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XIT (band)

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XIT
GenresRock
Years active1968–2011
Spinoff ofLincoln St. Exit

XIT (Crossing of Indian Tribes) is a Native American rock band that released two albums in the 1970s on the Rare Earth label.

Their music addresses themes of historic and contemporary Native American issues.

Their initial recording, 1972's Plight of the Redman, is a concept album with rock opera elements, telling "the story of Native life since the times of Columbus using traditional [symphonic] and electric sounds as well as chanting and Native language."[1]

Due to XIT's criticism of governmental treatment of Native Americans and support of the American Indian Movement, the United States government and FBI took action to suppress their music.[2] Circa 1972, they banned their first album from radio airplay[3] and threatened Motown Records unless they defunded promotion of Plight of the Redman.[2] Despite this, XIT toured Europe three times[4] and opened for ZZ Top, Joe Cocker, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Martin, Floyd Red Crow Westerman , Black Oak Arkansas , Three Dog Night, Rare Earth, Zephy, Buffy St. Marie, Redbone and the Beach Boys.[3]

In 2007, the Encyclopedia of the Great Plains Indians described the band as "the first commercially successful all-Indian rock band."[5]

History

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Predecessor

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In June of 1966,[1] [][6][unreliable source?] Lincoln St. Exit was formed, a psychedelic rock garage band in Albuquerque, New Mexico's Valley High School.[7][unreliable source?] It was formed as a response to "intense racism" in New Mexico that made the state "a dangerous place to be Indian."[8] The group consisted of musicians : Siegi Chavez,Frank Viramontes,Paul Chapman, Michael Martinez, Mac Suazo, Larry Leyba, and Lee Herrera. They recorded their first LP “Entrance”but the LP wasn’t released until 1974. In 1969 the members were Michael Martinez, Larry Leyba, Mac Suazo, and Lee Herrera. Larry Leyba was replaced by R.C. Gariss in 1970 and Lincoln St.Exit became Exit.[9] In 1970 they recorded their only LP, "Drive It," which was released the following year.[7][10]

Conception of XIT

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Circa 1970, members A. Michael Martinez, Mac Suazo, Lee Herrerra, and R. C. Gariss lived together in a log cabin on the east side of the Sandia Mountains.[2] Their band was named Exit with then shortened to XIT . Mac Suazo noticed an Exit sign at a bar where the band used to hang out and noticed the “E” was burned out, he then told everyone to look and pointed out that Xit should be the bands name, so they all agreed,[1]band member and producer Tom Bee, XIT stands for "crossing of Indian Tribes."[11]

First album and FBI intervention

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Around 1970, producers Mike Valvano and Ralph Terrana of Motown Records visited the cabin to see a rough draft performance of Plight of the Redman. Both were impressed, and Terrana promised a large promotional budget and claimed Motown was "hot for the album."[2]

The rock opera follows a singular Native American's peaceful life that is destroyed by contact with colonists; it describes the destruction of his society and the desecration of American land. The album ends with a denunciation of present-day conditions, such as Native American suicide, poverty, diseases, and poor access to healthcare in the "ghettos of reservations."[12] On Plight of the Redman, Martinez provided vocals and lead guitar; Suazo narrated and played bass guitar; Herrerra provided drums; and R. C. Gariss was the 2nd lead guitar.[citation needed] It features a chorus, orchestral instruments, guitar solos, and a recurring melodic theme throughout the album. Its spoken-word narration directly denounce the U.S. government's treatment of Native Americans, such as in final song "End?":

Your America has not been the land of your proclaimed liberty and justice for all. May your God forgive you. The treatment of our people has been a national tragedy and disgrace. The time has come to put an end to that disgrace: [the occupation of] Alcatraz,[13] Fort Lawton, whatever necessary. We must now manage our own affairs and control our own lives, and, through it all, remain to be the true American.[12]

The United States government's goal to "stabilize American Indian uprisings,"[2] such as the Occupation of Alcatraz Island of 1969 to 1971,[13] necessitated suppressing XIT and other Native American bands expressing radical messages.[2] Despite the government's interpretation, Bee has stated, "I never felt our music to be militant. I never felt our music to be radical. I never felt our music [should] upset anybody, but to educate everybody."[14]

Michael Martinez stated, "Our message was a political statement about how Natives were treated in the U.S. We affiliated ourselves with the American Indian Movement. We did a lot of their rallies. That was a detriment to us."[3] Taking note of their resistance, the United States government banned their music from the radio.[3]

According to Suazo, the FBI "told Motown to stop the album's promotion or face an IRS audit."[2]

Meanwhile, after the album release, XIT toured the country, opening for ZZ Top, Joe Cocker, The Beach Boys,[3]Three Dog Night, Zephyr, Redbone, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Martin, Buffy St. Martin, Floyd Redcrow Westerman, Johnny Otis, Dewey Martin, Crow, and Black Oak Arkansas

Second album and European tour

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Their second album Silent Warrior (1973) resulted in a European hit single "We Live," which sold millions of units according to Suazo.[2] The lyrics continued to describe the Native American experience; for example, "Reservation of Education" describes internalized racism in Indian boarding schools. Among its lyrics, one stated, "I'm sure when you were young, you played a game called Cowboys and Indians...only now it's called White Man and Indian."[15]

Despite success in Europe, Motown Records ended its relationship with the band, possibly under the persuasion of the United States government.[2]

As a result of the single's success, XIT toured Europe three times[4] in the early 1970s. This began with a performance in Venice during the Venice Biennale's Festival Internazionale di Musica Contemporanea (International Festival of Contemporary Music).[2][16] Their performance was viewed by a TV audience of 30 million.[2]

