Original publication: BikerTrash.com
Original byline: Amy Edgerly
February 2004
Music Notes by Amy
The Big City Indians
Thrift Store Cowboys
February 2004
Its February already, which means Ive survived (slogged through) January and since Phil saw his shadow I have six more weeks of hibernation to look forward to. The winter months always have that effect on me, not wanting to brave the cold for any reason whatsoever, which is why I really didnt get out much to see bands in January. I did catch the Stone Coyotes at the Continental Club, but that was strictly for fun and martinis as Id already reviewed them in last months column. Went out one night to Dan Electros Guitar Bar in Houston and caught another basically latin band from Austin called Ojo Del Sol, and enjoyed that very much. And of course my 16-year-old son and his band rehearsed in his room a couple times, but other than that, I was pretty lazy and didnt hear much original music. So lucky for you, this months column will be brief, and will consist of 2 CD reviews only, as I have not seen either band perform live (yet).
I have a good excuse for not seeing the first band: They are in Austria and only perform in Europe. The Big City Indians sent me their CD after reading bikertrash, which I felt really honored for. The Thrift Store Cowboys did have a gig in Houston in January and I had planned on attending when my darling daughter started running a fever that afternoon and she needed me more, so I stayed home. But Jeff Dennis did oblige me with a copy of The Great American Desert which he sent to me in the mail. So in all political incorrectness: get out your Stetsons or your feathers, cause here come the Cowboys and the Indians ..
Big City Indians
Native Heart Urban Soul
Ok, lets say Indians and Cowboys, as it was the Big City Indians who contacted me first a few months back in an email from their leader and singer, Wolfsheart, a/k/a Bernhard Weilguni. He invited me to explore their website, www.bigcityindians.com, which I promptly did, and was at once intrigued. Im sure any of you would be, too, especially the ladies. I admit my shallow shortcomings, one of the first photos of the band under the Photos link was of a very (ahem) striking, long-haired, bronzed and bare-chested man who I of course at first assumed must be a very talented, intelligent and spiritual person whom I would be interested to get to know better. Oh, all right! He was a hunka eye candy, so what? No matter my motivations, I did write back to Bernhard and told him of my interest in the band and asked if hed care to send a CD/press kit. Which he did. And thanks to the Great Spirit for that.
The title of the album honestly did intrigue me. So did the fact that this band was in Austria, of all places. It didnt fit Native Americans in the land of Aaarnold? How did they get over there? What are they doing there? Native Heart, Urban Soul. Photos of their stage show including beautiful men in beautiful native costumes, playing an array of traditional and modern instruments, I was ready for a very percussive, groovy, loud and perhaps, spiritual experience. Well, I popped the CD in the player and cranked it up and was surprised by the sound of wind and water, acoustic guitar and rainstick, and a whispering voice. This wasnt riling me up, it was calming me down. I looked at the jacket, the song was Qujaka Wunkaiki Waki and the lyrics were a repeating chant in a foreign language I could only assume to be a Native American tongue. The second song, Memory of a Warrior did start out with wonderful percussion and loud chanting, which got me sitting up. (By the way, the lyrics which are not Blackfoot are English, not German.) But the thing I was expecting I dont know what to call it without sounding ignorant and bigoted the raucous war dance or rain dance perhaps? wasnt really what I got. What I got was unexpected and truly delightful.
Only two members of Big City Indians are actual Native Americans. White Buffalo who performs spoken words, both English and Blackfoot, and traditional dance; and Lee Lostflower, Sioux, another traditional dance performer. The remaining 4 members are all native Austrians, who feel themselves to be kindred spirits with the Native American way of life, thought and philosophy. I was curious about the connection Austria to Native America, and asked Wolfsheart all about it in an email interview. Ill leave to you to read the explanation in his own words. But like he says, we as bikers can certainly understand and empathize with a way of life that accentuates freedom, human dignity, respect for nature and a distinct group individuality.
Big City Indians describe their sound as Native Indian Power Groove and to be more specific, in Wolfshearts own words as quoted in the bands newsletter/bio, we have stuck with the Native intertribal basics, but added some more ethnic sounds, tribal beats, mystic ethereal keyboard sounds, rocking riffs, Native American flute, meditative sounds and a grooving guitar. As you can imagine by that description, the collection of songs on NH-US is a peppered, dotted tapestry of blended elements which make up a new creation that is difficult to separate and isolate and deem this or that kind of music. Soulfully performed and beautifully mastered, NH-US is a proud accomplishment for Big City Indians, and a welcome addition to my CD collection.
The Big City Indians are:
Wolfsheart (Bernhard Weilguni): Lead vocals, native flute, native drum
Chris Pogats: acoustic and electric guitars
Firefly: bass guitar, percussion
Gigi Skokan: keyboards, backing vocals
Roli Reiter: drums, native drums
White Buffalo: spoken words, traditional dance
Lee Lostflower: traditional dance
To learn more and purchase their CDs, please visit: www.bigcityindians.com.
Thrift Store Cowboys
The Great American Desert
Unlike the Indians, I havent had much back and forth with the Cowboys here. Other than trying to arrange to see their January show at Dan Electros and failing, and a couple of emails back and forth to acoustic guitarist and certified giant (68!?) Jeff Dennis, to say thanks for the CD, I really dont know much about these guys. I do know that I LOVE their name, and I really enjoy Desert, and next time they come through town, I will do everything in my power to not miss the show!
The Thrift Store Cowboys are from Lubbock, TX way out there in the plains and desert of west Texas and the panhandle. And as you listen to Desert, you will get a decidedly old west, riding the range, down-by-the-Rio-Grande, Good Bad and Ugly vibe from it. Theyve been described as alternative country, but they are more distinct than that. There is much more a sense of history and homage to their sound than most modern alternative country bands nowadays. Like the Indians, the Cowboys are a 6 member ensemble who sport an interesting variety of instrumentation. Like the Indians CD, The Great American Desert is a 14 song compilation of original songs, each as true to the spirit of the band and uncontrived as good original music should be. From the very first swingy notes of Where Theres Sun, into the south of the border picking on Days We Remember and over to the low-slung, lonesome rider strains on The Black Buzzards and Man We Ran Them Camels (Instrumental), to the gallopy, staccato precision of Through For The Year and ending in the melodic, youthful wail of So Young, TGAD is a bona fide southwest trail ride.
The term thrift store conjures images of throw away, unwanted, no longer useful items, sent away to maybe be picked up and become someone elses treasure. Well, these kids certainly havent been around long enough to be rendered old and useless, but they indeed seem to have picked up an old brand of tunage, dusted it off, added a little spit, polish and paint and made it into truly something new and treasurable.
The Thrift Store Cowboys are:
Clint Miller: bass guitar
Amanda Shires: fiddle, harmony vocals
Cory Ames: drums, percussion
Daniel Fluitt: lead vocals, lap steel
Jeff Dennis: acoustic guitar
Colt Miller: electric guitar, banjo, accordion
To learn more and to see their tour schedule, please visit: www.thriftstorecowboys.net.
Website Index
Artists:
Venues:
Dan Electros Guitar Bar Houston, TX
Continental Club Houston, TX
To Buy Music:
Archive notice: This article is preserved from the original BikerTrash.com archive. It reflects information available at the time of publication. Please verify dates, locations, prices, links, and other details before relying on them.