Discover Top Posts Tagged with #john angaiak

3/1/23.

I love projects like this - the reissue of Roxy Gordon "Crazy Horse Never Died". According to Paradise of Bachelors (North Carolina), this 1988 album's reissue has been in the works for a decade. It comes with a 48 page "chapbook". From the Bandcamp page: "Roxy Gordon (First Coyote Boy, or Tu Gah Juk Juk Ka Na Hok Sheena) (1945–2000) was a Choctaw, Assiniboine, and Texan poet, journalist, artist, activist, and musician." He was friends with Townes Van Zandt and Leonard Cohen and Terry Allen wrote glowingly of his work.

Roxy Gordon's (Dallas, Texas) songs stand alongside other Native artists that combine cultural references with a folk/country sound: Willie Dunn, Morley Loon and John Angaiak.

#Roxy Gordon #Dallas #Texas #Paradise of Bachelors #North Carolina #Townes Van Zandt #Leonard Cohen #Terry Allen #Willie Dunn #John Angaiak #Morley Loon #Bandcamp

1972 - John Angaiak - I'm Lost in the City

#cover art #diary #John Angaiak

3/29/21.

Light in the Attic has introduced me to a lot of different Native American sounds. None has been more mainstream or more political than Willie Dunn. He roots were indigenous to Canada, but let’s just say Northeastern North America.

“The Ballad of Crowfoot” might be the most powerful Native American historical song I’ve ever heard. It recalls the work of Bob Dylan’s “Only a Pawn in Their Game” but the chronological length is so much longer. This collection is steeped in historical references of loss and despair. But somehow it is MORE a celebration of heroes and history as well.

Kurt Vile said of Dunn’s music, “It’s like the reason you’re supposed to make music,” which is a bit dismissive but I’ll give Vile the benefit of the doubt. And any people who just can’t connect with other LITA Native American releases from Willie Thrasher, Morley Loon or John Angaiak...this is it. Willie Dunn sounds like Johnny Cash, Lee Hazlewood or Leonard Cohen.