MUSIC | ALBUQUERQUE
Tank and the Bangas bring genre-fluid soul and poetry to KiMo Theatre
Grammy-winning group will deliver its unique blend of spoken word, soul, hip-hop and rock
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Tank and the Bangas are bringing the heart, mind and soul of the Big Easy to KiMo Theatre on Friday, Jan. 23.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very fun and energetic live show,鈥� Tarriona 鈥淭ank鈥� Ball, lead vocalist, said.
Tank and the Bangas formed over a decade ago in New Orleans and have since released multiple albums, won a Grammy and performed all over the world.
Ball described the band鈥檚 music as a mix of genres.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just full of spoken word and soul and hip-hop and rock and folk and anything we want to play honestly, at that moment,鈥� Ball said. 鈥淲e just let the creative vibe take over wherever it wants to go.鈥�
Norman Spence, the band鈥檚 multi-instrumentalist, said they are a genre-fluid band trying to tap into sincere, soulful music.
He said the band is doing God鈥檚 work and through the music, he hopes audiences are impacted on spiritual and emotional levels. He also enjoys this emotional aspect for himself when performing.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have a favorite song to perform,鈥� Spence said. 鈥淚 just like performing 鈥� to be able to express whatever you鈥檙e feeling in that moment.鈥�
Ball said the shows have a warm, intimate vibe because the venues they play are usually small. She said fans are drawn to the shows not only for the atmosphere, but for the uniqueness of each show.
鈥淎nybody can tell you they鈥檝e never been to a Tank and the Bangas show twice, because it鈥檚 always, always different,鈥� Ball said, 鈥渂ecause we spend intentional time changing the arrangements of things all the time to keep it fresh and cool and exciting.鈥�
Ball said as an artist, she enjoys feeling like a poet, a singer and sometimes rapper as she performs.
She said she can show all sides of herself through the songs, with each one having its own feeling. She hopes audiences feel the freedom of the music during performances.
鈥淔reedom that they could be what they want to be, and choose the type of career that they want to choose,鈥� Ball said.
鈥淢usic is not to make you choose music, but to choose yourself,鈥� Ball said.
Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow from the New Mexico Local News Fellowship program. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.
