with its own bear dent (bear wasn’t hurt), and an eight-track tape player that was easily worth two hundred.
This is how I wrote the song NDN Kars:
I was 21 years old, the year was 1978, and I was headed on a canoe trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) of northern Minnesota. We stopped in Winton, MN at the municipal liquor store. It was…
Read moreFry-Bread Sanctuaries at the Kennedy Center and Smithsonian
Fry-Bread Sanctuaries at the Kennedy Center and Smithsonian Native Rock legend, Keith Secola, to premier songs from his newly composed, rock opera, entitled, "Seeds", August 7th, 6:00 PM at the Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage, and August 8th, 5:00 PM, at the National Museum of the American Indian, Indian Summer Showcase 2009. The legendary american composer, will bring his group featuring vocalist Melanie Stormm and the Sampson Family Native Dance troupe to the DC Stages for two exciting evenings…
Floyd Red Crow Westerman Tribute
We came together to honor and remember, Floyd Red Crow Westerman. It was November 13, 2008, in San Francisco at the Palace of Fine Arts during the American Indian Film Festival. The concert was all about Floyd, his music, friends, how he lived his life and how he inspirited others to live theirs.
The evening was magical, the Frybread sisters wore flowers in their hair, Javelinas Jammed, Jack Rambled, Bonnie Prayed, John drummed, Jennifer danced, Jeremy Drove, Charlie laughed, Katari cried, Max crooned…
Summer of Canyons and Mystic Waters
Summer of Canyons and Mystic Waters Apex
The Purpose of the Pause
(written by Melanie)
In music, some of the most inspiring things happen in the pause. It's not that the pause or the break does all the work of the song, but it gives you a momentary void to appreciate all that has happened, before propelling to a beautiful, anticipated future.
Our pause was in Cleveland where we visited Charming Chris and the Lovely Legal Laura (also known as the Mermaid of Lake Erie). We sailed the waters of Erie and sang…Read more
Summer of Canyons and Mystic Waters II
Monster Jams and Vermillionaires
By the beautiful gorges of Ithaca we played the Grassroots Festival in T-burg, New York. Grassroots is a natural occurrence of positive human collaboration in joy. Or at least it seems like it – the staff and volunteers have pure hearts and sheer perseverance. We've done Grassroots for about ten years but this year we all agree we had some of our best shows. Moontee Sinquah and his sons joined us for this set. We were blessed with a monster jam on Sunday featuring the…
On the Trail: Summer of Canyons and Mystic Waters I
Rock 'n Roll Stages--or--The Stages of Rock 'n Roll
(written by Melanie)
Revelry emblazoned Las Placitas Canyon. The guys went with the flow with Floyd Westerman, where they stroked the River of Grand Colorado and charged the gates of Moab. Our Northeast Summer Tour circuit was calling so they lassoed planes and headed to the green valleys of New York.
Behold. The Rock and Roll Arena. The stage, assembled like a jewel in its center is the size of a small apartment. It has a drum riser, it has silver…
On the Trail - Part Deux
On the Trail - Part Deux
Perfect Poetry from May in Paris
(written by Melanie)
We last left our musical heroes Keith and Jimmy V packing their bags for Paris. There the beautiful and inspiring Lorenza joined them. They hiked the canyons of the City of Love, lit beautifully by the fire reflecting off the River Seine; they reveled the Paris locals with Wild Songs; they were taken hostage by a group of Wild Indians on horseback, featuring the very same Lucas Hogue that joined us in Croatia. (I wasn't there;…Read more
Cheers from the Wild Band
Cheers from the Wild Band!
May 7-12, 2007 Croatia & Slovenia
We temporarily relocated to Europe! Old and new members of the Wild Band recently converged and emerged weary, smiling and ready to play in beautiful Zagreb, Croatia.
Robert Scott, a Cherokee drummer from Phoenix, Arizona, joined us for his first shows with the Wild Band and has proved why he's a drummer in high demand throughout the Southwest.
All ventures into foreign territory need a good scout, an experienced culture guide versed…
The Making of Native Americana
The L.A. Session - June 21, 2002
The recording of Native Americana started with a trip to L.A. to record with John Densmore of The Doors, Jim Creegan of Barenaked Ladies, along with Jimmy V of Wild Band of Indians.
Jimmy and I rented a car and headed west from Phoenix, Arizona on I-10 till we hit north Hwy 1, heading to Santa Monica, California. We turned right and six hours later, we're crashing at John Densmore's house. I knew John as a jazz drummer, with a very keen production sense, it seemed natural…