White Eagle Hall presents Tank and The Bangas

Published by New Jersey Stage

originally published: 03/01/2022

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- White Eagle Hall presents Tank and the Bangas on Friday, March 18. Cory Henry opens the night. Doors are at 7:00pm, show begins at 8:00pm. Tank and the Bangas will remain in the tri-state area with shows March 19th at Webster Hall in New York City and March 20th at Union Transfer in Philadelphia.

Last month, Tank and the Bangas premiered two new songs—“Stolen Fruit” and “Black Folk” featuring Alex Isley & Masego—alongside accompanying videos. “Stolen Fruit” and “Black Folk” are the latest songs to be revealed from the band’s third studio album, Red Balloon, set for release on May 13 via Verve Forecast.

Of the new music, frontwoman and lead vocalist Tarriona “Tank” Ball says, “‘Stolen Fruit’ is basically about the slave trade. There’s ‘Strange Fruit,’ and I call this one ‘Stolen Fruit,’ because not only were the fruit strange, but they were also stolen. They weren’t from here.”

She furthers, “‘Black Folk’ is about my love for Black people—everything that they are, everything that they do, their hair, the little girls, Jazzfest. All the beautiful things about us and the things that we like to cover up with pain, laughter, food and music, the family secrets, all of it.”

Most recently, the group debuted their single “No ID” to critical praise; BET proclaims, “Tarriona Ball’s commanding vocal presence gets alchemized on ‘No ID,’ a disco-influenced number,” while LA Magazine goes on to say, “[‘No ID’ is] giving us all of the ’70’s disco feels.” American Songwriter calls the track “a romp, a bop, a slapper.”

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Red Balloon was born out of a pandemic-ordered break from the band’s rigorous touring schedule. The hiatus gave the band space to breathe and double down on who they are as artists, allowing them to reunite as a more unified group. The new work has evolved and pushes the band to a new level, shedding light on their unique observations and songwriting reflecting on the ills of America while also celebrating the beauty of Black life.

Predominantly produced by Tank and the Bangas, the 16-track album was recorded at Bangaville Studios in New Orleans and Revival Studios in Los Angeles. Red Balloon also includes contributions from Questlove, Lalah Hathaway, Big Freedia, Jacob Collier, Trombone Shorty, Jamison Ross, The Hamiltones, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Wayne Brady.

In addition, the band will embark on an extensive run of 2022 tour dates with Big Freedia, Trombone Shorty and Cory Henry. Kicking off on March 9, the tour includes performances at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, DC’s 9:30 Club and Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl as well as shows at New York’s Webster Hall, Blue Note and Central Park Summerstage.

Tickets for the White Eagle Hall show are $30 and available for purchase online. White Eagle Hall is located at 337 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey.

New Orleans-based Tank and the Bangas rose to prominence in 2017 following their unanimous NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest victory. In 2019, the band released their major label debut, Green Balloon, on Verve Forecast to widespread critical praise. Last year, Tank and The Bangas released their EP Friend Goals, featuring CHIKA, Duckwrth and PJ Morton.

Throughout their career the group has performed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Austin City Limits” and “TODAY.” Tank and The Bangas have toured non-stop selling out venues both stateside and abroad, including festival appearances at Coachella, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, Newport Jazz Festival and more.

Tank and The Bangas are Tarriona “Tank” Ball (frontwoman, lead vocals), Albert Allenback (alto saxophone, flute), Joshua Johnson (drums) and Norman Spence (keys).

PHOTO BY JEREMY TAURIAC

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