It’s a rainy November night in Portland, and a crowd of punk fans fills the Star Theater from wall to wall, shoulder to shoulder.

With tall, pink mohawks and denim jackets covered in patches, they begin to mosh when the band 1876 takes the stage. Their pow wow drum shakes the environment, and the lyrics, sung in English, Cheyenne and Blackfeet, celebrate the resilience of tribes around the nation.

The band leader and creator, Gabe Colhoff, of the Cheyenne and Blackfeet tribes, was inspired to name the band after the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

This historic battle marks General Custer’s defeat at the hands of the combined forces of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, Oglala, Blackfeet, and Arapaho tribes.

“I named the band after that, but it’s less about our victory over Custer because I don’t believe in celebrating somebody’s death. It’s more about the unification of the tribes. We put all of our differences aside, and we had a common goal, and we accomplished that goal,” Gabe Colhoff said.

“And Custer himself said there are not enough Indians in the world to stop the 7th cavalry. That’s his exact words, and we did. We did it through unification.”

Colhoff hopes his music can bring together Indigenous people from all over. Whether on the reservation or in the city, he speaks emphatically on the importance of unification.

1876 consists of seven members: Gabe Colhoff, his brother Joe Colhoff, Lucas Lunsmann, Jake McCloud, Danny Smith, and Chris Del Rio.

Joe Colhoff, one of the original members, has been with the band for about four years and plays the powwow drum. “It’s a unique instrument and sets the tone for who we are,” he explains.

“It’s not a responsibility I take lightly, and I make sure that the heartbeat is loud and proud and never wavers.”

The band considers the pow wow drum as the heartbeat. And you can feel it when you’re in the crowd at one of their shows.

Jake McCloud, the band’s bassist who joined in early 2024, loves to see the impact the music has on audiences.

“I like hearing their stories and witnessing their passion. Being a part of something bigger than myself has been inspiring.”

The band is starting to schedule out their performances this year, with upcoming shows in Portland on April 17th and June 27th. They’re also looking forward to getting out to the East Coast, with a show in Pennsylvania on June 19th.

They’re particularly excited about their June 27th show, as it’s their 2nd annual “Victory Day Fest.” This festival takes place on the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn at the Twilight Café & Bar on SE Grand Avenue, Portland.

The band hosts the event, and all proceeds go to the Cheyenne Tribe. Last year, they made donations to Yellow Bird Life Ways, and this year the proceeds will go to the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne Nation.

Tickets for this event will be available soon, and you can find out more about the band and their work at 1876band.com.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/06/portland-1876-indigenous-punk-band-focuses-unity-cultural-expression/