The queen of slam poetry and powerhouse vocalist, Tarronia “Tank” Ball, reclaimed her throne this past Friday night (10/9) at the Blue Nile, packing the crowd in like sardines, with a line out the door so long it blocked the entrance to the adjacent Frenchmen Street clubs. The enormous turnout came as no surprise to Tank and the Bangas’ loyal following, who have long awaited the New Orleans natives’ return after over two months of touring in the UK.

Crowd favorites like “Rhythm of Life”, “Bradys”, “Walmart”, and a cover of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” brought full participation from the audience, who were transfixed on Tank’s enthralling presence. Many who see this group live realize that Tank and the Bangas have great respect for their listeners and want their music to positively effect people’s lives. In one of Ball’s interludes before closing the set, she explained that their UK tour was a chance for them to inspire fans to follow and accomplish their own dreams. 

Like so many New Orleans acts, Tank and the Bangas transcends genre classification by combining R&B, Soul, Gospel, Rock, Hip-Hop, and Spoken Word with an unquestionably New Orleans-based flair. Ball’s powerful words, vocals, and expressions are truly mesmerizing. Even when she is silent, her presence alone demands attention.

A 5-year member of New Orleans-based slam poetry organization, Team SNO — a.k.a. ‘Slam New Orleans’ — Ball has a gift for lyricism and spoken word that further sets her and the Bangas apart from other musical acts. Her lyrics often incorporate thoughtfully written conceits addressing common personal and interpersonal issues; songs like “Rollercoasters,” “Boxes and Squares,” and “Walmart” combine Ball’s imaginative and familiar commentary on relationships and human nature with gorgeous musical arrangement by the Bangas that turns simple songs into complex stories. The group’s cohesiveness is evident in their live performance and cultivates a positive energy that, combined with the thoughtful and powerful messages in Ball’s lyrics, inspires the crowd and leaves one feeling as empowered as he or she is entertained. It is an experience that reminds one of the true power of music during every facet of the performance.

Since the band’s formation at an open mic night at the Liberation Lounge in 2011, Tank and The Bangas have developed a close connection with their New Orleans fan base, playing shows at seemingly every venue in the city, and bringing a crowd wherever they go. Original members Tarronia “Tank” Ball (lead), Joshua Johnson (drums), Norman Spence (bass), and Merell Burkett (keyboard) have since been joined by percussionist Nita Bailey, back up vocalists Anjelika Joseph and Kayla Buggage, as well as saxophonists Etienne Stoufflet and Albert Allenback to create a 10-piece ensemble.

In their early years, they earned much acclaim and received awards such as the ‘Raw Artist Musician of the Year,’ ‘Performer of the Year,’ and the ‘Golden Mic’. The band’s success in 2013 and 2014 — in which they released their debut album Think Tiank and subsequent live album Tank & The Bangas — Live at Gasa Gasa — proved that they were creating something new and exciting, a type of performance that is refreshingly mindful and honest as well as musical.

In just the past year, Tank and the Bangas have performed at Essence Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Quincy Festival, as well as toured to Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, and recently to the UK for a monumental twelve-show run including performances at the Brainchild Music Festival and the Crosstrax Music Workshops. They have appeared on local radio stations WWOZ and WTUL, as well as features on the WWL-TV Morning Show, Go Nola TV, Balcony TV, and The Goodnight Show. Tank and the Bangas have created a live performance which has already become a must-see act in New Orleans and is quickly gaining attention both nationally and internationally.

If you missed their performances this weekend at the Blue Nile or Gentilly Fest, you can catch the Bangas at Mid City Masquerade Saturday (10/24) for an evening of Halloween festivities alongside Sweet Crude, Lost Bayou Ramblers, YOUNG BUFFALO, Blind Texas Marlin, and DJ Doug Funnie spinning NOLA funk and soul!

[Photo by CK Golding]