Tank and The Bangas
Alex Marks/Courtesy of the artist
Welcome to the Monday Mix, where each week we highlight three standout songs debuting on the opbmusic broadcast.
Tank And The Bangas - “Ants”
With distinctive style and swagger, Tank and the Bangas defy classification, blending together New Orleans soul with elements of hip-hop and spoken word. It's likely because of this original sound that the group won the 2017 NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert contest.
On May 3, the band released their second full-length album, “Green Balloon.” It's been six years since their debut record so Tank and the Bangas have plenty to say. The new record weighs in at a hefty 17 tracks and over an hour in length.
On the album's lead single, "Ants," the band's sound feels more developed, with especially deep soul beats and the smooth lyrical delivery of singer Tarriona "Tank" Ball front and center. Watch Tank and the Bangas opbmusic session from 2017.
No Aloha - “My Darling"
“My Darling” is the new single from Portland group No Aloha’s debut full-length album, “Okay Alone,” due out via Good Cheer Records on June 7.
The band's frontwoman and lead vocalist, Brette Irish, has been writing and releasing solo material since 2016. "My Darling" begins with a steady, beating synthesizer, setting the foundation of the track, which soon blossoms into a beautiful rose of a song complete with charming vocal cadences and shimmering keyboard flourishes. Catch No Aloha at their record release show on June 12 at Mississippi Studios, alongside The Fur Coats and Shadowgraphs.
Generationals - “I Turned My Back On The Written Word”
With a dedicated following, New Orleans duo Generationals have been making music since 2009. Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer specialize in incredibly upbeat and accessible guitar rock (the band’s music has been featured in numerous movies, television shows, and commercials).
“I Turn My Back On The Written Word” is the first single to be released from Generationals’ upcoming album, “Reader As Detective,” out via Polyvinyl on July 19. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face, the song sounds like a convergence of afrobeat, early 2000’s indie rock, and Peruvian pan flute music (seriously). See Generationals live on Monday, Aug. 26 at the Doug Fir Lounge.