A prescription to change the world It’s hard to describe Nahko and Medicine for the People’s music if you’ve never heard them before. They are a “little bit of everything,” explains the group’s frontman, Nahko Bear. It’s alternative world music — a mix of rock, reggae, hip-hop and folk music. But Nahko and his musical collective are more than just your average band trying to hit the top of the charts — they are making music to change the world. Nahko says their group is political and spiritual in a way that is akin to his Native American heritage (he is a mix of Puerto Rican, Apache and Filipino descent.) “We share those teachings through our music,” he says. “I’m honoring old traditions in a new paradigm.” Nahko and Medicine for the People aim to use their music to address human rights, justice and environmental issues on a much deeper level. “We bring that into our music so it’s more than just a rock show, it’s a social empowerment mobilizing event,” Nahko says. “We use spoken word and dialogue and get the audience to share with us at our concerts.” The band weaves these social messages into the text of their music much like artists from the ’60s, such as Peter, Paul and Mary, did, he explains. “In those times, music was the language that moved us through those social movements,” Nahko says. “I think we’re bringing back an old tradition in a new way, providing music as a social tool to change the world on a broader scale.” Nahko and Medicine for the People will stop in Hawaii as part of their latest tour and you can catch them in concert at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Palace Theater, presented by BAMP Project. “We’ll be bringing some good Nov. 10 2016 4. Blown Away Celtica Pipes Rock returns to Big Island 6. ‘Hiroshima’ Play shares experiences of survivors 10. Puzzles Entertain your brain 12. Let’s Go Out Ono grinds CREDITS: Editor David Bock Writers John Burnett Katie Young Yamanaka Photography Hollyn Johnson Design Bonnie L. Rogers Katie Young YAMANAKA Big Island Vibe Email your Island Beat announcements to entertainment@hawaiitribune-herald.com See NAHKO Page 11 2 Thursday, November 10, 2016 Courtesy photo Nahko and Medicine for the People will perform at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Palace Theater in Downtown Hilo.
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