Ha Ha Tonka
| Ha Ha Tonka | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Springfield, Missouri, United States |
| Genres | Indie rock Southern rock |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | May Apple Records, Bloodshot Records |
| Website | http://www.hahatonkamusic.com/ |
| Members | |
| Lennon Bone Brett Anderson Brian Roberts Luke Long |
|
| Past members | |
| Robert Mueller | |
Ha Ha Tonka is a band originally formed in Springfield, Missouri and currently signed to Bloodshot Records out of Chicago, Illinois. Named after Ha Ha Tonka state park in southern Missouri, their music is steeped in Ozark folk, bringing the passion, spirituality, hardships, and roots of the people that lived and still live there today, into their sound. Americana is the soil their roots are firmly planted, but their branches reach out to a number of genres from Southern Rock, Indie Rock, Bluegrass, Folk, Country, and a style their fans like to call Foot Stompin' Indie-Rock. "The band wraps gorgeous rural images and literary allusions within heartbreaking 4-part harmonies. Sometimes the sounds are soft and respectful and at others raw and wrath-filled. The music is honest and organic, intentional yet intuitive." [1]
The band is named after or for Ha Ha Tonka State Park, located in Camdenton, MO at 37°59′19″N 92°46′6.16″W / 37.98861°N 92.7683778°W [2]
Contents |
[edit] Buckle in the Bible Belt - (2007)
After signing to Bloodshot Records, Buckle in the Bible Belt was released on September 11, 2007. "St. Nick on the Fourth in a Fervor" released as the first single from that album.
The band's website describes how their "dark view of the realities of socio-economic hardship, backwoods prejudices and drug abuse is leavened by wry humor and a deep appreciation for regional storytelling traditions." The lead singer, Brian Roberts, is a cancer survivor who criticizes the American health care system in "This Is Not a Cure for the Common Cold".[3] One review states that "Ha Ha Tonka make the kind of roots rock that fits the mood of America in the summer of 2008. Its restless, edgy and increasingly willing to address the dark side of This Land."[3]
In 2008 the band opened up for Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and was also a part of the 2008 Lollapalooza line up.
[edit] Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South (2009)
On June 16, 2009, Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South was released on Bloodshot Records. "Novel" was recorded at Sawhorse Studios in St. Louis with Jason McEntire who also produced "Buckle". This record is a taste of the dark side of Ha Ha Tonka.
[edit] Death of a Decade (2011)
Ha Ha Tonka released their new album on April 5, 2011. To support the record, Ha Ha Tonka began their nationwide "Death of a Decade" tour on March 11, in Springfield, MO. The following night the band performed in their hometown of West Plains, MO, along with the Antennas Up from Kansas City. Ha Ha Tonka thanked fans at the West Plains concert by selling copies of the new album, even though its release was three weeks away.
Just before the album's release, they were featured on the Ozarks episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.
The album has had several positive reviews including reviews in the Washington Post[4] and Huffington Post[5] and the track "Usual Suspects" was featured as a National Public Radio's song of the day on April 27th 2011[6] .
The song Usual Suspects was also used by the Turner Broadcasting Station as a lead in to the beginning of Game 3 of the 2011 National League Championship Series featuring the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers.
The song Jesusita refers to the destructive Jesusita Fire that took place in May, 2009 outside Santa Barbara, California.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- 2007 Buckle in the Bible Belt (Bloodshot Records re-release)
- 2009 Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South (Bloodshot Records)
- 2011 Death of a Decade (Bloodshot Records)
[edit] References
- ^ Constine, Aly. "Ha Ha Tonka: A Gigbot Downlow'd No. 24". Gigbot. Gigbot. http://gigbot.com/downlowds/ha-ha-tonka.
- ^ "Ha Ha Tonka official bio page". http://www.hahatonkamusic.com/bio/index.htm.
- ^ a b Albertoni, Rich. "Ha Ha Tonka channels the national mood". The Isthmus. http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=22731.
- ^ Patrick, Foster (5 April 2011). "Album Review: Ha Ha Tonka's 'Death of a Decade'". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/album-review-ha-ha-tonkas-death-of-a-decade/2011/04/04/AFDY0deC_story.html. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ Bialas, Michael (4 April 2011). "Ha Ha Tonka's Talkin' Baseball, Bourdain and Death of a Decade". Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-bialas/ha-ha-tonka-bourdain_b_844272.html. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ Nelson, Elizabeth. "Ha Ha Tonka: Desire, Revulsion and Obsessive Longing". National Public Radio. http://www.npr.org/2011/06/21/135769495/ha-ha-tonka-desire-revulsion-and-obsessive-longing?ft=1&f=&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
