TARRIONA “TANK” BALL OF TANK AND THE BANGAS DEBUTS VULNERABLE AF POETRY BOOK

CONFIRMS SELECT BOOK TOUR DATES THIS SUMMER

Today, “Best New Artist” Grammy nominee and beloved slam poet Tarriona “Tank” Ball—of the critically acclaimed band Tank and The Bangas—debuts her poetry book, Vulnerable AF. The poetry collection is centered around infatuation, love and heartbreak as Ball recounts her very first romantic relationship. Vulnerable AF is available for purchase HERE.

“I wrote this book without any thoughts of them ever seeing the light of day. I was sad, I was happy, I was vulnerable with myself and I wrote every single feeling down. So here it is, my first book of poems, ‘Vulnerable AF,’” says Ball.

In celebration of the release, Ball will bring Vulnerable AF to life with spoken-word performances across several U.S. cities this summer. The select run of dates will begin in Atlanta on July 14 and includes additional stops in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and more. The Vulnerable AF Book Tour will also feature special guest Sha’Condria “iCon” Sibley, who is a spoken-word poet and artist. Tickets for the events are available for purchase HERE while full tour routing can be found below.

In November 2020, Tank and The Bangas released their EP Friend Goals via Verve Forecast. The new music includes numerous musical contributions from artists such as CHIKA, Duckwrth and PJ Morton as well as a number of New Orleans-based creatives. Listen to/share Friend Goals HERE.

The EP follows the release of the band’s major label debut, Green Balloon, which arrived in 2019 to widespread critical praise including performances on “TODAY” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

Tank and The Bangas are Ball (frontwoman, lead vocals), Allenback (alto saxophone, flute), Joshua Johnson (drums) and Norman Spence (keys).

Overwhelming critical praise for Tank and The Bangas:

2017 Tiny Desk Contest Winners
“This band combines R&B with hip-hop’s poetry and rollercoaster storytelling, with a flair and alchemy that could only come from New Orleans.”—NPR Music

American Way February 2020 Cover Story VIEW HERE

VOGUE September 2019 Issue VIEW HERE

Essence November 2019 “Beauty Musings” Profile VIEW HERE
“The moment you meet Tarriona 'Tank' Ball, it’s abundantly clear that the lead singer of Tank and the Bangas is just as unforgettable as her music. The 31-year-old radiates confidence in her melodic poetry as well as her rich and virtually flawless complexion.”—Essence

“Tank and the Bangas string together grooves from funk, hip-hop, rock and gospel; serious storytelling, self-empowerment exhortations and dance instructions share the band’s exuberant stream of consciousness.”—The New York Times

“10 Artists You Need To Know”
“A secular church experience, with freewheeling improvisational chops and positive vibes.”—Rolling Stone

“There’s no record quite like Green Balloon, and no band quite like Tank and the Bangas…They make music without boundary on instruments ranging from sax, flute, cello, vocal scratches, keyboards, synths, real drums, fake drums, a djembe and, of course, the poetry, philosophy, comedy and voice that is Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball.”—NPR Music

“Bathing theatrical hip-hop, soul, funk, and spoken-word poetry in the lush musicality of its New Orleans home, the band's recent album, Green Balloon, floats on the effervescent energy that captivated the Internet two years ago, and which only increases onstage. There's no leaving a Tank and the Bangas performance in a bad mood.”—The New Yorker

“Lead singer Tank has an elastic, surprising voice that oozes energy, turning simple lyrics into full stories just with a twist of the syllables; perhaps it shouldn’t be so unexpected, given her background as a slam poet.”—TIME

“Ball is as nimble a lyricist as she is a vocalist, with a malleable voice that's powerful in its command. One moment she's unpacking sinewy couplets and rhymes with fury and the next she's wailing like she's at a church revival.”—Los Angeles Times

“The New Orleans collective came off as an unlikely Mothers of Invention-inspired soul revue, with lead singer Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball’s mixture of little-girl and full-gospel vocal inflections putting her in a singular category altogether.”—Variety

For more information, please contact Samantha Tillman, Louis D’Adamio or Carla Sacks at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000.

Or Julia Casey at Verve Forecast / Verve Label Group, 212.331.2078 

VULNERABLE AF BOOK TOUR
June 8 /// New Orleans, LA /// Garden District Book Shop
July 14 /// Atlanta, GA /// City Winery Atlanta
July 16 /// Alexandria, VA /// Birchmere
July 17 /// Philadelphia, PA /// City Winery Philadelphia
July 18 /// New York, NY /// City Winery New York
July 20 /// Boston, MA /// City Winery Boston
July 23 /// Chicago, IL /// Thalia Hall
July 24 /// Cleveland, OH /// Music Box Supper Club


www.tankandthebangas.com