Nahko and Medicine for the People

Last updated

Nahko and Medicine for the People
Nahko And Medicine For The People.jpg
Nahko and Medicine for the People in 2017
Background information
OriginUnited States
Genres Worldbeat, world music
Years active2008–present
LabelsMedicine Tribe Records, Side One Dummy Records
Members
  • Nahko Bear
  • Justin Chittams
  • Joe Hall
  • Patricio Zuñiga Labarca
  • Max Ribner
  • Tim Snider
  • TJ Schaper
Past members
  • Don Corey
  • Hope Medford
  • Chase Makai
Website nahko.com

Nahko and Medicine for the People is an American world music group headed by the eponymous Nahko Bear. As of 2024, they have released five studio albums.

Contents

Background

Nahko Bear was born in Portland, Oregon. Nahko is short for Nahkohe-ese, "little bear" in the Cheyenne language. [1] He self-identifies as being of Apache, Chamorro, Mohawk, Puerto Rican, and Filipino descent. [2] According to Indianz.com, he has not specified which Apache or Mohawk tribes he descends from. [3] Adopted by a white middle-class Christian family, he learned of his heritage after reconnecting with his biological mother as an adult. His birth was the result of rape, and his biological father had been murdered. [4] He learned to play the piano at the age of six and the guitar at fourteen. [5] He began his musical career by busking [6] and formed the band in 2008. Nahko and Medicine for the People play a fusion of styles often called world music, or worldbeat. The group's lyrics present a message of social and environmental consciousness. [7] [8] [9]

Tours and festivals

Nahko and Medicine for the People have toured with Nattali Rize, Rebelution, Michael Franti, Trevor Hall, Dispatch, Xavier Rudd, and SOJA. [10] The band largely appears at alternative music festivals, [10] [11] including the Greenbelt Festival, [12] the ARISE Music Festival, [13] and Tour de Fat. [13]

Solo work

In 2017, Bear released a solo album titled My Name Is Bear, under the name Nahko. [14]

Controversy

On July 8, 2020, following accusations from multiple individuals of sexually inappropriate behavior, Bear resigned from the board of Honor the Earth. In their statement, "Regarding Nahko", the board stated that they have "a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment and inappropriate sexual behavior". [15]

After the initial surge of public interest, Bear responded to the accusations made against him. On August 10, 2020, he shared a statement on the band's Facebook page, in which he expressed regret to the women he had harmed through his inappropriate actions and disputed allegations against him as false. [16]

Band members

Current

Past [18]

Discography

Nahko and Medicine for the People

Studio albums

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
AAA

[20]
"Wash It Away"2014Non-album single
"Lifeguard"201936Take Your Power Back
"Slow Down"
"Garden"2020
"Honor the Earth"
"—" denotes single did not chart or was not released in that territory

Nahko

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">System of a Down</span> Armenian-American metal band

System of a Down is an Armenian-American heavy metal band formed in Glendale, California, in 1994. Since 1997, the band has consisted of founding members Serj Tankian ; Daron Malakian ; Shavo Odadjian ; along with John Dolmayan (drums), who replaced original drummer Andy Khachaturian in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Smashing Pumpkins</span> American alternative rock band

The Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band from Chicago. Formed in 1988 by frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, the band has undergone several line-up changes since their reunion in 2006, with Corgan being the primary songwriter and sole constant member since its inception. The current lineup consists of Corgan, Chamberlin, and Iha. The band has a diverse, densely layered sound, which evolved throughout their career and has contained elements of gothic rock, heavy metal, grunge, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shoegaze, dream pop, and electronica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billie Joe Armstrong</span> American rock musician (born 1972)

Billie Joe Armstrong is an American musician and actor. He is best known for being the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Green Day, which he co-founded with Mike Dirnt in 1987. He is also a guitarist and vocalist for the punk rock band Pinhead Gunpowder, and provides lead vocals for Green Day's side projects Foxboro Hot Tubs, the Network, the Longshot and the Coverups. Armstrong has been considered by critics as one of the greatest punk rock guitarists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-Flag</span> American punk rock band (1993–2023)

Anti-Flag was an American punk rock band formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1988. The band was known for its left-wing political activism. For the majority of the band's career, their members included Justin Sane, Chris Head (guitar), Pat Thetic (drums), and Chris Barker, also known as Chris No. 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simple Plan</span> Canadian rock band

