www.flaglive.com Cover Story: Combat Rock Blackfire's global activism, new album and endless inspiration By Michelle Talsma Published on 05/31/2007

It’s a cold Saturday on the first weekend in May and the sky is sputtering that classic mix of snow and rain. People from all walks of life dot Wheeler Park as the three bandmates set up the stage. Unlike previous concerts, police or City Hall officials cannot unplug their equipment because it’s running on batteries—just one of the band’s many efforts to a more energy efficient show.
     As they set up and greet their audience, the dedicated crowd decked out in their winter coats gathers in front of the tent they’re playing under and prepare to listen. The band begins playing and the lead singer belts out song after song in a deep voice while the others join in on bass and drums. Their lyrics call for social justice as their beats call for the crowd to take action. Their audience is amazingly diverse—a girl in the front of the crowd jams out on her wheelchair while dedicated fans that come to every performance sing along to the lyrics. This is their last concert in Flagstaff for a few months because they’re embarking on their world tour. But, they need not to worry, because their fans will be here when they get back—as they have been since 1989. Meet Blackfire.
     Klee, Clayson and Jeneda Benally, all siblings, have been playing music since their instruments were bigger than they were. Hailing from Black Mesa on the Navajo Reservation, they grew up surrounded by social and environmental injustice. From facing forest relocation to corrupt tribal government, they were raised in protests. With a mother who was a folk singer and a father who was a traditional medicine man and raised them on traditional Native songs, music became their salvation.
     “When you grow up and see injustice happening to the people and land you love, you can’t help but get angry,” says Klee. “Music was a way for us to channel that frustration.
For us it was more positive to transform our anger into positive energy and use music as a platform for our issues.”
     Through their music, which the late Ramones frontman Joey Ramone called “fireball punk rock,” Blackfire combats injustice of all forms.
     “Our goal is to address our issues, both environmental and social—they’re all connected,” Klee says. “We fight for indigenous communities, sacred sights, and the cultural and religious issues that are associated with the roots of our lives.”
     From performing with Joey Ramone in New York City neighborhood club to a stage half way across the world where audience members have to travel by camel to reach, Blackfire has played shows across the gamete and across the world. Over the years they’ve received Native American Music Awards, recognition at the Grammys, have been on world tours and even performed at the Grand Ole Opry. Yet, all of their success is merely icing on top of the cake compared to being able to have their voices heard.
     “We’re not MTV or egocentric,” Clayson says. “That’s not why we do this.”
     “Our music will mean something if we have healthy communities,” Klee adds. “If we contribute in some way by utilizing our platform and helping to maintain our culture—then our music will have longevity and meaning.”
     Their latest release, (Silence) Is a Weapon, embodies all Blackfire believes in. It is a double disc set, with one disc comprised of their modern tracks, while the other carries traditional Navajo songs. Yet, the two styles are not totally separated—many of the traditional elements blend effortlessly into the modern tracks.
     “There is no separation between the generations,” Clayson says. “Folk music simply means telling a story with a message, and that’s what we do with all of our music. We were segregated from childhood, told that the Western culture and our Native culture were totally separate. But, we can make them work together by listening and learning from our elders.”
     “There’s no distinction between the traditional and modern,” Jeneda adds. “The traditional music and culture is our foundation—we then use our instruments as tools to show the community what is happening in the world, address the issue, and inspire change.”
     The album title (Silence) Is a Weapon is based on a poem by a Navajo political prisoner that hit home with the band because it showed how dissent can be criminalized.
     “Silence can be a weapon when you don’t say anything when you see injustice happening,” Klee says.
     The album’s title track embodies Blackfire’s message of taking a stance against injustice. “Silence is a weapon/violence is the message/take the time to listen!” the group cries out to their audience. The songs are made even more urgent because the laughing, doting, loving siblings turn into a force to be reckoned with once on stage. Their passion is obvious through their vocals along with the mix of both traditional and modern drums, deep bass, and a bullhorn that is regularly put to use. Their shows are like none other.
     “Our shows have a lot of energy and are very confrontational,” Klee says. “Our style chose us—it’s meaningful and has a spark. Our shows always have a concept; they’re based on action, interaction and, like our recordings, call for positive change.”
     Recently, the band has been very vocal and politically active in regards to the issue of snowmaking on the San Francisco Peaks and dedicated a song on their album to the issue. Titled “The Peaks Song,” Blackfire asks the simple, yet poignant question of, “How can we have justice on stolen land?” And, in true Blackfire style, not only do they sing about the issue, but they could be seen protesting along side their fans. Even now after their side won the issue, they still stress its completion at concerts and events.
     “The San Francisco Peaks issue was very unveiling—Flagstaff still deals with a lot of prejudice and those who are not impacted by it don’t believe it exists,” Jeneda says. “We’re supposedly ‘opponents,’ yet we’re just people who care about healthy, respectable and diverse communities.”
     In addition to their political activism and unique sound, another thing that makes Blackfire a fan favorite is their independence. Each album is completely independent and they have a hand in the entire creative process. From the song compositions, to the artwork, to the recyclable cover, the members of Blackfire do it all on their own terms.
     As the band moves forward this summer on their 15-country world tour, they will be taking their message with them to diverse communities across the globe.
     “We often play for a lot of indigenous communities,” Clayson says. “We network and see how a lot of the same situations are carried on all over the world.”
     But, despite their success locally and abroad, their music keeps to the same goal of impacting the future.
     “Now that I’m a parent, there’s an urgency to want my daughter to inherit a clean, healthy planet,” Jeneda says. “I hope she won’t have to work as hard for social and environmental justice.”
     “We really want to be able to write happy love songs,” Klee added. “But how can we when there’s so much injustice? Hopefully she [Jeneda’s daughter] won’t have to write politically charged songs like we do. We don’t want the next generations to have to experience this nightmare, so we have to wake up.”
     For more information on Blackfire and to check out their new CD (Silence) is a Weapon, visit their Web site at www.blackfire.net.