Indigenous

With the release of its self-titled album on the Silvertone label, the Native American blues-rock act Indigenous is poised to push its intensity level up a few more notches. That’s exactly what its fans demand from the Nakota Sioux powerhouse quartet, which up to this point has had better luck showing its mettle onstage instead of in the studio. From the fiery first few bars of the initial cut off this latest disc, a raucous bruiser by the name of “C’mon Suzie,” it’s quickly apparent that the band is finally hitting its full stride. Built on the firm foundation of frontman Mato Nanji’s exceptional guitar chops and blues-soaked vocals, Indigenous has been paying its dues for the past six years, opening for B.B. King, Jimmie Vaughn, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy and Robert Cray on King’s 1999 Blues Festival tour. Since then, this family foursome has won the appreciation and admiration of some of the biggest acts around, including Santana, Dave Matthews, Bob Dylan, the Indigo Girls and Bonnie Raitt. Now it’s just a matter of time before everyone else catches on.