tankandthebangas Tank and The Bangas New Orleans Tank and the Bangas formed in the early 2010s, when vocalist and poet Tarriona “Tank” Ball (frontwoman, lead vocals) met musicians Norman Spence (keys) and Joshua Johnson (drums) at the New Orleans open-mic night Liberation Lounge; Albert Allenback (alto saxophone, flute) came on later, firming the band’s core lineup. They grinded for years in their hometown, playing local venues like Gasa Gasa and The Blue Nile while also lighting up the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with their explosive live sets. One local critic called them “untraditional, yet absolutely adherent to the New Orleans heritage of experimentation and invention that pulses through the veins of the city’s music” in 2016. Then came the 2017 Tiny Desk Contest, a nationwide talent competition inspired by the Tiny Desk Concerts beamed out of NPR’s offices in Washington, D.C. Tank & the Bangas’ entry, an intimate rendition of their song “Quick,” delighted the judges, and they beat out more than 6,000 other bands to take that year’s title. In the past five years, Tank & the Bangas have become widely beloved for their lauded live shows and kitchen-sink approach to making music. They were a Best New Artist nominee at the 2020 Grammys and toured the world extensively, playing major U.S. festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo. “We’ve managed to expand our Tiny Desk moment into a lifetime of amazingness,” says Tank. Red Balloon, Tank & the Bangas’ third studio album and second major-label release, came out of something rare for the band: a pandemic-ordered break from their rigorous touring schedule. That gave the individual members space to breathe and double down on who they were as artists, and it allowed them to reunite as a more unified group. “We needed a time to be away from the road so that we could cultivate something new, and cultivate who we were,” says Tank. The result is a marvelous modern soul album, one led by Tank’s Tank & The Bangas commanding vocal presence but also firmly rooted in the musical chemistry conjured by the band being back in the studio and letting the vibes flow.While guests like Wayne Brady, ?uestlove, Jacob Collier, Lalah Hathaway, Trombone Shorty, and Alex Isley add dimensions to Red Balloon. “This has been one of the best attempts thus far at capturing what happens when we’re all playing at the same time,” says Albert. Its lyrics run the gamut of human experience, taking on the ills of America while also celebrating the beauty of Black life, reveling in sensuality while also talking frankly of heartbreak. Or, as Norman puts it, “Red Balloon is coming straight for your heart and your neck at the same time.” tankandthebangas’s popular tracks Fluff (feat. DUCKWRTH & Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah) by tankandthebangas published on 2020-11-13T02:20:49Z Black Folk (feat. Alex Isley & Masego) by tankandthebangas published on 2022-02-11T02:13:28Z No ID by tankandthebangas published on 2022-01-21T02:17:53Z Oak Tree by tankandthebangas published on 2022-04-13T02:29:36Z Big (feat. Big Freedia) by tankandthebangas published on 2021-09-30T21:45:06Z Nice Things by tankandthebangas published on 2019-03-22T02:17:07Z Stolen Fruit by tankandthebangas published on 2022-02-18T02:06:23Z Communion in My Cup (feat. The Ton3s) by tankandthebangas published on 2022-05-06T02:18:04Z Back In A Minute by tankandthebangas published on 2021-08-09T23:17:14Z Why Try by tankandthebangas published on 2022-03-18T03:32:26Z Outside by tankandthebangas published on 2022-09-23T03:56:07Z Spaceships by tankandthebangas published on 2019-04-26T01:30:26Z Hot Air Balloons (feat. Alex Isley) by tankandthebangas published on 2019-04-26T01:30:45Z QUICK by tankandthebangas published on 2017-05-03T21:06:29Z Communion in My Cup (feat. EARTHGANG & The Ton3s) by tankandthebangas published on 2022-10-26T02:33:54Z Smoke.Netflix.Chill. by tankandthebangas published on 2018-04-17T20:25:34Z Boxes And Squares by tankandthebangas published on 2014-03-28T14:41:50Z Ants by tankandthebangas published on 2019-02-22T01:51:17Z TSA (feat. PJ Morton) by tankandthebangas published on 2020-11-13T02:19:37Z Friend Goals (feat. Pell) by tankandthebangas published on 2020-11-13T02:19:45Z To Be Real (feat. Hasizzle, Keedy Black & Big Choo) by tankandthebangas published on 2020-10-21T02:02:24Z Self Care (feat. Jaime Woods, Orleans Big & Anjelika 'Jelly' Joseph) by tankandthebangas published on 2020-09-30T02:20:47Z Mr. Lion by tankandthebangas published on 2019-04-26T01:31:04Z Happy Town (feat. Pell) by tankandthebangas published on 2019-04-26T01:30:52Z Colors Change by tankandthebangas published on 2019-04-26T01:30:18Z Nice Things by tankandthebangas published on 2019-04-26T01:31:18Z Dope Girl Magic by tankandthebangas published on 2019-04-26T01:30:48Z Themeparks-Freret St. Festival by tankandthebangas published on 2014-05-23T16:30:54Z Forgetfulness by tankandthebangas published on 2019-04-26T01:30:27Z Self Care (Live) by tankandthebangas published on 2022-12-02T02:37:13Z
Fluff (feat. DUCKWRTH & Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah) by tankandthebangas published on 2020-11-13T02:20:49Z
Communion in My Cup (feat. EARTHGANG & The Ton3s) by tankandthebangas published on 2022-10-26T02:33:54Z
To Be Real (feat. Hasizzle, Keedy Black & Big Choo) by tankandthebangas published on 2020-10-21T02:02:24Z
Self Care (feat. Jaime Woods, Orleans Big & Anjelika 'Jelly' Joseph) by tankandthebangas published on 2020-09-30T02:20:47Z