Tank and the Bangas

Last updated
Tank and the Bangas
Tank and the Bangas at French Quarter Festival 2022 - 06.jpg
Tank and The Bangas performing at French Quarter Fest, New Orleans
Background information
Origin New Orleans, Louisiana
Genres
Years active2011–present
Labels
Members
  • Tarriona "Tank" Ball
  • Norman Spence
Past members
  • Joe Johnson
  • Danny Abel
  • Anjelika ”Jelly” Joseph
  • Tia Henderson
  • Jonathan Johnson
  • Albert Allenback
  • Keenan McRae
  • Nita Bailey
  • Christopher Menge
  • Nicole Spence
Website www.tankandthebangas.com

Tank and the Bangas is an American musical group based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band won the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest and in November 2019, they were nominated in the Best New Artist category for the 2020 Grammy Awards. They have released three studio albums, Thinktank (2013), Green Balloon (2019), and Red Balloon (2022).

Contents

History

Members of Tank and the Bangas met at a New Orleans open mic show called Liberation Lounge at now-closed Blackstar Cafe and Books in the Algiers section of New Orleans and formed the group in 2011. [1]

Tank and the Bangas live performance at New Orleans radio station WWOZ in 2013 WWOZ Tank and the Bangas 2.JPG
Tank and the Bangas live performance at New Orleans radio station WWOZ in 2013

Style

Writing in The Washingtonian , Heather Rudow described the group's work as "lively fusion of funk, soul, hip hop, rock, and spoken word." [2] Speaking to the Times-Picayune , the musicians in the group mentioned a variety of genres they identify with, including rock, folk, gospel and Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph's invention "Soulful Disney". In addition to Disney, the group has also mentioned anime as influence on the group's "childlike" and "magical" sensibility, in Ball's words. [1] In the Financial Times , Joshua David Stein said, "Tank and the Bangas don’t conform to the jazz stereotypes trotted out in the lobbies of convention hotels or milked on Frenchman Street. It’s New Orleans but it’s New Orleans now." [3]

Reception

In The Village Voice , Rajul Punjabi described the group's debut album ThinkTank as "sincere and eclectic. Ball’s vocals are strong and versatile—evidence of her childhood in church—and she coasts through sweet melodies and wide-ranging vocal undulations reminiscent of Nicki Minaj’s character voices. She throws gentle shade when reminded of this — 'I’ve been doing that before she came out,' she says." [4]

NPR

Naming Tank and the Bangas the 2017 winner of NPR's Tiny Desk Contest for their song "Quick", NPR co-host of All Songs Considered Bob Boilen said, "What won me over about the band's performance of 'Quick' were the interactions among lead singer Tarriona 'Tank' Ball and her bandmates, and the way they seemed to surprise one another. It all felt so organic and on-the-spot." [5] Juror Trey Anastasio of Phish said, "I immediately loved this...Tank is a force of nature, just full of joy—and her band is killing in the background." [5] The story of the evolution of Tank's voice was covered in an episode of NPR's World Cafe show for essential and emerging artists. [6]

Members

Current members

Touring members

Performers that while not core members of the band, play with the band at live performances and on some album tracks.

Past members

Discography

Tank and the Bangas discography
Studio albums3
EPs6
Live albums1
Singles24
Music videos24

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
US
Sales

[15]
US
Heat

[15]
Think Tank
  • Released: December 19, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
Green Balloon733
Red Balloon
  • Released: May 13, 2022 [16]
  • Label: Verve Forecast, UMG
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
7421

Live albums

TitleDetails
The Big Bang Theory: Live at Gasa Gasa
  • Released: December 5, 2014
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming

Extended plays

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
US
Heat

[15]
Jam in the Van - Tank and the Bangas
  • Released: August 1, 2017 [17]
  • Label: Jam in the Van
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Live Vibes
  • Released: April 21, 2016
  • Label: Verve Label Group, UMG
  • Format: LP, digital download, streaming
21
Live Vibes 2
  • Released: February 15, 2019
  • Label: Verve Forecast, UMG
  • Format: LP, digital download, streaming
Friend Goals
  • Released: November 20, 2020
  • Label: Verve Forecast, UMG
  • Format: Vinyl, digital download, streaming
Tank and the Bangas (Live)
  • Released: September 9, 2022
  • Label: Verve Forecast, UMG
  • Format: streaming
Pretty Poems
  • Released: March 10, 2023
  • Label: UMG
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Floating
  • Released: November 24, 2023
  • Label: Verve Forecast, UMG
  • Format: Vinyl