Simple Plan is a Canadian rock band from Montreal, Quebec. Formed in 1999, the band's current lineup consists of Pierre Bouvier, Chuck Comeau (drums), Jeff Stinco, and Sébastien Lefebvre. David Desrosiers joined the band in early 2000 and left in July 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deryck Whibley</span> Canadian musician (born 1980)

Deryck Jason Whibley, nicknamed Bizzy D, is a Canadian musician, best known for his work as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, main songwriter, producer, founder and only constant member of the rock band Sum 41.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foo Fighters</span> American rock band

The Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Founded as a one-man project by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the lineup now consists of Grohl, Nate Mendel (bass), Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear (guitars), Rami Jaffee (keyboards), and Josh Freese (drums). Drummers William Goldsmith and Taylor Hawkins, along with guitarist Franz Stahl, are former members of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Kozelek</span> American singer

Mark Edward Kozelek is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer and occasional actor. He is the vocalist and primary recording artist of the indie folk act Sun Kil Moon and was a founding member of the indie rock band Red House Painters, with whom he recorded six studio albums from 1988 until 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Crow Medicine Show</span> Americana string band based in Tennessee

Old Crow Medicine Show is an Americana string band based in Nashville, Tennessee, that has been recording since 1998. They were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on September 17, 2013. Their ninth album, Remedy, released in 2014, won the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. The group's music has been called old-time, folk, and alternative country. Along with original songs, the band performs many pre-World War II blues and folk songs.

Warumpi Band were an Australian country and Aboriginal rock group which formed in the outback settlement of Papunya, Northern Territory, in 1980. The original line-up was George Burarrwanga on vocals and didgeridoo, Gordon Butcher Tjapanangka on drums, his brother Sammy Butcher Tjapanangka on guitar and bass guitar, and Neil Murray on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Their songs are in English, Luritja and Gumatj. Their key singles are "Blackfella/Whitefella" (1985), "Sit Down Money" (1986), "My Island Home" (1987) and "No Fear" (1987). The group released three albums, Big Name, No Blankets (1985), Go Bush! (1987) and Too Much Humbug (1996). From late 1987 to mid-1995 the group rarely performed as Murray focused on his solo career. In early 1995, Christine Anu, issued a cover version of "My Island Home". Warumpi Band regrouped before disbanding in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grizzly Bear (band)</span> American rock band

Grizzly Bear is an American rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2002. For most of its tenure, the band has consisted of Edward Droste, Daniel Rossen, Chris Taylor, and Christopher Bear. The band employed both traditional and electronic instruments, and their sound has been categorized as psychedelic pop, folk rock, and experimental. The band was known for their use of vocal harmony, with all four members contributing vocals and lead vocals alternating between Rossen and Droste.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gill Landry</span> American singer-songwriter

Gilbert John Landry, also known by the stage name of Frank Lemon, is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is a former member of Old Crow Medicine Show and a founding member of the Kitchen Syncopators. In March 2015 he released his third album, the self-titled Gill Landry, and in October 2017 came Love Rides a Dark Horse released by ATO Records and Loose Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Hall (musician)</span> American musician

Trevor Hall is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music is a fusion of roots, folk, and reggae. Many of Hall's themes revolve around spirituality and life exploration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumford & Sons</span> British folk rock band

Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band formed in London in 2007. The band consists of Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane, and Ben Lovett. Banjoist Winston Marshall played on the band's first four albums before his departure in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tame Impala</span> Australian psychedelic music project

Tame Impala is the psychedelic music project of Australian singer and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker. In the recording studio, Parker writes, records, performs, and produces all of the project's music. As a touring act, Tame Impala consists of Parker, Dominic Simper, Jay Watson, Cam Avery, and Julien Barbagallo. The group has a close affiliation with fellow Australian psychedelic rock band Pond, sharing members and collaborators, including Nick Allbrook, formerly a live member of Tame Impala. Originally signed to Modular Recordings, Tame Impala is now signed to Interscope Records in the United States and Fiction Records in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Sultan</span> Indigenous Australian singer

