“ …deep-fried vocals effortlessly ride a bright, pinched melody”.
– SPIN
“stripped-down, rustic instrumentation to provide the bedding for an immersive listening experience” – Paste Magazine
“southern rock meets The Cure.” – My Old Kentucky Blog
Ha Ha Tonka
is an unmistakable indie-meets-Southern rock band comprised of Brett Anderson, Lennon Bone, Lucas Long and Brian Roberts. Sitting at the crossroads of Americana and indie- where Alabama meets Arcade Fire- the quartet are primed for the release of their highly anticipated fourth full-length album,
Lessons, on September 24th via Bloodshot Records. The album was recorded at Bright Eyes’ ARC Studios in Omaha, Nebraska and in NYC with producers Dan Molad (
Lucius) and The Ryantist.
With the previously revealed album title track described by ELLE as “a steady, rhythmic rocker”, the band has just shared new album track “Rewrite Our Lives” with Paste Magazine. An upbeat, energetic cut containing a runaway chorus & an atmospheric, massive sound akin to that of the great American railroad dream, you can hear the track below (and download it for free in exchange for an email address).
Sonically, Lessons marks a departure from Ha Ha Tonka’s more stripped down style to one that is filled with lush instrumentation. As the title implies, the inspiration behind Lessons stems from life’s biggest ones. Motivated by late illustrator and renowned children’s author Maurice Sendak’s musings on the creative process and what it means to be an artist, the band captured this message and the fragile, oft-irrational comedy of life in sonic form.
Ha Ha Tonka has become renowned for its authentic, effortless brand of indie-Americana, seamlessly fusing the traditional with modern, contemporary elements. Having played alongside the likes of Old 97s, Murder By Death, Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin & more, Ha Ha Tonka will take to the road this fall on a full North American tour (check out the dates below)!
Ha Ha Tonka on Tour:
9/26: Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Music Festival
9/27: Columbia, MO @ Forrest Rose Park
9/28: Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
10/2: Las Vegas, NV @ LVCS
10/3: San Diego, CA @ Casbah *
10/4: Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite *
10/5: San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside *
10/7: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir *
10/8: Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo House of Music *
10/9: Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern *
10/11: Salt Lake City, UT @ Garage On Beck *
10/12: Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive *
10/18: Springfield, MO @ Lindberg’s
10/19: Ozark, AR @ Mulberry Mountain – Harvest Music Festival
10/22: Iowa City, IA @ The Mill *
10/23: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry *
10/24: Green Bay, WI @ Crunchy Frog *
10/25: Milwaukee, WI @ Club Garibaldi *
10/26: Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall *
11/8: Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe *
11/9: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern *
11/11: Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
11/13: Cambridge, MA @ TT The Bears *
11/14: New York, NY @ The Studio *
11/15: Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy *
11/16: Washington, DC @ Rock N Roll Hotel *
11/18: Knoxville, TN @ Barleys *
11/19: Atlanta, GA @ The Earl *
11/20: Nashville, TN @ High Watt *
11/21: Little Rock, AR @ Stickyz Rock n Roll Chicken Shack *
11/22: Dallas, TX @ Club Dada *
11/23: Austin, TX @ Stubbs Jr *
11/29: St. Louis, MO @ Plush
* Samantha Crain supporting
Musically Amusing 