When guitarist Mato Nanji was a child, he found his father's musical equipment in the basement.
That's what started it all."I've always been interested in music," Nanji said during a phone interview from Lincoln, Neb. "After I found the guitar and amps, I knew that I wanted to play."
Nanji's band - Indigenous - will play the Dead Goat Saloon, Tuesday, Sept. 22. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Nanji got his sister, Wanbdi, and his brothers Pte and Horse together to form the band soon after the basement discovery.
"My dad really gave us the support we needed to get this band going," Nanji said. "But he only showed us the basics and then left the rest up to us. He did tell us to practice at least two years before going out to play in front of people."
Indigenous practiced for more than five years in their home at the Yankton Indian Reservation in South Dakota before venturing out for gigs.
"We eventually began making a name for ourselves and started touring the states," Nanji said. "Then we hooked up with a booking agent and things started getting bigger and bigger."
The band landed on a compilation album, "Honor," that was produced as a benefit project by Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls. Jim Nickels, owner of Paychyderm Studio and Records, recorded Indigenous and immediately signed the band to his record company.
As of late, the band has recorded an album called "Things We Do" and found itself on the "Smoke Signals" soundtrack.
"We love what we do," Nanji said. "If I can keep doing what I'm doing and make others feel good, too, then I'm doing my job."
One of the biggest thrills for the band was opening for Jackson Brown and Keb Mo. "They have always been an inspiration to us. And to see them watching us from the backstage and smiling really gave us the determination to play harder."