South Dakota
The Reddmen
All-Time Best Band: Indigenous
All-Time Best Solo Artist: Bob Stewart
Best New Band: The Reddmen
INDIGENOUS (yeah, that’s the name of the band) were a family affair from the town of Marty, featuring a quartet of Nakota-tribe siblings from the Yankton Indian Reservation. Leader Mato Nanji sounds remarkably like Stevie Ray Vaughan, both vocally and, even more impressively (considering Vaughan’s talents), on his scabrous-but-velvety blues-rock guitar solos. After splitting with his sibs, Mato today carries on the Indigenous name by himself as a solo act. | Born in Sioux Falls, virtuoso jazz tuba (yup, tuba) player BOB STEWART is doing his very best to earn the orchestra’s least respected instrument some love. He may not land the tuba on the musical equivalent of his home state’s Mount Rushmore, but the man can blow, and he’s toured or recorded with Mingus, Dizzy, and Wynton. | Rapid City’s the REDDMEN comprise brothers J. Waylon Porcupine and Miyo One Arrow, who are Northern Cheyenne and Lakota Plains Indians, along with Trevor Leo. The trio make infectious little British Invasion ’60s nuggets injected with incendiary Green Day punk pop.
Video: Indigenous
Video: Bob Stewart
Listen: Indigenous, "Sundance"
Listen: The Reddmen, "Lunar First Class"
