Mini-Documentary on Down’s Inn of the Mountain Gods Show Now Streaming

In a year of devastating wildfires, one that gets lost in the mix was the South Fork Fire, which started on the Mescalero Apache Reservation, resulting in the partial closure of U.S. Highway 70 and the evacuation of homes throughout the area. It eventually burned 17,569 acres, destroyed approximately 1,400 structures, and killed two people.

When you put the fire into that kind of perspective, it renders the Down show that was postponed and rescheduled at the Inn of the Mountain Gods entirely trivial. Yet for the community, the band, and the people that came together to make the show happen at a later date, it was an important moment of healing for a native community so often left by the wayside.

Earlier today, Down released a mini-documentary about the show they eventually got to play this past September. Remember, the show at the Inn of the Mountain Gods that initially was supposed to happen this past June was the band’s first official show back after nearly two years. After the wildfires forced the band to reschedule, they hosted two pop-up shows in Louisiana and donated part of the proceeds to contribute to the Mescalero Apache Nation – South Fork Fire relief fund.

As a result, the band were honored by the tribe, given blankets from the local native population, and welcomed almost as heroes by tribal administrator Blue Shendo, councilwoman Euphrasia Platta, and Miss Mescalero.

It’s always cool to see metal bands come together to help out a community in need. Yet if there’s one thing I could say about the documentary, it’s that the songs featured in it are far too old at this point. We’re gonna need some new Down soon, guys…

You can check out the full documentary below.