***Band Members***
Phil Davis-guitars, vocals-
Rick McLean-guitars, vocals, keys-
Francis-bass
Eric Anderson-drums
Lynne McLean and Penny Bowers-vocals
***Additional Vocalists***
Samantha McLean, Shawnee Talbot,
Nikki Shawana, Gary Parker
***Design and Graphics***
Lynne McLean, Penny Bowers
Influences
Phil cut his teeth on blues and southern rock, has played with a few blues bands and enjoys singing at pow wows with friends out on the trail. Rick has toured all over Turtle Island with a variety of cover bands until he focussed on original material in bands like Sloppy Duppy. And I think all of us at one time or another have whooped it up to Whitefish Bay Jrs. and Bear Creek.
Sounds Like
***GOOD MEDICINE*** is a song about anger, sadness, conflict and hope. It captures the inter-tribal conflict that goes on in our communities, our native centres and agencies, and between our nations. When will we lay down our tobacco and try to build for that seventh generation? Listen for the Crow Hop!
We have some vocable help from our friend Mr. ( loosely used,lol)Gary Parker of Whitefish Jrs!
***LONG TIME*** is a story that many a road musician might relate to...how the music, the lights and the parties take us off our path...and how our traditions like the sweat lodge can help heal us again.
***SISTER AWAY*** is partly about the Helen Betty Osbourne story and partly about the many who were slain by a pig farmer in B.C. But the entire song is about how women are dehumanized by labels like drunk, addict, prostitute...or dare I say...Indian...and that makes them expendable to mainstream society. Let all healthy men vow to make their community safe for their wives, daughters, aunties and sisters. It is not our way to hurt our women. I had a dream wherein no womans shelter was ever needed again because our girls were safe.
***RED ROAD*** acknowledges the Nishnaube teachings I have been given...how we walk the Red Road...down that pine branch...how we can lose our way...how the only way home is to turn around and go back to the spot where you remember travelling well...and continuing on. Journey well my friends. Giga Waa Baa Min Minowaa
Contact Info: Phil Davis- philiphdavis@hotmail.com or 905 346 4845.
Rick McLean- mcleanrick@hotmail.com or 905 894 3298.
Who is writing songs to speak to Indians…especially urban Indians? This is the question that Rick McLean and Phil Davis asked each other in 2003. They were sitting around a pow wow drum that both attended to and discovered that they also were experienced road musicians and prolific writers. This was the birth of Crooked Trail which is the Mohawk name of the city in which Phil and Rick first began working together in. It is also a name that denotes the nature of our lives; a weaving path as we try to find our way back home. It is this theme that is the subject and vision of this versatile quartet. Since recording their first CD in 2006, Crooked Trail have won over audiences from both native and non-native venues alike.
PHIL DAVIS: Guitar and vocals, a Mohawk/Cayuga, who’s family on both sides originate from Six Nations, currently making roots in Ridgeway Ontario. He enjoys many aspects of music from country to blues, rock and also has a deep passion for Iroquois social singing and is an avid traditional Pow Wow singer. Has played with various blues acts within the Niagara Region but to date Crooked Trail continues to be his most ambitious project due to the blending of mainstream styles intertwined with musical flavorings from his own background and beyond.
RICK MCLEAN: Vocals, guitar and keys. Rick is a classically trained vocalist who started early with the support of his talented musical family. During the 1980’s, Rick toured extensively with many bands like The Peasants and The Brides as well as “jobbing” with many of the touring Canadian bands of the day. In the early 1990’s, Rick took theatre and mixed it with original rock with the band Sloppy Duppy and made avante garde interesting again. Tiring of the media hype, Rick returned to his spiritual home of the Anishinaube and concentrated on pow wow drumming and traditional teachings. He released the self-titled album “McLean” before meeting Phil Davis and forming Crooked Trail.
Continuing Audies dream..Benefit Concert in Floyd Va. 6Pm The Sun Music Hall for the Lakota in South Dakota so they will have a warmer winter. Last year many went without heat and during the hardest time during blizzards. Help the Audies Women and Children Project of Pine Ridge. Call 605-407-0582 or 804-370-5249
HI, summer has gone by fast...I hope you will stop in to listen to my new tunes. Some of them are submitted to the NAMA's this year. Listen to my songs from "We Must Go On" & "Native Trance" free of course of the player only!! The Best Jiiniikwe
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