The most recent members of XIT were, Willie Bluehouse Johnson (Lead guitar) P.J. West (Drums, percussion to include timpani), Louie Running Wolf (bass guitar) and Jim Boyd (lead guitar). Original Xit has released 6 CDs since 2006, "eXit From the REZ" (2006), "No eXit" (2007), "eXit nOw" (2008), "neXt eXit" (2009), "The Red Album" (2010) and "Forty Years" (2011). Obie Sullivan played keyboards 1971–1975.[citation needed]

Disbanding

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By 1976, the group had disbanded.[3]

On May 20th, 2000, XIT reunited for their 30th anniversary at the Celebrity Palace in the Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, Minnesota.[14] Their stage performances featured dancers in ceremonial dress.[14]

Legacy

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In 1999, the Native American Music Awards presented Tom Bee & XIT with the Lifetime Achievement Award.[17][1]

In a 2000 documentary, Tom Bee's The SOAR Corporation claimed XIT "carried a message of unity, hope, and truth to Indian people across America. Their lyrics brought to the surface the injustice that has been, and continues to be, inflicted upon Native Americans. They not only brought rock and roll to Indian people; they brought Indian consciousness to the world through rock and roll."[14]

In 2013 the original Xit line up of A. Michael Martinez, Mac Suazo, R.C. Gariss, and Lee Herrera played for the very last time at the Shiprock Chapter House for a two hour long concert. The concert was produced by Chili Yazzie, former Xit member and videographer Flora Benn.

In 2016, the band was inducted into the New Mexico Hall of Fame.[1]

Since 2020, reggae rock band Ed Kabotie and Tha 'Yoties have referred to XIT as their "musical heroes."[18] Tha 'Yoties have performed and recorded covers of XIT songs, including The Silent Warrior's "Reservation of Education." In 2020, Tha 'Yoties held a tribute performance featuring 10 covers of XIT songs, live-streamed from the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff, Arizona.[19]

In 2012, the formation of blues rock band Blue Mountain Tribe was inspired by a PBS performance by XIT. Band member Hairston stated, "[XIT] didn’t play the flute, the drum; they got up there and just rocked."[20]

In 2023 Mac Suazo passed away. He is survived by his daughter Martha and son Matthew. A group of current AIM members put on a tribute to honor him as a fallen warrior. A. Michael Martinez and Ed Kabotie, also William Johnson played some of Xit’s most memorable songs to honor him.

Albums

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  • Plight of the Redman, 1972 (Rare Earth 536)
  • Silent Warrior, 1973 (Rare Earth 545)
  • Entrance, 1974 (early work from the sixties as Lincoln Street Exit) (Canyon 7114)
  • Color Me Red, 1976 (SOAR)
  • Backtrackin', 1976 (Canyon 7115)
  • Relocation, 1977 (Canyon 7121)
  • Drums Across the Atlantic, 1985 (Recorded February 6, 1981 - The Tropica Club, Luzern, Switzerland) (Commander 39003)
  • Without Reservation, 2002 (SOAR)
  • eXit From the REZ, 2006
  • No eXit, 2007
  • eXit nOw, 2008
  • neXt eXit, 2009
  • Wanted Alive, 2009
  • The Red Album, 2010
  • Forty Years, 2011

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "'Sad day for XIT': Pioneering Native rock musician dies unexpectedly". ICT News. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Stewart, Dick (2016-09-09). ROCK & ROLL DURING A TIME OF INNOCENCE: THEN ALONG CAME THE PILL, THE DRAFT, THE COMPUTER AND THE BRITISH INVASION. Page Publishing Inc. ISBN 978-1-68289-722-5.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "The Biggest New Mexican Band You've Never Heard Of". www.newmexicomagazine.org. 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  4. ^ a b Banner, Chuck, XIT: Without Reservation, XIT, Lincoln, Nebraska, retrieved 2023-10-03, time: 19:30
  5. ^ Wishart, David J. (2007-03-01). Encyclopedia of the Great Plains Indians. U of Nebraska Press. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-8032-9862-0.
  6. ^ "Lincoln St. Exit". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  7. ^ a b Marios (2015-01-15). "Rockasteria: Lincoln Street Exit - Drive It (1970 us, superb garage psych, 2010 remaster and expanded)". Rockasteria. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  8. ^ Berglund, Jeff; Johnson, Jan; Lee, Kimberli (2016-03-10). Indigenous Pop: Native American Music from Jazz to Hip Hop. University of Arizona Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-8165-0944-7.
  9. ^ "Lincoln St. Exit". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  10. ^ Lincoln Street Exit = Drive It - 1969 - (Full Album), retrieved 2023-10-03
  11. ^ Rowlands, Lucinda (November 20, 2002). ""Without Reservation" by XIT". Indian Country Today. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  12. ^ a b XIT – End, retrieved 2023-10-03
  13. ^ a b "Native American Activism in the 1960s and 1970s" (PDF). Newslea. Native American Almanac (Visible Ink Press). October 31, 2017.
  14. ^ a b c d Banner, Chuck, XIT: Without Reservation, XIT, Lincoln, Nebraska, retrieved 2023-10-03
  15. ^ XIT – Reservation Of Education, retrieved 2023-10-03
  16. ^ "Biennale Musica 2023 | Homepage 2023". La Biennale di Venezia (in Italian). 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  17. ^ "HALL OF FAME". nativeamericanmusicawards.com. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  18. ^ "XIT TRIBUTE SHOW | Tha 'Yoties paying tribute to their musical heroes, Native American recording artists, XIT \m/ | By Ed Kabotie | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  19. ^ XIT Tribute Show with Tha 'Yoties, retrieved 2023-10-02
  20. ^ Thacker, Stacy (2023-04-25). "Blue Mountain Tribe's Path to the Playing the World's Largest Powwow". Native News Online. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
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