It was literally minutes after walking off the stage at last years Navajo Nation Outreach Festival that I told everyone in Headnoise that we were going to play this event every friggin' year, even if I had to pay for it out of my own pocket! 😁 That was the year that someone fainted during our set and Robert dashed off stage to bring her back around and keep her steady until an ambulance arrived. Nothing that crazy happened during our set this year but the feeling you get from playing in front of these people who are just soooooooooo grateful that you traveled hundreds of miles on your own dime to play for them is indescribable. The festival takes place at the New Testament Indian Gospel Church in Inscription House, AZ, which is 15 minutes from Shonto if you know the area. The land out there is breathtaking and always a joy to see. The festival is basically to show the kids on the Rez that there are other options out there besides drinking and doing drugs to cope with life, like music of all types and genres, and I'm all about that. Rez life is not an easy one to live, believe me I know, and to do anything I can to help alleviate that burden is my priority. I even came bearing gifts this time, packing up all the free space in my car with jackets, shoes, clothes for the kids, all to help out those less fortunate. We all brought stuff for them. We had to. We were compelled. The hospitality extended to us by these amazing people gives me hope for the human race in general. PLUS they made me an honorary member of the Navajo Nation and gave me the official nickname of 'adoo'nííł', which means 'Thunder'. Wow. That's some humbling shit right there. Fucking Hell. Oh the frybread was plentiful, seeing all the good friends and Tribal elders we met the year before was beautiful, the drive out there was gorgeous (no snow this time), and Erika was with me the entire time, which just meant it was pretty much a perfect day. ❤ Headnoise at the Navajo Nation Outreach Festival. Can't wait to do it again next year.
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November 2023
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