Members of Tank and the Bangas met at a New Orleansopen 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.
Members
The group was founded and is fronted by Tarriona "Tank" Ball on lead vocals; Ball first gained attention as a slam poet. The group is anchored by Joshua Johnson on drums and as musical director, Norman Spence on bass and synth keys, Merell Burkett, Jr. on keyboard, and Albert Allenback on alto saxophone and flute. Other active contributors include Jonathan Johnson on bass, Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph on background vocals, Etienne Stoufflet on tenor saxophone, and Danny Abel on guitar. Previous band members include Joe Johnson on keyboard, who now plays with New Orleans jazz-fusion band Slugger, and background vocalist Kayla Buggage. Additionally, guitarist Keenan McRae and percussionist Nita Bailey were original members of the group and perform on its debut album. in 2013|alt=
Style
Writing in The Washingtonian, Heather Rudow described the group's work as "lively fusion of funk, soul, hip hop, rock, and spoken word." 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. 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."
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."
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 ConsideredBob Boilen, "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." 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." 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.
