Ha Ha Tonka Setlist
Tour Dates
6/3 - Indianapolis, IN @ White Rabbit Cabaret
6/4 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom 6/6 - Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch 6/7 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern 6/8 - Rochester, NY @ Abilene Bar and Lounge 6/9 - Providence, RI @ Firehouse 13 6/10 - Philadelphia, PA @ MilkBoy 6/11 - Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory 6/14 - Washington DC @ DC9 Nightclub 6/15 - Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe 6/16 - Newport, KY @ Southgate House 6/17 - Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar Read More
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Was it a good Wednesday? Yeah. Hell yeah.
Trapper Schoepp
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The good vibes continued with Ha Ha Tonka who kicked off their rousing hour set with “Race to the Bottom” the killer first track to their brand new record Heart-Shaped Mountain. The 13-years-strong sextet features lead vocalist/guitarist Brian Roberts, guitarist Brett Anderson, drummer Mike Reilly, multi-instrumentalist James Cleare and Slash-look-alike-contest-winner Luke Long on bass. These guys have a reputation for putting their blood, sweat and tears into each live show and last night was no different. The band’s energy was contagious as the club erupted into dancing, shout-singing and fist-pumping. I’m used to this kind of response from concert-goers later in the evening, but fans of Ha Ha Tonka do not waste any time! They are a very committed fanbase, something Roberts acknowledged after thanking the crowd for taking in a rock show on a school night.
Something that Ha Ha Tonka effortlessly excel at are crafting gorgeous layered harmonies with each member contributing his voice. This was showcased best on “Hangman,” a jaw-dropping acapella number from 2007’s Buckle in the Bible Belt. The band’s jauntier songs (like “Lonely Fortunes” and “St. Nick on the Fourth in a Fervor”) often hide bleak subject matter; loss, betrayal, a depleted faith in humanity. But this isn’t lost on anyone - we take our bitter pills with a healthy side of garage-rock honky tonk, please and thank you.
An already spirited setlist was punctuated with two great covers: “12-inch 3-Speed Oscillator Fan” originally by Big Smith (“Are you ready for some bluegrass?”) and a barn-burning rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” - the latter causing a most epic sing-a-long in the audience and featuring an appearance by Schoepp’s horn crew.
Get in on the Ha Ha Tonka train: Heart-Shaped Mountain out now on the famed Bloodshot Records! And check out Trapper Schoepp & the Shades’ EP Bay Beach Amusement Park on Xtra Mile Recordings!
Ha Ha Tonka is excited to announce that they will appear on Conan O'Brien Presents: Team Coco on June 22nd!
Ha Ha Tonka at Turf Club, St Paul (31 May 2017) |
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