Tank and The Bangas captivated the audience Wednesday night at Delmar Hall with their musical arrangements. They blended jazz, hip hop, and spoken word to create a unique and inspiring performance.
“I’m going to be 100 percent myself, leave nothing on the dresser…can you accept that,” lead singer Tarriona “Tank” Ball said as the show opened for the St. Louis leg of their “The Heart, The Mind, The Soul” album tour. She told no lies.
Tank seamlessly transitioned from spoken word, to rapping and then singing during “Remember,” which she notes as her favorite from the new album “The Heart, The Mind, The Soul”.
The New Orleans based music group is fresh on the heels of their first Grammy win. Earlier this year, they took home a coveted trophy for “Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.” The group has been rocking, rapping, and reciting since 2011. Throughout the band’s career, lead singer Tank has enchanted with her infectious and bubbly personality. For the tour, five members joined her on stage, two keyboard players, one backup singer, a drummer, a trumpet player and a bass guitar, all taking the stage with their funky flare to show St. Louis just how they received their Grammy award.
The group was dressed in red from head to toe, on a colorful stage with cube and spherical lights about and the band name in large bubble letters behind them. They arranged themselves in a semicircle with Tank in the middle dressed in a red asymmetrical fur fringe dress, with big, curly, Diana Ross hair that she threw around while emoting to the lyrics.
The mixed crowd of casual and earthy fans reflected the assured and laidback nature of the band’s music. The concert floor was filled with beautiful Black people in afros, headwraps, locks, twists, and several other allies who delighted in the cultural pride expressed in the band’s music.
The crowd was overcome with joy as lead singer Tank eccentrically danced around the stage. She never lost the audience’s attention. Whether she was performing poetry, rapping or singing, the audiences followed her every word. As she navigated through these three styles with a bright smile that showed she truly enjoys the music she performs – and that the songs come from a deep spiritual place.
The concert began with angelic chords from the keyboards over a hushed crowd. The only sound came from the soft snaps of the band members that abruptly ended by a loud blare of the trumpet and a kick from the drum as the keyboards transitioned into “Quick.” This song was performed with high energy, animated poses, and quirky squeaks punctuating the line, “Hang with them girls, you pay to play.”
Tank seamlessly transitioned from spoken word, to rapping and then singing during “Remember,” which she notes as her favorite from the new album “The Heart, The Mind, The Soul”. She also displayed this talent when performing “Ants”, a poem about her home, set to music with a melodic chorus and unconventional dance moves that again displayed her big personality.
She then raised the energy again with a rock/rap performance of “Who’s In Charge of the Girls”. The band erupted with the drums taking the lead as she sang, “I’m in charge, I’m in charge.” As she continued to repeat it, the chorus began to resemble a mantra. Though the crowd came to the concert to let loose, they unknowingly blossomed into their higher selves with every piece of poetry shared – and the uplifting messages each selection contained.
Tank encouraged the audience to join in for “Little Things.” She sang the poetic versus while the audience took over the chorus singing, “Baby, don′t you worry ‘bout the little things. They turn to big things, over time.” The words blanketed them like a warm hug – and as they sang, they lifted their hands in the air and swayed to the rhythm.
The audience also joined in to finish “Black Folk” cheering loudly when Tank said, “Black sound like four-hundred years, smell like Oprah…Sing like Nina, got a [expletive] like Serena.” She ended the song with an impromptu call and response of “I love me some Black people.”
The band’s chemistry was evident throughout the emotionally stirring show. Not only were Tank and The Bangas a joy to watch, but they also provided spiritual nourishment over the course of the night.
They ended the concert with an encore of “Rollercoasters,” a blend of poetry and song that recounted the feelings of being on top – and revisited the same angelic, melodic chords from the opening of the show. Cell phone lights filled the audience and waved back and forth as she sang, “Scared to fly, fly, fly”
The concert ended with a heartfelt address from the lead singer.
“We are all meant to shine as children do and you shine,” Tank said. “You undoubtedly give others the permission to do the same.”
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
