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player ready...New Orleans-based Tank and the Bangas was playing open mics when the funk-meets-spoken-word group got the break of a lifetime, winning the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk contest.
Since then, the band, which describes itself as “soulful Disney,” has toured extensively around the world with the release of a new album imminent. RedEye chatted with singer Tarriona “Tank” Ball — who first gained attention as a slam poet — ahead of the group’s official Lollapalooza aftershow with Durand Jones and the Indications at Thalia Hall and performance at the music festival.
Q: What do you enjoy about playing festivals?
A: You’re outside. You don’t have to make anyone stand up because they’re already standing up. The energy is always built into the show. All you have to do is come. It’s almost sure to be a good time.
I love Chicago — there is a lot of talent there. It’s always good to be around people that are able to appreciate the work that you have for them, and Chicago is one of those places.
Q: What can you tell me about the new album?
A: I really don’t speak too much about it until it comes out, except that it’s a piece of art. We are looking forward to performing the work. We have traveled all over and met all kinds of people and listened to all types of different music. You can get inspired from the performance space. We’ve been touring for years in cities like Chicago. When we drove there, we would arrive at a show with like four people. The next time we come we have a sold-out show somewhere. It’s such a journey.
Q: Do you find more inspiration on tour or at home?
A: Probably more touring because I get to write on the journey that we’ve actually been taking on the road. I have a lot of time in between things. Like right now, we’ve been driving and when I wake up, I’ll write. I’ll just have all this free time to write songs I need to write. I write in the car, in a journal, on a phone. I just write. And later on, when I deal with the Bangas, it becomes what it’s supposed to be because they know what’s going on in the moment. There’s a lot going on right now in the world and for myself, so I just write the things that I feel.
Q-and-A’s are edited for length and clarity.
Shows this week
August 3
Lunice
East Room
2354 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-698-8774
$10. 9 p.m. 21+ Tickets: eastroomchicago.com
Shakira
United Center
1901 W. Madison St., 312-455-4500
$100+ 7:30 p.m. Tickets: unitedcenter.com
Official Lollapalooza Aftershow with Tank and the Bangas and Durand Jones and the Indications
Thalia Hall
1807 S. Allport St., 312-526-3851
$22 general, $32 seated balcony, 10 p.m. 17+ Tickets: thaliahallchicago.com
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August 7
MPG in Chicago – Melissa Polinar, Jeremy Passion, Gabe Bondoc
Lincoln Hall
2424 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-525-2501
$20, $25 doors. 6:30 p.m. Tickets: lh-st.com
Peach Fuzz, the Curls, Strawberry Jacuzzi
Sleeping Village
3734 W. Belmont Ave., 773-654-3971
$5 at door (cash only). 9 p.m. More information: sleeping-village.com
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