Native American Themed Psychedelic Rock Music

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

The best Native American Themed Psychedelic Rock Music can be found here. With a wide variety of artists to choose from, you’ll be sure to find the perfect song for your next pow wow!

The Origins of Native American Themed Psychedelic Rock Music

The origins of Native American themed psychedelic rock music can be traced back to the late 1960s. At the time, many American Indians were living on reservations and facing various challenges such as poverty and poor healthcare. In an effort to help improve the conditions of these reservations, the US government sent in teams of psychologists to study the effects of music on the residents.

The Native American Influence in Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, sometimes called garage rock, emerged in the mid-1960s and is best known for its adoption of Eastern instrumentation, production values and themes. The genre often involved drug use and exploration of altered states of consciousness, making it a natural fit for Native American themes and imagery.

Psychedelic rock music often included references to Native American culture, whether through the use of traditional instruments like the sitar or tabla, or through the incorporation of Native American spiritual beliefs into lyrics and song titles. “Peyote Song” by The Doors, for example, is based on a Navajo chant, while “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly contains references to the hallucinogenic plant peyote.

Other songs with Native American themes include ” Indian Reservation” by Paul Revere & The Raiders and “Tobacco Road” by The Nashville Teens. Native American imagery was also used extensively on album covers and in concert posters for psychedelic rock bands.

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and the Native American Connection

Psychedelic rock music is often associated with the counterculture movement of the 1960s, but the roots of this genre can be traced back to the Native American culture. One of the most famous examples of this is The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, a book by Tom Wolfe that chronicles the early days of the counterculture movement. The book takes its name from an event that involved Native Americans and LSD.

In 1967, a group of Native Americans from the Rolling Thunder Cloud Men Tribe took part in an LSD experiment conducted by psychologist Timothy Leary. The experiment was documented in The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, and it helped to popularize psychedelic rock music.

The Rolling Thunder Cloud Men Tribe were not the only Native Americans to embrace psychedelic rock music. In 1968, the band Redbone released their self-titled debut album, which featured a mix of psychedelic rock and traditional Native American music. Redbone would go on to have a number of hits in the 1970s, including “Come and Get Your Love” and “Witch Queen of New Orleans”.

Other notable Native American themed psychedelic rock bands include The Crow (named after the Native American tribe), Coyote Johnson (led by Native American musician Wayne Sawchuk), and Custer’s Last Band (whose members included Sioux guitarist Clarence White).

psychedelic rock music has always had a strong connection to Native American culture. This is due in part to the fact that many of the early pioneers of this genre were inspired by their encounters with Native Americans and their reliance on mind-altering substances such as LSD.

The Characteristics of Native American Themed Psychedelic Rock Music

Native American themed psychedelic rock music often contains elements of tribal music, such as drumming and chanting. The music is usually written in a minor key and often features distorted guitars. The lyrics often deal with Native American issues and can be very spiritual.

The Native American Sound in Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock music emerged in the 1960s as a subgenre of rock that was influenced by psychedelic drugs. The music typically features distorted guitars, mind-altering lyrics, and trippy sound effects. Native American culture has often been associated with psychedelia, and many psychedelic rock bands have incorporated Native American themes and instrumentation into their music.

The Doors were one of the first psychedelic rock bands to experiment with Native American sounds. Their 1967 song “Light My Fire” features a didgeridoo solo by band member Robby Krieger. The Indian influence can also be heard in the Doors’ use of sitar on their 1968 album Waiting for the Sun.

Another early adopter of Native American influences was Jimi Hendrix. His song “Hey Joe” features a tom-tom drum solo, and he frequently employed the use of flute in his live performances. Hendrix was also known for his use of feedback and distortion, which helped create the signature sound of psychedelic rock.

In more recent years, bands like Canned Heat and Moby Grape have continued to experiment with Native American themes in their music. Canned Heat’s 1967 song “Goin’ Up the Country” features a distinctive Indian drumbeat, while Moby Grape’s 1967 debut album includes a track called “8:05”, which is named after a popular time slot for Mohawk radio broadcasts.

Psychedelic rock music has often been criticized for its appropriation of other cultures, but many modern bands are now incorporating Native American influences into their music with respect and sensitivity. These bands are helping to create a new sound that is uniquely their own while paying homage to the rich history and culture of the Native American people.

The Use of Traditional Instruments in Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the late 1960s. Psychedelic rock is characterized by the use of electronic instruments, heavily distorted guitars, and mind-altering lyrics. The subgenre often contains elements of Indian and Eastern music, as well as other musical traditions.

Psychedelic rock often includes traditional instruments such as sitars, tablas, and didgeridoos. These instruments add an exotic element to the music and create a unique sound. The use of traditional instruments in psychedelic rock can be traced back to 1967, when Ravi Shankar’s ” Concerto for Bengali Tabla and Western Instruments” was used in the Beatles’ song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown).”

In addition to traditional Indian instruments, psychedelic rock also features heavily distorted guitars. This signature sound is achieved by using effects pedals such as delay and reverb. Distorted guitars were first used in psychedelic rock by Jimi Hendrix in his song “Purple Haze.”

Lyrics in psychedelic rock are often based on drug use, social protest, and mystical or spiritual themes. The lyrics are often nonsensical or contain made-up words. This style of lyrics was first popularized by the band Psychedelic Furs in their song “Pretty In Pink.”

The Legacy of Native American Themed Psychedelic Rock Music

Psychedelic rock music with Native American influences first appeared in the early 1970s with bands like Redbone and The Indians. This style of music continued to be popular throughout the decade with bands like Buffy Sainte-Marie and Robert Mirabal. The Native American influence in psychedelic rock music was often used to convey messages of peace and love.

The Influence of Native American Themed Psychedelic Rock Music in Contemporary Music

Psychedelic rock music originating from the Native American experience has had a significant impact on contemporary music. The genre emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and was characterized by its use of distorted and extended electric guitar sounds, looped and trafficked percussion, electronic effects, and heavy drug use. Despite being short-lived, the impact of psychedelic rock music can still be felt today through the artists that it influenced.

Psychedelic rock music was a product of its time and place – specifically, the countercultural movement of the 1960s and 70s. The genre was born out of the desire to create something new and different, something that would challenge the status quo. For Native Americans, this meant using their culture as a source of inspiration for their music. Songs like “Red House” by Jimi Hendrix and “Devil Woman” by Santana are just two examples of how Native American culture was used to create psychedelic rock music.

The influence of psychedelic rock music can still be heard in contemporary music. Many modern artists have cited psychedelic rock as an influence, including Tame Impala, MGMT, Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes, and Father John Misty. These artists have taken the sound and aesthetics of psychedelic rock and updated it for a new generation. Psychedelic rock may be gone, but its legacy continues on in contemporary music.

The Future of Native American Themed Psychedelic Rock Music

It is safe to say that Native American themed psychedelic rock music has had a significant impact on popular culture. From the early days of Electric Warrior-era T. Rex to contemporary artists like A Tribe Called Red, Native American themed psychedelic rock music has captured the imaginations of listeners around the world.

Looking to the future, it is evident that Native American themed psychedelic rock music will continue to evolve and grow in popularity. As more and more people become interested in exploring their own native heritage, it is likely that we will see a resurgence of interest in this genre of music. With its unique blend of traditional instrumentation and contemporary sensibilities, Native American themed psychedelic rock music is sure to remain a force in the musical landscape for years to come.

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