Well-nourished
American Indian poet’s
new album rich in song,
harmony and tradition
By Jill O’Brien
Staff Reporter
John Trudell, American Indian
poet and orator, will enlighten the
audience at UNL’s Winter Council.
Trudell, a Santee Sioux and once
known for his activism in the Ameri
can Indian Movement, lost his Wife,
three children and mother-in-law in an
arsonist’s blaze in 1979.
After he started writing poetry, he
enlisted Quiltman, an American In
dian from Oregon, to back his words
with traditional powwow singing.
Further electric exploration in
music resulted in Trudell recording
several tapes with Kiowa guitarist
Jesse Ed Davis, formerly of the band
Taj Mahal.
Although Davis died in 1988, his
rocking guitar refrains can be heard on
“Graffiti Man,” Trudell’s debut al
bum released last year on Ryko
Records. Davis is also featured on at
least one track of Trudell’s latest al
bum, “Johnny Damas and Me,” slot
ted for a March 1 release date.
Trudell said the new album was
an extension of the first.
“There’s more singing, harmony,
and more traditional influence in it,
but it’s basically doing what I do —
rhyme,” he said. “There are more
songs with background vocals and
harmony, and the musical style is still
electric, but it’s a little bit different.”
His low-key delivery and mes
merizing voice inflicted with sarcasm
ind world-weariness hasn’t changed.
Neither has guitarist Mark Shark’s
gritty vocals, except Shark appears to
lave more singing roles than before.
Unlike “Graffiti Man,” the 11
tracks of “Johnny Damas and Me” 1
contain fewer word-bombs aimed at
corporations and politicians. That
doesn’t mean Trudell is lacking in
political verse.
In fact, he has argued before that
love songs count as political songs
because of the mistrust and misunder
standing between the sexes.
Trudell’s songs and poems are
unique because he writes convinc
ingly from the perspective of both
genders. It’s eerie how accurate he
expresses female emotions.
“I don’t want these songs to be
‘here’s a man trying to say how a
woman feels.’ I want to convey ‘this is
how a woman feels.’ There’s a fine
line,” Trudell said.
“Baby Doll’s Blues" and
“Shadow Over Sisterland” are two
songs from the new album that get
right into it.
Another similarity to his first al
bum is how Trudell closes with lines
about Una, his wife who perished in
the fire. In a voice, transparent with
sorrow, he remembers her in the ten
der verses of “After All These Years.”
Okay, enough similarities. Actu
ally a chasm of difference divides the
two albums.
Singer Jackson Browne pro
duced “Graffiti Man” but did not pro
duce “Johnny Damas,” Trudell said.
Then who did?
Trudell answered with a sneaky
laugh. “Dctomi,” he said.
The Spider?
Yup.
In Sioux culture, moral lessons
are introduced in stories about Dctomi
See TRUDELL on 10
Films shed light on stereotypes
By Jill O'Brien
Shill l\‘i pnrlri
Sunday, tree aw areness and entertainment
lake the form of a nine-w eek film series. " I he
Indian of the Imagination: A l-'ilm Retrospcc
Iivc and Reconsideration. '
The films, co-sponsored by the Native
American Public Broadcasting Consortium
and the Nebraska State I listoncal Society. can
he v iewed at 1:30 pin. every Sunday through
March 27 at the Museum ol Nebraska I listory.
15th and P streets.
Launching the retrospective is "Images of
Indians." a five-part series ol hall-hour films
analyzing Hollywood’s stereotyped charac
terization of American Indians.
Andrea Paul of the Historical Society said
the purpose of the retrospective was to look at
how the mov ie culture of Hollywood contiib
uted to the perception of American Indians,
This project will alsoevamme the work ol
Native American producers ami assess their
role m reshaping that perception." Paul said.
.Ian. 30 “Images of Indians"
Produced by filmmakers Phil I Ocas and
Robert I lagopian
I el». 6 “Cheyenne Vuliimn"
Dirccloi John Lord missed the mark when
he tried to sympathetically portray \meriean
Indians ol the \\ est.
Keh. 13 “Little Big Man"
Dustin Hoffman's performance otters a
different portrayal ol American Indians.
Let). 20 “Buffalo Bill and the Indians or
Sitting Bull’s History Lesson"
Director Robert Altman's film looks at the
relationship between the American Indian and
the w hite man.
See FILMS on 10
S\K\H Dl I \
et ready to rev up the laugh engine this weekend
v\ t was 8*x °f •*vcn?
yy Give up?
" ’ Because seven ate nine.
Yeah, I’m counting on Comedy Central
ailing next week.
Am I getting my hopes up too soon?
OK, OK, I’ll stick to journalism and spare
ie world from the lame humor of a young,
^experienced Midwestern girl.
Destroying the idea of a little comic relief
lis weekend was the last thing on my agenda,
think everyone should laugh more often. I
seemly read somewhere that just smiling
triggers the brain to emit feelings of joy.
So, c’mon—show those pearly whites. Let
out a few sniggles. I’ve got
just the right medicine that
will let those grins and
chuckles loose.
Two professional come
dians are coming to cam
pus who are definitely
worth checking out.
David Naster and Sam
Griesbaum. two of the
most popular college comedians on the cir
cuit, will perform tonight in the Nebraska
Union Ballroom. The show is sponsored by
the University Program Council.
Roland Pinto, UPC spokesman, said,
“These guys are top quality.
“We saw them and we were completely
amazed. They put on a good show.”
Naster is a veteran performer on college
campuses, with eight years of performances
all over the country and a reputation for being
outrageous on stage. He has been nominated
for College Comedian of the Year by the
National Association for Campus Activities
every year he has performed. Naster, a Kan
sas City native, has appeared on the A&E
Channel, Showtime, HBO and the Comedy
Channel.
Griesbaum has also performed at colleges
and clubs across the country as well as on the
Comedy Channel, Showtime and Comedy
Central. He is also from the Midwest.
For only $3 students can go get some comic
relief. Hey — I may not be a comedian, but I
can always use a good laugh.
Duty b a MB tor news-editorial major aid the Arts St
Katertainmcnt editor.