Daniel Leo Sultan is an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, actor and author. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2010 he won Best Male Artist and Best Blues & Roots Album for his second album, Get Out While You Can. At the 2014 ceremony he won Best Rock Album for Blackbird, which had reached number four on the ARIA Albums Chart. In 2017, Sultan's record Killer was nominated for three ARIA awards: Best Male Artist, Best Rock Album, and Best Independent Release. Sultan's debut children's music album Nali & Friends was named Best Children's Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pretty Reckless</span> American rock band

The Pretty Reckless is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 2009. The band consists of Taylor Momsen, Ben Phillips, Mark Damon (bass), and Jamie Perkins (drums). In August 2010, the band released their debut studio album, Light Me Up. The album spawned three moderately successful singles, most notably "Make Me Wanna Die". The band released the Hit Me Like a Man EP in early 2012. In March 2014, the band released their second studio album, Going to Hell, which included the singles "Heaven Knows" and "Messed Up World", both of which topped the US and UK rock charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neck Deep</span> Welsh pop-punk band

Neck Deep are a Welsh pop-punk band from Wrexham, formed in 2012. They released a pair of EPs, Rain in July (2012) and A History of Bad Decisions (2013), before signing with Hopeless in August 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SWMRS</span> American punk rock band

SWMRS, pronounced 'swimmers', are an American punk rock band formed in Piedmont, California in 2004 by Cole Becker and Joey Armstrong, with Becker's brother Max Becker joining only a few weeks afterwards. They drew on a mix of influences ranging from the Beach Boys to the Ramones to create their own brand of rock. The band added Travis Neumann in 2009, who later left in 2014 due to creative differences. The band released a demo and a string of EPs from 2008 to 2010. The band released their first album, Don't Be a Dick, on June 14, 2011. The band's second album, Lost at Seventeen, was released on June 11, 2013. They added Sebastian Mueller as the bassist in 2014. The band's third studio album, and their first under the name SWMRS after dropping their former name, Drive North, was released February 12, 2016, via Uncool Records. Drive North was later re-released after the band was signed to record label Fueled by Ramen on October 13, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic Giant</span>

Magic Giant is an American alt-rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in early 2014. The group consists of Austin Bisnow, Zambricki Li (viola) and Zang (guitar).

References

  1. "Uncovering Forgiveness". HM Magazine . Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "An In-Depth Conversation with the Indigenous Musician You Need to Know: Nahko Bear". Indian Country Today . Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  3. "'Deliberate disregard': Honor the Earth liable in sexual harassment case". Indianz.com. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  4. "Nahko Bear: 'In forgiving my father's killer, I freed myself'". Ham&High. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  5. "Nahko and Medicine for the People: Alternative World Music as a Social Movement". July 2, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  6. "Nahko and Medicine for the People ft. Kota the Friend – "OK"". www.wonderlandmagazine.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  7. "Nahko and Medicine for the People". HM Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  8. "Nahko and Medicine for the People | "Take Your Power Back"". Grateful Web. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  9. "Nahko: Power to the People". Relix Media. July 19, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  10. 1 2 D'Angleo, Chris (February 20, 2015). "Nahko: Medicinal music". TheGardenIsland.com. The Garden Island. Archived from the original on February 23, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  11. 1 2 Hucka, TJ. "Nahko and Medicine for the People". LifeIsBeautiful.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Greeenbelt Festival 2016 Lineup". Greeenbelt Festival. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  13. 1 2 "New Belgium announces Tour de Fat schedule". Coloradoan. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  14. "Singer-Songwriter Nahko Discusses How Politics & Meeting His Birth Mother Influenced Solo Album 'My Name Is Bear'". billboard.com. October 17, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  15. "Honor the Earth Board Statement Regarding Nahko". honorearth.org. July 8, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  16. "Aloha Medicine Tribe, Mahalo for coming by to read and listen to what I have to say. If you're here, it means on some level you are invested in what has..." Facebook . Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  17. Hall, Joe (October 2015). "Joe Hall: Engineer / Producer / Guitars". Sound Better. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Patak, Agnes (October 20, 2016). "Nahko and Medicine for the People – HOKA". Mateel. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  19. Rom, Meredith (December 6, 2019). "091 | Sacred Birth, Rhythm & Raising Women's Voices with Hope Medford". Meredith Rom. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  20. "Nahko and Medicine for the People Triple A Songs Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2020.

Further reading

Reviews