Legacy Music final 2014 Concert features all Native reggae lineup

Innastate performs Nov. 15 at a Legacy Music concert.  Photo/Tyler Tawahongva

Innastate performs Nov. 15 at a Legacy Music concert. Photo/Tyler Tawahongva

UPPER VILLAGE OF MOENKOPI, Ariz. - On Nov. 15 Legacy Music put on its final concert blowout of the year with an all Native American reggae lineup.

The crowd enjoyed a night of reggae from Native bands the Wailing Coyotes, Innastate and Native Roots. The Wailing Coyotes a local band from Tuba City opened the show. The Wailing Coyotes featured its original lineup of Omaw on bass and vocals; Mike George on drums; Steven Dove on keyboards and sitting in on guitar was Hunter Redday who was also the emcee for the night. Joseph General from the Native Roots band added his vocals and lyrical stylings as well. General has his own group in New Mexico as well as drumming for Native Roots.

The Waling Coyotes lineup consisted of the original members of the Wailing Coyotes and this was the first time they performed in about 20 years. According to Omaw, the group's last performance was in Moab, Utah. Since then the Coyotes have had numerous incarnations however they had the pleasure of being joined this night by Summit Dub Squad and Yoties guitarist Redday who also grew up in Tuba City.

The Wailing Coyotes lineup was once the backing band for Native Roots founder John Williams' band, Badlands. Williams grew up in Tuba City and taught at the high school for a few years. Badlands was a Native reggae band that played throughout Arizona on different reservations for a few years before the Coyotes formed and went on to their own success playing throughout the U.S. and opening for international reggae acts.

Williams recalled playing in his basement with friends in his house on Main Street.

"We rehearsed and rehearsed and got very tight, we eventually went on tour in Europe with a Navajo group Mr. Time and toured Europe for about a month," Williams said.

Williams currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he teaches high school. He has been known to spot talent and one time was able to get one of his students to play in his band for a spell. Williams recalled in the past "we would fly out on Friday to play in different parts of the U.S. and be back home by Monday."

Native Roots lead singer Shkeme Garcia thrilled the audience with his dance moves and lyrics while making comments in Hopi to the Hopi speakers in the audience. Carlo Johnson, bassist for the Native Roots band, enjoyed the event and mentioned that in between gigs with the Native Roots he works throughout the Southwest at major concerts setting up stages and sound for major acts. He has played with Native Roots since the beginning according to Garcia.

Innastate another Native reggae act made up of different members of Pueblo tribes in New Mexico was on the bill as well. Even thought they have only been together for only a few months the group has gained much acclaim and has played in Arizona and New Mexico. According to guitarist Adrian Wall "we will be playing a few different places in Arizona next year such as Sedona, Flagstaff and other locations."

On bass and vocals was twenty-one year old Rylan Kabotie who showed great talent. The other two bands in the lineup have been playing since before he was born and it was good to see the next generation carrying on the Native reggae mantle.

Some of the performers were "Rocking their Mocs" a national day to show tribal individuality and stand together worldwide by wearing traditional native footwear.

In between sets DJ Yong Native spun records to fill in the gaps between sets. Young Native, a member of the Navajo tribe, has gained international attention and has played in Europe.

"In Europe they like my deejaying and have invited me to play at different countries," he said. "I also do deejaying for Beat Boy competitions and have been doing my art for many years and have seen many Native artists come up."

Redday kept the energy moving with his emcee duties, which he has performed a few times before at the Legacy Music shows.

"It was an honor to also to play with the Wailing Coyotes who were one of the first native reggae bands - history was being made with this lineup performing once again for the first time in 20 years," Redday said.

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