Blackfire

I promised a post on Blackfire soon, but since they are my favourite band ever, I decided making a permanent page would be better.

I have copied below some stuff from their website which is http://www.blackfire.net. Of course there is lots more to see at the website, as well as songs you can hear and at least one video you can watch.

Not really feeling well enough to write today, so will edit this and add to it later. Just wanted to get something posted so you can all discover and enjoy this amazing band.

They do both modern rock/punk type music and traditional music so if what you first hear when you get to the site doesn’t appeal, be sure to check out the other stuff before you decide not to like them. To me it is all excellent, but different people have different preferences.

Also check out http://www.last.fm/music/BLACKFIRE

About
Left to right:
Jeneda Benally – Bass, Vocals
Klee Benally – Vocals, Guitar
Clayson Benally – Drums, Vocals
BLACKFIRE is comprised of two brothers and their sister Jeneda, Clayson and Klee Benally. Born into the heart of a political land dispute area on Black Mesa in the Navajo Nation, this family’s powerful music reflects the Hopes, Freedoms, and Barriers of today’s world.

BLACKFIRE’s style encompasses traditional Native American, Punk-Rock and “Alter-Native” music and bears strong socio-political messages regarding government oppression, relocation of indigenous people, eco-cide, genocide, domestic violence and human rights

BLACKFIRE sometimes combines performances with their Native American dance troupe, The Jones Benally Family.

The late godfather of punk Joey Ramone declared them “Fireball Punk-Rock.” BLACKFIRE is internationally acclaimed and has a strong grassroots following around the world owing to their frequent touring of Europe, the U.$., Canada and Mexico since 1989. They were the first Native American band to take part in on the Van’s Warped Tour and were also featured performers in the “Festival in the Desert,” in the Sahara Desert in Mali, Africa along with the Touareg group Tinariwen.

In 2007 BLACKFIRE released their highly-anticipated double disk concept album entitled, “[Silence] is a Weapon.” Recorded in Durango, Colorado by producer Ed Stasium (Ramones, Living Color, Talking Heads), the album features guest vocals by Cyril Neville & Jones Benally. Disk one features 12 blasts of Blackfire’s unique brand of label defying high-energy, social-political music Disk two comprises a special selection of 12 traditional Dine’ (Navajo) songs.

BLACKFIRE was awarded “Record of the Year” & “Native Heart” at the 2008 Native American Music Awards.

In the recent past, BLACKFIRE has been awarded the Native American Music Awards “Group of the Year” for their “Woody Guthrie Singles” recording, and “Best Pop/Rock Album for their full length release, “One Nation Under.”

BLACKFIRE was recently featured on NPR’s “Edge of the Rez”. Blackfire has also been on two of the Vans Warped Tours, over 13 tours to europe, 2 in the Sahara Desert, in Mexico, & Canada.

BLACKFIRE’s music has recently been featured on “What’s new Scooby Doo: New Mexico, Old Monster”, a tribute album to The Ramones (Argentinian release), “Beyond Warped” a new DVD about The Van’s Warped Tour, a documentary short called “Beyond Voting” which aired on PBS, the “Festival in the Desert” feature documentary and will be part of an upcoming tribute album to Peter LaFarge.

BLACKFIRE only plays all ages venues, whether concerts, festivals or clubs. They strongly promote the respect of all cultures. They do many workshops, lectures and school residencies.

http://www.blackfire.net/about/

 

 

Recordings

Purchase our music at CDBABY or iTUNES

 

 

Silence is a Weapon (2007)

Awarded “Record of the Year” & “Native Heart” at the 2008 Native American Music Awards.
[Silence] is a Weapon is a double disk concept album.
Disk one features 12 songs of Blackfire’s unique brand of label defying high energy-social political music.
Disk two comprises a special selection of 12 traditional Dine’ (Navajo) songs.
Recorded in Durango, Colorado by producer Ed Stasium (Ramones, LIving Color, Talking Heads), the album also features guest vocals by Cyril Neville & Jones Benally.
Comes with a 2 booklets including all lyrics.

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Beyond Warped (Dual Disk CD/DVD) (2004)

Audio CD side of the disk plays live tracks from the 2004 Van’s Warped Tour & bonus tracks!

Bonus audio tracks:
“I believe in Miracles” (Ramones tribute – first US release)
“Planet Earth 1988″ (Ramones tribute – first US release)
“Fence” (Live in Germany)
“Corn Song” (from the “Woody Guthrie Singles”)
DVD side plays HD Clips of Blackfire’s live set on the ’04 Warped Tour and,

”Beyond Borders” 36 min documentary on Blackfire’s travels from Africa to Europe & Mexico.
“It Aint Over” Music video
, “Rez Rock the Vote” Documentary
”, The Snowbowl Effect” Documentary trailer
Engineered by Michelle Mcleski
Additional tracks recorded at House of Love and Radio Camp Studios.

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Todos Somos Ramones – Ramones Tribute Compilation

Argentinean Ramones Tribute Album.
58 songs 2 cds!
Produced by Rockaway Records.
Blackfire does “I Believe in Miracles & “Planet Earth 1988″.

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Woody Guthrie Singles (2003)

“2005 Group of the Year” Native American Music Awards
Limited Edition. OUT OF PRINT.

Blackfire writes music to 2 previously unreleased & unpublished 
Woody Guthrie lyrics.
Produced and Mixed by Dusty Wakeman
Executive Production by Jim Lauderdale
Engineered by John “Ninja Dog” Debaun
 at Mad Dog Studios Burbank, CA
Mastered by Howie Weinberg at Masterdisk
Cover Photo by Julaire Scott
Words written by Woody Guthrie
Copyrite Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc.
Woody Guthrie Archives (BMI)
Music written by Blackfire
Copyrite 2003 Tacoho Publishing (ASCAP).

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Festival in the Desert – Live Compilation

Live from the legendary 2003 
”Festival au Desert” in Mali, Africa. 

Featuring Blackfire’s “What do you see” along with Robert Plant, Ali Farka Toure’, Lojo, Tinariwen and many more.

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One Nation Under (2001)

Awarded “Best Pop/Rock Album of the Year” 2002 Native American Music Awards.
Clayson Benally- Drums, traditional percussion, and voice
Jeneda Benally- Bass, voice
Klee Benally- Voice, guitar
Featuring:
Jones Benally- Traditional voice on Exile & What do you see
Joey Ramone- Additional voice on What do you see and Lying to myself
Produced by Don Fleming
 http://www.instantmayhem.com
Recorded by Matt Kane at Shelter Island Sound NYC
Additional recording by Daniel Rey & Hillary Johnson
Mastered by Howie Weinberg at Masterdisk
All words and music written and composed by Blackfire
Recorded & mixed on Analog

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3 song E.P. (1998)

OUT OF PRINT.

TRACKS:

 

• Common Enemy
• Exile
• Overshadow

Produced by Blackfire
Recorded at the Saltmine Studios Phoenix, AZ
Recorded & mixed on Analog

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5 Song E.P. (1994)

OUT OF PRINT!
The debut Blackfire album, produced by CJ Ramone.

TRACKS:

 

• Fence
• Painkiller
• Resist
• Dark Desire
• The Wall Inside

Featuring Tree Cody & Jones Benally
Produced by C.J. “Ramone” Ward
Engineered by Tim Jessup
2nd Engineer: Kelly Lehr
Recorded at Phase Four Studios Phoenix, AZ
Recorded & mixed on Analog

http://www.blackfire.net/discography/