If there have been some low times along Six Nations Kanienʼkehá:ka (Mohawk) singer-songwriter Derek Miller’s trail, they only make the high points – his virtuoso performance atop a towering pillar at the Vancouver Olympic closing ceremonies being a literal one – headier. Bagging a Juno with his first album in 2002 was anything but beginner’s luck as proven by a repeat with another Juno on his 2008 follow up.

But the lows were there too, including a skirmish with substance dependency. Miller began his music career early, playing bars at 13, drawing attention from MuchMusic. That early start created momentum as Miller eventually recorded with Daniel Lanois, dueted with Willie Nelson while making an album with Stevie Ray Vaughn’s band Double Trouble, and earned raves from punk baron Iggy Pop who ranted, “Who rocks like that anymore?” Miller does. His musical style serves up slices of Pete Townshend’s power chords, his free-range vocals heated up like an Axl rolling down the highway, then offering a ballad that draws on the sounds of his heritage.

Like his music that ranges easily between and within genres, so does his truth. Last year, a well-traveled Miller said, “Music is the main salve, medicine in my pouch.” Catch a set and it will be in your pouch, too.

- Mary-Lynn Wardle