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearAlbum
"Rhythm of Life"2013Think Tank
"Drummers"2015Non-album single
"Quick" [A] 2017
"Smoke.Netflix.Chill"2018Green Balloon
"Spaceships"
"I'll Be Seeing You" Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
"Ants"2019Green Balloon
"Nice Things" [18]
"For André"2020Non-album single
"What the World Needs Now"
(featuring David Shaw, PJ Morton, Alexis Marceaux, Maggie Koerner, Sasha Masakowski, Berkley the Artist, Rahim Glaspy & Tracci Lee)
"Self Care" [19]
(featuring Jaime Woods and Orleans Big)
Friend Goals
"To Be Real" [20]
(featuring Hasizzle, Keedy Black, and Big Choo)
"Big"
(with Big Freedia)
2021Red Balloon
"Back in a Minute"Madden NFL 22
"No ID"2022Red Balloon
"Black Folk"
(featuring Alex Isley and Masego or remix featuring Alex Isley, Masego, Rhapsody, Kota the Friend, Orleans Big, Dee-1)
Pretty Poems and Floating
"Stolen Fruit"Red Balloon
"Why Try"
"Oak Tree"
"There Goes the Neighborhood"Pretty Poems and Floating
"Outside"Floating
"She's a Rainbow"
(from Ghostwriter )
Non-album single
"Communion in my Cup"
(featuring Earthgang and The Ton3s)
Red Balloon and Floating
"DM Pretty"
(Live OffBeat Session)
2023Pretty Poems and Floating
TitleYearAlbum
"In My Bones"
(Jacob Collier featuring Kimbra and Tank and the Bangas)
2020 Djesse Vol. 3
"Let My People Go"
(Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers featuring Tank and the Bangas)
2021Goshen
"Betty Bussit"
(Big Freedia featuring Soaky Siren and Tank and the Bangas)
Big Diva Energy

Music videos

TitleYearDirector
"Boxes" (ReLoaded)2013RandoMe
"Drummers"2015RawKus TV
"Quick"2017FosterBear Films
"Spaceships"2018Nick Spanos
"Spaceships" (Live Performance)Kyle Goldberg
"Ants"2019Jean Baptist's-Ramondi
"Nice Things" (Live Performance)Kyle Goldberg
"Nice Things"Danny Williams
"Hot Air Balloons"
(featuring Alex Isley)
TATB and Tavia Osbey
"Forgetfulness"Alina Kulieva
"I'll Be Seeing You"Un­known
"Dope Girl Magic"2020Jake Wilson
"Lazy Daze"
(featuring Robert Glasper)
David Bates Jr. and Tavia Osbey
"What the World Needs Now"
(with various artists)
Un­known
"Self-Care"
(featuring Jaime Woods, Orleans Big, and Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph)
Un­known
"To Be Real"
(featuring Hasizzle, Keedy Black, and Big Choo)
Tarriona Ball
"Fluff" (lyric video)
(featuring DUCKWRTH, Christian Scott, aTune Adjuah)
Baptiste Leroux
"Big"
(featuring Big Freedia)
2021Marion Hill
"No ID"2022 Phillip Youmans
"Black Folk" (lyric video)
(featuring Alex Isley and Masego)
Michelle Renslo
"Stolen Fruit"Un­known
"Black Folk"
(featuring Alex Isley and Masego)
Un­known
"Why Try"Un­known
"Communion in My Cup"
(featuring The Ton3s)
Un­known

Notes

  1. A live version of "Quick" was included on the Live Vibes EP

Honors

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References

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  2. Rudow, Heather (11 January 2016). "Things to Do in DC This Week January 11–13: Do Yoga and Dance to EDM at 6AM". Washingtonian . Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  3. Stein, Joshua David (April 22, 2016). "The true blues of New Orleans". Financial Times. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  4. Punjabi, Rajul (8 June 2016). "Tank and the Bangas Bring New Orleans Soul to New York City". Village Voice. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Boilen, Bob (February 28, 2017). "Introducing The Winner Of The 2017 Tiny Desk Contest". Morning Edition. NPR. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  6. "The Evolution Of Tank And The Bangas' Unique Voice". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "TANK AND THE BANGAS RETURN WITH NEW ALBUM RED BALLOON – RELEASED MAY 13". umusic. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
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